tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573015459789360915.post5177814004911476783..comments2024-01-02T23:22:21.430-05:00Comments on The Guild Review: A Christian Political MythologyAaron Lindermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15992073027586818751noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573015459789360915.post-9162514124155362312009-01-19T16:36:00.000-05:002009-01-19T16:36:00.000-05:00Jeremy, I think you're right that the heart of Chr...Jeremy, I think you're right that the heart of Christianity is non-political and Christians would be remiss to be overly concerned about it (to the point of looking for a sort of salvation there). Nevertheless, I think the hype around Obama, for example, demands of the Christian: how do I relate to this?<BR/><BR/>Perhaps my little thought experiment does have a particularly modern bent to it, but if so, it is simply a sign of where the question came from. I agree with you that the blog I referenced is highly problematic; if anything, it seems to me these kind of errors demand a clarification of the role of the Christian in the modern age.<BR/><BR/>While the OT is rich with stories, I'm not sure it's a <I>political</I> mythology. That is to say, I think the lessons we learn there are mostly theological, not political. We do, however, get glimpses of political insight, though they are often complex: King David is clearly God's anointed, even a man after God's Own heart. He's also an adulterer and murderer who abused state power. Would Uriah's fellow officers have been right to depose David? Well, David didn't depose Saul, even when he was a jerk... These are valuable clues for the Christian in the modern world, but they hardly form a single narrative.<BR/><BR/>You write, "Can't a Christian engage in works of 'service' (public or otherwise) as a matter of Christian duty without invoking a wider political ideology?" Well, I guess I would answer "no". I don't know that the Christian needs a political ideology in the sense of adopting conservatism, progressivsim, etc. But I think he does have a lot of questions he needs to sort out - does he fight, for example, in the emperor's armies? - and an overarching framework is very helpful for thinking about them.Aaron Lindermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15992073027586818751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573015459789360915.post-55169857546509659752009-01-17T20:25:00.000-05:002009-01-17T20:25:00.000-05:00Bah, I also meant to comment on the blog post you ...Bah, I also meant to comment on the blog post you linked to at the beginning of your article. To my way of thinking, seeing America as "new Egypt" is just as theologically confusing and misleading as calling America the "new promised land". Can't a Christian engage in works of "service" (public or otherwise) as a matter of Christian duty without invoking a wider political ideology?Jeremy Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07963963937784611544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573015459789360915.post-74851166907309425942009-01-17T19:59:00.000-05:002009-01-17T19:59:00.000-05:00Aaron, interesting article. I must admit, though, ...Aaron, interesting article. I must admit, though, I thought it was interesting that you felt it necessary to create a new mythology for Christianity -- it surely has an existing rich mythology in the stories of Israel and the patriarchs. Also, I think some of your mythology is overly-concerned with the present attitude toward Christianity. Surely the "absent king" metaphor wouldn't resonate with people in the Middle Ages, for example.<BR/><BR/>Also, do we need a particulary Christian political mythology? That is, the over-attention politics receives today seems to be a product of our times. Politicians are the "priesthood" of our day and people infuse them with all manner of hopes and aspirations -- just look at the rhetoric surrounding Obama! It seems to me that Christianity raises up the most mundane work -- but it also shatters the pride of "special" jobs like public office. Who you are, and how you deal with day-to-day tempation and opportunity, is far more important than the grand ideologies of the political leaders.Jeremy Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07963963937784611544noreply@blogger.com