A Humbled Resistance

A Response to The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President

 

Theology (cont.)

 

Sticking it to the Man Empire

 

When reading TIR and JFP, one cannot help but notice their over-use of the words “empire” and “imperial.” These seem to function as favorite trigger words to associate with all things evil.  For example, selfishness and a refusal to trust God get characterized strangely:

 

Remembering the Exodus people in the desert, Jesus knew that “bread from heaven” was not about miracles but was a test—to see whether Israel could resist the Egyptian imperial economics of hoarding.  (JFP 84)

 

In another place they say  “Jesus healed people who had been made sick by the imperial system” (JFP 115), and in another they claim (without support) that in the early church:

 

To enter the church, many converts even went through a process of “exorcisms” to cast out the empires within.  (JFP 144)

 

When I read things like this, I can’t help but be reminded of those who desire to blame their sinfulness on someone else, teaching that we need to be freed from the “demons” of lust, greed, etc.  Or those in the prosperity gospel movement who desire to free people from the “demons” of lack, etc.

 

<< Back to the Outline >>