Here's the nitty gritty of the situation in Palestine and in ours today. Many or most of our actions are designed for one of the two things, seeking our community's approval or God's. The two may sometimes converge, but at other times there's a vast difference. He who best fits in is least able to pursue the strait and narrow path. Jesus dealt with this truth repeatedly: for example speaking about rich men he gave us the proverbial camel and eye of a needle. And again "ye cannot serve God and Mammon." And over and over!
We desire (maybe need) a community of those with like values because we need the praise of men as well as God's. But God calls us to grow beyond that need, to reach out to others, to all, to court hostility in order to be prophetic or to "speak truth to power" (a good Quaker term).
------
Once again the use of belief here connotes trusting yourself and choosing the Way Jesus has laid down for us, not believing a set of intellectual propositions.
3 comments:
Larry, thanks for mentioning that phrase - speak truth to power - I didn't realize it was Quaker. I heard it used on an episode of The West Wing ... one of the president's older advisors told a new guy that he'd have to be able to speak truth to power - tell the president the truth, rather than what he might want to hear.
I don't know how many seek community so that they might find favor with others or simply so that they don't feel alone.
I'm not sure where the phrase speak truth to power comes from. Quakes use it alot and as long as I've hung with them. But I have heard someone from Pax Christi (RC) use it.
Walter Wink changes it slightly -- speak truth to the powers. It fits with his notion that the fallen angels can ultimately be redeemed.
Post a Comment