Customer Reviews

Discipleship As Political Responsibility

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These incisive essays provide a much-needed antidote to the dominant reformed view of the state which has blinded the church to much of the evil done in the name of states. If one begins with the notion that the state is inherently good, much of their evil is justified in the eyes of the citizenry, and Jesus teaching on enemies, violence and the cross must be deemed irrelevant. Such a view, compared with the more biblical interpretation offered by Yoder, falls miserably short of what Christ calls us to do and be. Christians indeed must be political, but in a way which is faithful to Christ. John Howard Yoder shows us such a way.

For those familiar with Yoder's other works, this book might be described as "The Christian Witness to the State - Lite", though that should not be taken to mean that these essays are in any way "lite" in substance. Highly recommended.

If you are familiar with Yoder, you will know that a common theme within his writings is the relationship of the church to the world. Yoder's reading of the New Testament and his understanding of Jesus and his cross are deeply challenging and subversive for those particularly in the West, and this book is no exception. These two essays are filled with valuable insight.

Within these essays, Yoder argues that the mandate of the church (the body politic through which evil is overcome in Christ's cross) is superior to the mandate of the state, which is to keep evil in check. Therefore, the mandate of the state finds its meaning within the mandate of the church. Yoder states, "State-sponsored religions everywhere have viewed religion as a support --an educating, morality-teaching, consecrating power. The Christian faith inverted this relationship and viewed the world-embracing empire as merely a support system, subservient to the real work God is accomplishing in the world"(23).

Those familiar with Yoder will know that his writing is quite remarkable, expressing complex ideas in an accessible and logically clear way. His arguments thoroughly engage with the biblical text, center on the cross, and make substantial claims concerning the Christian commitment to nonviolence that are anything but romantic. In addition, it is most refreshing to read, and perhaps most startling to grasp, Yoder's outright claim that the Christian is a political person. Discipleship to Jesus requires participation in a community that presents a radical alternative to the world, most notably in its commitment to the way of Jesus's cross. Such a way is costly. The consideration of such a claim is why this essay is important, for not only does it challenge many preconceived notions those in Christendom hold concerning the power of the state, but it also contains many challenges to many prevailing conceptions of what it means to be the people called church. Clearly, this is a book I recommend.