Title: Stumbling on Christian Nationalism
Author: Christopher B. Harbin
Text: Mark 9:38-50
Power, force, might, coercion are the tools we tend to look at as either shortcuts or the only possible means to an end which seems out of reach. If we could just exert more control, we could make others bow to our understanding of how the world should operate. We are not necessarily looking for an evil result. We are looking to accomplish good! We'd even like that good to coincide with God's will, with bringing about God's Reign on earth as a fully implemented reality! If I could force everyone to love each another, we would finally live in peace and harmony. What could possibly be wrong with that?
We've heard, "The ends don't justify the means." Then again, we have seen example after example of good people using questionable means to achieve results with which we have agreed. I have never been so focused on following rules I would not be willing to bend a few to accomplish something the rules simply won't allow. Perhaps that a rule is unjust or poorly considered. Perhaps it is my hubris in thinking I know better. Perhaps it is my being too lazy or impatient to work through all the "appropriate channels" to get something done.
A refrain I grew up with in Brazil was there always being a "Jeitinho brasileiro," a workaround to do what was needed, despite rules, laws, or established procedures. It might involve a bribe, looking the other way, bending an interpretation of law or procedure, getting past a middleman, or clearing a few hoops to facilitate something. It rather much went along with another saying, "To the king's friends, the law's favors; to the king's enemies, the law's rigors." We called it, "the way things are done," whether or not it was how things should be done. Society simply accepted the benefits it could collect, looking on rules as more of that system established to make life difficult for "the king's enemies."
Perhaps the biggest issue underly ...
Author: Christopher B. Harbin
Text: Mark 9:38-50
Power, force, might, coercion are the tools we tend to look at as either shortcuts or the only possible means to an end which seems out of reach. If we could just exert more control, we could make others bow to our understanding of how the world should operate. We are not necessarily looking for an evil result. We are looking to accomplish good! We'd even like that good to coincide with God's will, with bringing about God's Reign on earth as a fully implemented reality! If I could force everyone to love each another, we would finally live in peace and harmony. What could possibly be wrong with that?
We've heard, "The ends don't justify the means." Then again, we have seen example after example of good people using questionable means to achieve results with which we have agreed. I have never been so focused on following rules I would not be willing to bend a few to accomplish something the rules simply won't allow. Perhaps that a rule is unjust or poorly considered. Perhaps it is my hubris in thinking I know better. Perhaps it is my being too lazy or impatient to work through all the "appropriate channels" to get something done.
A refrain I grew up with in Brazil was there always being a "Jeitinho brasileiro," a workaround to do what was needed, despite rules, laws, or established procedures. It might involve a bribe, looking the other way, bending an interpretation of law or procedure, getting past a middleman, or clearing a few hoops to facilitate something. It rather much went along with another saying, "To the king's friends, the law's favors; to the king's enemies, the law's rigors." We called it, "the way things are done," whether or not it was how things should be done. Society simply accepted the benefits it could collect, looking on rules as more of that system established to make life difficult for "the king's enemies."
Perhaps the biggest issue underly ...
There are 10458 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
