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Another really great quote from Greg Boyd in a debate with Jim Wallis I mentioned in an earlier post:
I don’t see how our commitment to Christ gives us a unique privileged stance on having an extra wisdom to tell government, “Here’s what you should do.”
The hope of the world isn’t found in our tweaking the government the right way.
Boyd doesn’t discount the notion of “tweaking,” but I think this is the fundamental disagreement I have with folks like Wallis who wish to become the conscience of the state. While on the one hand I hope that the government would be “more Christian” and act justly and righteously within the world, there is a real danger in giving power or influence to a group of folks who have historically been very dangerous with power. Lord Acton had it right when he said, “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Giving power to a benevolent group of well-intentioned folks is no different.
Christians tend to be a bunch of folks who believe to “have it right” about life, for whatever topic comes their way. If it’s about abortion, Christians have the answer. If it’s about science, Christians have the answer. If it’s about sexuality, Christians have the answer. From the looks of it (and from what I hear from my friends who are unChristian), you’d think Christianity was all about having the right ideas about life and how other people should run their lives and make decisions.
I’m the same way. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit I’d like to run other peoples’ lives. There are myriad decisions and life choices my friends—Christian or and non-Christian—make that I think are unwise, foolish, or simply stupid. It’s not that I want control for its own sake. I just think better decisions could be made. Within all of us who want to help make things right in the world is a penchant for control, a greedy little goblin wanting to and willing to pull the levers of power to shift society in such a way that makes us feel more comfortable and better about ourselves.
The problem is, power doesn’t work that way, at least not in the Kingdom of God. Becoming great means becoming a servant. Leading is about sacrificial love. Power is meekness and humility. When it comes to changing the world, it’s not through might or power, but through love and sacrifice. This is why I tend to reject and rant about government-centered solutions to social justice issues and concerns.
Christianity has far too long demonstrated itself to be an arrogant, haughty, know-it-all religion. Christians have succumbed too often to the temptation of power, believing that if we are on God’s side, our power over others is justified (isn’t that what religious terrorists believe?). It is time that Christianity be about the Kingdom of the Cross (driven by servanthood, sacrifice, and love), and abandon the Kingdom of the Sword (driven by force, violence, and coercion). It’s time to put away arrogance and stop placing ourselves and our ideas as better than others and their ideas. And perhaps we should stop acting like we know how everybody else should run their lives. If the good news we bring to the world is so good, why do we need to force folks to follow it?
