Let's keep going with this image of empire -as it becomes contemporary. Again, from Out of Babylon by Walter Brueggemann. The metaphor of Babylon can shed much light on the lethal underside of U.S. history and culture as well. Most recently Allen Callahan has gathered together remarkable resources concerning African Americans who have used the imagery to reflect on the racism and the institution of slavery that have shaped and distorted much of U.S. history. Part of the power of the Babylon metaphor lies in its ability to empower resistance in new covenantal communities like the black church. The image bring forth the notion of resistance. The resistance rises in the face of the power of the empire. It may not look like much - but it is there shaping the lives of those who are being put down and run over by empires like Babylon. In time, the resistance raises up new life among those being pressed down. In time, all of us who may be collaborators within the empire may gain new insights from which we begin to turn away from the powers as there are and begin to live in another direction. Whenever a people go ahead and live in a direction quite contrary to the powers that be, they will eventually be heard and seen. They will become a source of inspiration to others - the resistance will grow. We have much evidence from those who stood up and lived new lives facing the truth of the world rather than the lies that can so easily be sold as life. Connection: All of us can use the vision and life of those who resist in order to be free to live outside the control of the powers of the day - powers that do not really care for the well-being of all. O God who bids us to follow the way of the Christ, raise up in us you loving power that is able to turn over the tables of the days and begin to walk in a new light. Amen. |
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