I speak as an anarchist whose anarchy is increasingly informed by the Gospel. I have posted on this website before that we, as church, have no business seeking political power because politics is violence.

But there is also a reality that political activity is inescapable, that two or more human beings put together will create, legitimize and sustain authority and collectivize resources. I don't like government or the state, and believe Jesus shows us that we surrender to power without making demands or claims or assertions of privilege, and that when we claim to do those things for others (the historic Christian justification for power), we really do them for ourselves. (Any claim of power of privilege on behalf of another, say the poor or some victim, is also a claim to power and privilege on the part of the claimant; this is my greatest disagreement with Luther's thinking on the subject.) But government and the state are inevitable (not necessary, but inescapable). In any community or polity with a majority of Christians, they will exercise political power. This also means violence.

Many anarchists point to God's warning to Samuel when Israel demands a king. These warnings describe the depredations of an institutionalized and complex state well. But what many ignore when they repeat these warnings is that God gives Israel a king anyway, and then makes promises to Israel — and to David — about what the monarchy will accomplish and how it will be involved in God's saving work. Isaiah relates the word of God claiming Cyrus, the King of Persia, as God's anointed one — a messiah — even though Cyrus does not even know God and is not one of God's people.

My main concern is with the claim by some that certain political figures, ideologies or types of state are more in line with God's demand for God's people and the world than others. I saw this with conservative evangelical support for George W. Bush and his regime as well as progressive support for Barack Obama and his campaign and soon-to-be regime. I am also concerned that too many people confuse the social democratic welfare state with either the kingdom of God or with God's call for “justice” in the world. There is the reality that the state is violence, and when we defend the state or seek to use the state to achieve what we consider noble or descent ends, we must remember that inherent in all state action is the threat of violence. I don't believe Jesus calls us to engage in violence, but I also know that we are forgiven because in our sinful state violence is inescapable.

It is clear that God uses us at our worst to achieve God's ends, that the good of God comes out of the evil we as human beings do. I am a seminarian because in the midst of the September 11 attacks, in the midst of the death and terror at the World Trade Center, I realized Jesus was speaking to me, telling me “My love is all that matters” and “This is who I am.” I am still trying to make sense of it all.

I speak as an anarchist whose anarchy is increasingly informed by the Gospel. I have posted on this website before that we, as church, have no business seeking political power because politics is violence.

But there is also a reality that political activity is inescapable, that two or more human beings put together will create, legitimize and sustain authority and collectivize resources. I don't like government or the state, and believe Jesus shows us that we surrender to power without making demands or claims or assertions of privilege, and that when we claim to do those things for others (the historic Christian justification for power), we really do them for ourselves. (Any claim of power of privilege on behalf of another, say the poor or some victim, is also a claim to power and privilege on the part of the claimant; this is my greatest disagreement with Luther's thinking on the subject.) But government and the state are inevitable (not necessary, but inescapable). In any community or polity with a majority of Christians, they will exercise political power. This also means violence.

Many anarchists point to God's warning to Samuel when Israel demands a king. These warnings describe the depredations of an institutionalized and complex state well. But what many ignore when they repeat these warnings is that God gives Israel a king anyway, and then makes promises to Israel — and to David — about what the monarchy will accomplish and how it will be involved in God's saving work. Isaiah relates the word of God claiming Cyrus, the King of Persia, as God's anointed one — a messiah — even though Cyrus does not even know God and is not one of God's people.

My main concern is with the claim by some that certain political figures, ideologies or types of state are more in line with God's demand for God's people and the world than others. I saw this with conservative evangelical support for George W. Bush and his regime as well as progressive support for Barack Obama and his campaign and soon-to-be regime. I am also concerned that too many people confuse the social democratic welfare state with either the kingdom of God or with God's call for “justice” in the world. There is the reality that the state is violence, and when we defend the state or seek to use the state to achieve what we consider noble or descent ends, we must remember that inherent in all state action is the threat of violence. I don't believe Jesus calls us to engage in violence, but I also know that we are forgiven because in our sinful state violence is inescapable.

It is clear that God uses us at our worst to achieve God's ends, that the good of God comes out of the evil we as human beings do. I am a seminarian because in the midst of the September 11 attacks, in the midst of the death and terror at the World Trade Center, I realized Jesus was speaking to me, telling me “My love is all that matters” and “This is who I am.” I am still trying to make sense of it all.

I speak as an anarchist whose anarchy is increasingly informed by the Gospel. I have posted on this website before that we, as church, have no business seeking political power because politics is violence.

But there is also a reality that political activity is inescapable, that two or more human beings put together will create, legitimize and sustain authority and collectivize resources. I don't like government or the state, and believe Jesus shows us that we surrender to power without making demands or claims or assertions of privilege, and that when we claim to do those things for others (the historic Christian justification for power), we really do them for ourselves. (Any claim of power of privilege on behalf of another, say the poor or some victim, is also a claim to power and privilege on the part of the claimant; this is my greatest disagreement with Luther's thinking on the subject.) But government and the state are inevitable (not necessary, but inescapable). In any community or polity with a majority of Christians, they will exercise political power. This also means violence.

Many anarchists point to God's warning to Samuel when Israel demands a king. These warnings describe the depredations of an institutionalized and complex state well. But what many ignore when they repeat these warnings is that God gives Israel a king anyway, and then makes promises to Israel — and to David — about what the monarchy will accomplish and how it will be involved in God's saving work. Isaiah relates the word of God claiming Cyrus, the King of Persia, as God's anointed one — a messiah — even though Cyrus does not even know God and is not one of God's people.

My main concern is with the claim by some that certain political figures, ideologies or types of state are more in line with God's demand for God's people and the world than others. I saw this with conservative evangelical support for George W. Bush and his regime as well as progressive support for Barack Obama and his campaign and soon-to-be regime. I am also concerned that too many people confuse the social democratic welfare state with either the kingdom of God or with God's call for “justice” in the world. There is the reality that the state is violence, and when we defend the state or seek to use the state to achieve what we consider noble or descent ends, we must remember that inherent in all state action is the threat of violence. I don't believe Jesus calls us to engage in violence, but I also know that we are forgiven because in our sinful state violence is inescapable.

It is clear that God uses us at our worst to achieve God's ends, that the good of God comes out of the evil we as human beings do. I am a seminarian because in the midst of the September 11 attacks, in the midst of the death and terror at the World Trade Center, I realized Jesus was speaking to me, telling me “My love is all that matters” and “This is who I am.” I am still trying to make sense of it all.

As a Pastor I have come to dislike the political seasons as many try to use the forum of fellowship to dispel the junk of political systems. The Kingdom of God as far as I can tell from history, progresses in spite of the systems of men. It has always been the road less traveled or as a famous rabbi once said the narrow road. It seems to be a follower of Christ is to always be in the opposition, counter to and distrustful of the herd. It has been said “Government is best that governs least” this is true of all systems of men including those of the Kingdom of God.

Sincerely but not Seriously
Pastor Bill

As a Pastor I have come to dislike the political seasons as many try to use the forum of fellowship to dispel the junk of political systems. The Kingdom of God as far as I can tell from history, progresses in spite of the systems of men. It has always been the road less traveled or as a famous rabbi once said the narrow road. It seems to be a follower of Christ is to always be in the opposition, counter to and distrustful of the herd. It has been said “Government is best that governs least” this is true of all systems of men including those of the Kingdom of God.

Sincerely but not Seriously
Pastor Bill

I personally favor the definition given in Colossians Remixed by Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat (they may have borrowed it from elsewhere): “Empire are totalizing by definition…Empires are [1]built on systematic centralizations of power, [2] secured by structures of socioeconomic and military control, [3] religiously legitimated by powerful myths and [4] sustained by a proliferation of imperial images that captivate the imaginations of the population.”

We tend to focus on 1 and 2, but it's 3 and 4 that really oil the machine and are unconsciously served in the lives of so many. And I think it's 3 and 4 that this website tends to name, which is why there is often a pushback by many readers (which isn't a bad thing in itself). It's far easier for some people to admit that the U.S. maintains control through military might. It's when we point out the consumerist impulse that owns our imaginations and it legitimized on Sundays that people get really uneasy.

I personally favor the definition given in Colossians Remixed by Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat (they may have borrowed it from elsewhere): “Empire are totalizing by definition…Empires are [1]built on systematic centralizations of power, [2] secured by structures of socioeconomic and military control, [3] religiously legitimated by powerful myths and [4] sustained by a proliferation of imperial images that captivate the imaginations of the population.”

We tend to focus on 1 and 2, but it's 3 and 4 that really oil the machine and are unconsciously served in the lives of so many. And I think it's 3 and 4 that this website tends to name, which is why there is often a pushback by many readers (which isn't a bad thing in itself). It's far easier for some people to admit that the U.S. maintains control through military might. It's when we point out the consumerist impulse that owns our imaginations and is legitimized on Sundays that people get really uneasy.

Because we function through time, there really is no such thing as equilibrium. Status quo is generally referring to the direction we are headed at a given time, whether it is to the right or the left. The Bible is full of mysterious tensions: God is three persons in one, the kingdom of God is here now and yet to come, we can grieve the death of someone and rejoice in their everlasting life.

Wealth and power are also in one of those mysterious tensions with poverty that God uses to move his Kingdom forward. Maintaining the status quo with either direction is problematic and leads away from God. Keeping them in tension, allowing them to spin around each other like a wheel, keeps us in balance and brings the kingdom of heaven to earth.