“Professed Christianity, Christianity that is not like Christ, Christianity that is no longer based on inner transformation is void of power, void of effect, and therefore void of any worth. It is fit for nowhere but under foot. Cast it away. It is worse than refuse; it is reprobate.”—John Coblentz, in Love and Nonresistance, page 131
<idle musing>
It certainly is. But, we don't need to settle for less; Christ is the one who transforms us. We don't do it ourselves; we allow the Holy Spirit to do it in us. Why settle for empty formalities when you can have the real thing?
</idle musing>
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6 comments:
I ordered "Love and Nonresistance" I am most anxious to read it!
I think you'll like it. Just be aware that he uses the "two kingdoms" model, which I feel is flawed.
James
Of cherries and pits. There are two kingdoms, but isn't Jesus clear? Okay I have to stop asking if Jesus is clear. Jesus is clear its the religious mind which muddies things up.
Let's see, Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world..." John18:36
And Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world, but in his response Jesus doesn't call satan a liar.
So I believe there are two kingdoms as well, but it is Jesus who should inform us about the nature of those two kingdoms. How do you understand it? Am I missing something which would better inform my understanding better?
Lonnie,
What the two kingdoms model means is that it is OK for the state to kill, but individual Christians can't. It is OK for the state to wage war, but individual Christians can't, etc. What it does is sets up a dichotomy whereby the world's powers are irredeemable—in other words the kingdom of God can't have a strong effect on the physical world.
It is this type of thinking that allowed the Nazis to gain control in Germany; the church didn't have the theological understanding to be able to stop them. The church sat by and watched, instead of standing up and saying, "Stop!"
Does that help?
James
Helpful, but ultimately problematic. The Two Kingdom theology certainly favors the earthly kingdom when it came to the Nazis.
Unfortunately, in Europe churches were in bed with the State far too often. I would also have to say that if Christians had been following the teachings of Christ the Nazis would not have got such a foothold. In the beginning Hitler's support came from the poor and disenfranchised, and out of work. If the Church had been caring for the poor and disenfranchised the way they used to, the Nazis might have had a great deal less fodder.
In recent years I've it said more and more, that if Hitler hadn't done what he did, the German people would still have done it. It is impossible to know what might have been, but Nazi Germany is certainly a worthy cautionary tale. I see no great hope of any kind, but that the Church repent and become obedient, once again. I don't know how Christ would have us engage the secular kingdom, but Christians aren't doing it right at this point.
Too true...
James
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