Comments on: Was Jesus A-Political? http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/was-jesus-a-political/ Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:17:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mark http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/was-jesus-a-political/#comment-486 Mark Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:00:39 +0000 http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/?p=480#comment-486 I think I agree . . . Christ positions himself above or perhaps even against ways of doing politics in the their most typical and flawed forms (then and now), not against politics itself. You mentioned partisanship, which I certainly think makes being consistently politically Christian impossible. The closest models for Christian political activism that I know of come from civil rights and human rights efforts which have worked against-the-state-for-the-state (King, Tutu, Ghandi, Bonhoeffer, etc. We've discussed many of them at length on your blog). I guess I am tempted to think of these efforts as being "trans-political" in the sense that they stand outside of if not rise above the typical ways of being political and the typical avenues to political power. You are right, however, to insist that they are still political by nature. The difference is in quality rather than kind. I think I agree . . . Christ positions himself above or perhaps even against ways of doing politics in the their most typical and flawed forms (then and now), not against politics itself. You mentioned partisanship, which I certainly think makes being consistently politically Christian impossible. The closest models for Christian political activism that I know of come from civil rights and human rights efforts which have worked against-the-state-for-the-state (King, Tutu, Ghandi, Bonhoeffer, etc. We’ve discussed many of them at length on your blog). I guess I am tempted to think of these efforts as being “trans-political” in the sense that they stand outside of if not rise above the typical ways of being political and the typical avenues to political power. You are right, however, to insist that they are still political by nature. The difference is in quality rather than kind.

]]> By: Chris Green http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/was-jesus-a-political/#comment-485 Chris Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:11:30 +0000 http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/?p=480#comment-485 Mark, I'm cautiously comfortable with "trans-political," but not if that is taken to mean that Jesus is above politics, for that is tantamount to the very de-politicization I was arguing against. Instead, I would say his politics is at least at some points in direct competition with the political structures of Rome, Jerusalem, Athens, Washington, London, Moscow, etc. I'm more comfortable with saying flatly that Jesus is political, in such a way that all other politics are called into question and are revealed as in need of redemption and judgment. Of course, as Teal says, Jesus didn't run for office! In that sense, he certainly was "trans-political." But I don't think he didn't run for office because he thought politics doesn't really matter; on the contrary, I think he didn't run for office because he knew that that is not the best way to effect political change. Mark,

I’m cautiously comfortable with “trans-political,” but not if that is taken to mean that Jesus is above politics, for that is tantamount to the very de-politicization I was arguing against. Instead, I would say his politics is at least at some points in direct competition with the political structures of Rome, Jerusalem, Athens, Washington, London, Moscow, etc. I’m more comfortable with saying flatly that Jesus is political, in such a way that all other politics are called into question and are revealed as in need of redemption and judgment.

Of course, as Teal says, Jesus didn’t run for office! In that sense, he certainly was “trans-political.” But I don’t think he didn’t run for office because he thought politics doesn’t really matter; on the contrary, I think he didn’t run for office because he knew that that is not the best way to effect political change.

]]> By: Teal http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/was-jesus-a-political/#comment-484 Teal Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:14:21 +0000 http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/?p=480#comment-484 No space or sphere of life- political, social, religious, familial, or cultural, was then or now is insulated from Jesus. He judged them all not from a lofty distance, but from the dusty bottom. Jesus never moved simply. He was not only-always-one way or another- he was not above against below, he was not only in he was out as well, he was not just with he was as well against- he was either and or both. The Gospel record show time and time again his unscripted movings. He had a such a cultivated sense of pitch and timing when it came to seeing the problem- issue- cause- and had such creativity in seeing how he could be a solution. I like the use of trans-political, and I like what Chris says here: “…he was the embodiment of God’s politics, and, as such, stands in judgment of all other ways of being political.” Indeed he was. I agree Jesus had no particular political apparatus he championed- no: “Vote for me, because I will make it so you don’t have to pay taxes.” No platform, he rallied the masses around, but he did engage in the political sphere, and he did it in such a way that turned it botth upside down and inside out. Are we not to go and do likewise? No space or sphere of life- political, social, religious, familial, or cultural, was then or now is insulated from Jesus. He judged them all not from a lofty distance, but from the dusty bottom. Jesus never moved simply. He was not only-always-one way or another- he was not above against below, he was not only in he was out as well, he was not just with he was as well against- he was either and or both. The Gospel record show time and time again his unscripted movings. He had a such a cultivated sense of pitch and timing when it came to seeing the problem- issue- cause- and had such creativity in seeing how he could be a solution. I like the use of trans-political, and I like what Chris says here: “…he was the embodiment of God’s politics, and, as such, stands in judgment of all other ways of being political.” Indeed he was. I agree Jesus had no particular political apparatus he championed- no: “Vote for me, because I will make it so you don’t have to pay taxes.” No platform, he rallied the masses around, but he did engage in the political sphere, and he did it in such a way that turned it botth upside down and inside out. Are we not to go and do likewise?

]]> By: Mark http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/was-jesus-a-political/#comment-483 Mark Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:17:26 +0000 http://cewgreen.wordpress.com/?p=480#comment-483 Would you say he is trans-political? Would you say he is trans-political?

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