The Power Model
Religious faith can be a very powerful tool, either for good or for evil. The same kind of drive that motivates someone to "lose his life" (Matt. 16:25) for Christ's sake can, in other circumstances, drive others to blow themselves up in the name of God. After all, if you believe that God is calling you to do something, who is going to let any kind of earthly or worldly considerations stand in your way? That is why, for instance, some governments seek to quell religion among the people, because they do not want people having allegiance to a higher authority, and you cannot get any higher than the Divine. On the other hand, governments are not immune from seeking to co-opt the incredible power of religion, and using it to their own advantage. The disciple of Christ has to be aware of the various dangers involved with abusing the power of religion.
Read John 6:1-15. What lesson can we learn from this about how the disciple of Christ should view political power?
Though, of course, Jesus' purpose on earth was not to become an earthly king, it is clear that garnering earthly political power should not be equated with doing the work of discipleship. That God can put people in power, or that He can use people in power, is one thing; it is another to somehow view the amassing of political power in the name of God as the work of God, the work of discipleship. Nothing in the New Testament presents this power model of the gospel. Unfortunately, even His closest disciples missed this important point: "The disciples unite with the multitude in declaring the throne of David the rightful inheritance of their Master. It is the modesty of Christ, they say, that causes Him to refuse such honor. . . . They eagerly arrange to carry out their purpose."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 378. Building on the eager expectation and enthusiasm of the multitude, they forcefully attempted to take Jesus and make Him king over the nation (John 6:14, 15). This was discipleship their way. In reaction to this move, Jesus dismissed the multitude, sent the disciples to cross the lake, and went into the mountains alone to pray.
What are ways, even on a more personal level, that we can abuse religion and co-opt it for our own selfish ends?
No comments:
Post a Comment