Customer Reviews

The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium

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If I had to pick the best theology books of the past twenty-five years, Walter Wink's *Powers that Be* would be close to the top of the list. It does nothing less than revolutionize the way Christians have come to think of their role in the world. But when I say "revolutionize," what I really mean--and this is Wink's contention as well--is that it "reminds" Christians of the original message brought by Jesus and accepted by the early Church. And that message is that nonviolence, not violence, is not only what God expects, but also what ultimately works in the world.

Wink argues that humans live under "domination systems"--the "powers and principalities that be." These are the structural and ideological institutions that manipulate our minds, lives, and activities, reduce our freedom, and retard our flourishing. As Christians, we're called to resist them without buying into the "myth of redemptive violence"--the centuries' old chestnut that violence is the only kind of force that works, and that because it works it justifies itself. Jesus showed an alternative way--the path of nonviolent resistance.

In examining nonviolent resistance, Wink is masterful. He persuasively destroys the stereotype of nonviolence as a turn-the-other-cheek passivity by exploring what Jesus really meant when he advocated cheek-turning or walking the second mile. Along the way, he offers one of the most insightful analysis of the post-Jesus "just war doctrine" I've ever read. Wink is realistic enough to not completely reject the doctrine. But he does suggest that we quit using it as a justification for war and begin thinking of it instead in terms of "violence-reduction criteria."

An amazing book that every Christian ought to read and meditate on, particularly now that the dogs of war are baying loudly. I give it ten stars.

Wink has written a fascinating and readable book. This isheavy theology packaged for sale to a junk-food crowd. I recommend itwithout reservation.

The essence of Wink's thought revolves around "redemptive violence," the belief that "violence saves." The powers Wink engages are those which employ violence to maintain their dominance. This dominace of violence, ranging from literal torture and death to softer forms of humiliation and degradation, are described as the explicit focus of Jesus' life and message. His death, rather than being a violent appeasement of a blood-thirsty God, is revealed as the only nonviolent means of defeating the powers - embracing the unjust suffering of violence as a means of bringing humiliation and reproach to the powerful.

Those looking for an exegetical analysis of Jesus' sayings may be initially frustrated by Wink. He uses biblical references as illustrations, not proof texts, and his imagination frequently stretches the limits of "proper" hermeneutics. Nonetheless, his imagination captures the spiritual essence of Jesus' call for nonviolent opposition to evil in a powerful and convincing manner.

Those hoping for a manual of social activisim will be frustrated by Wink, also. His calls for personal reform and renewal as much as he calls for political change. Most of his psychological musings are clearly derived from CG Jung, but seem to be written by one who has found Jung's insights personally meaningful.

In conclusion, I must commend Wink for his short essay on worldviews and how our unconscious adoption/indoctrination into a worldview influences all that we think and believe. I also commend his analysis of prayer, especially in this worldview context.

As a "recovering fundamentalist" I believe this book may prove to be one of the major pillars in my personal attempt to rebuild my faith. I simply loved it.

"The Powers That Be" is a condensed version of "Engaging the Powers." I read "Engaging The Powers" first and found it very dense in the sense that I had to read a bit and ponder, read a bit and ponder. "The Powers That Be" moves much faster, perhaps because I was already tuned into the themes, but I do think that in this case, less is more. Wink's treatment of the two theories of the Atonement should be required reading for pastors and Sunday School teachers. Several years ago I was teaching teens and a kid asked me what it means when we say that Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins. It struck me like a thunderbolt that I had no idea what those words mean when I knew I should. That's the "blood theory" of the Atonement. I held the "Christus Victor" view of the Atonement but I did not posess the framework nor the knowledge of the historical context to answer the kid's question. The notion that God was so angry at our sinfulness that he demanded a ransom be paid and that no human was good enough so he supplied His own son to be tortured is rotten theology not to mention the "God as monster" image it portrays would make athiesm and "act of pur religion," as Wink says. Under "Christus Victor", God is loving and wants us to live as one in His Kingdom on earth. The Domination System prevents us from living that way, so this loving God appears to us in human form to show us how to defeat the Powers and Principalities which cause some of us to dominate others. Read the book!

I bought this book when it was recommended as "essential reading" at a peacemaking workshop. I found it invaluable in putting to rest my tendencies to demonize others, especially those in power, and to forego action because I was not blameless. This book proved the basis for me to regain my optimism about the possibility of acting in the world--acknowledging reality while remaining optimistic for change and social justice. I went out and bought 12 copies to give to influencers of policy, from Bill Clinton to fellow members of my Peace Covenant group. You don't have to believe in any particular dogma to get a lot out of this overview of ways to look at the world and to engage with it. I've already run out of copies and hope that more people read this book.

This latest distillation of Wink's thinking about the problem of evil and the necessity of nonviolent action is a wonderful read. It is clearly written, would be a great focus for an adult Sunday School class, and uses terminology that even the theologically uneducated can comprehend. Not a lot of theology books are page turners that can be read in one sitting, but this one is (at just over 200 clearly written pages). Then you go back for more.

How do we think about organizations or nations that do bad things? What are the real demons of the world? Why do wars occur? What is the theory behind nonviolence, and why should Christians understand it? Wink takes some broad, deep and meaningful issues and manages to make cogent arguments in short, simple terminology. I particularly found his discussion of "just war" theology to be helpful.

This is one that I'll refer to again and again as I write sermons and do my own theological discernment. Every pastor should own it, and I highly recommend it to lay persons as well.

Walter Wink's groundbreaking work gives us a new way to examine the ideas of evil and salvation in the Bible. Wink suggests that the Powers and Principalities mentioned in the New Testament are the psychological underpinnings of complicated systems -- that is, that every corporation, church, government, etc., has its own personality that tends to take over no matter what the individual people involved. All these powers have a God-given purpose, but when they serve their own ends rather than human beings, they become demonic, and it is Christians' responsibility to confront them through nonviolent action and prayer.

Wink writes stirringly and concisely. He quotes frequently from Scripture, and uses examples from contemporary life such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Wink seeks to return the church to a foundation in Scripture rather than the accretions of Christendom and arcane theological theories. A must -read for any serious, thinking Christian who wants to live their faith and not just profess it.

Buyers should be aware that this is merely a condensation of Dr. Wink's three previous larger works on the subject, and not a new vilume in that series. Its usefulness will thus be restricted to those who have not read his excellent books previously.

I wasn't too "into" the first and last chapters--I'd probably suggest skimming those. But that's what made the meat "in-between" even more stunning! Walter Wink is brilliant, and his insight into nonviolence brings up doctrinal and historic strengths of nonviolent activism that I'd never even heard.

This is the book that answers people who say "you pacifists are just weak! Pacifism will only let the bad guys win!" For years I never knew how to answer that, so I never committed to nonviolence. This book delivers excellent answers.

This book proposes that the real Powers that Be need to be transformed. Wink rightly recognizes the world views in which redemptive violence works and proposes that non-violent resistance is how the powers should be opposed instead of violence and instead of a weak pacifist perspective. The book was on point in this regard and Wink points to examples of how non-violent resistance has worked in cases of South Africa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. and others. The main contribution of this book for me was Wink's point about not resisting evil by evil means and thus becoming the thing which you are opposing. The Church desperately needs to grab hold of this and realize that violence cannot be combated with violence and evil cannot be combated with evil and that might does not make right.

This book had several glaring weaknesses. Wink fails to recognize a unified voice in the New Testament concerning his subject, when in fact the voice is univocal. For example, Wink wrongly sees John the Baptist message of judgment of fire as being out of line with the message of Jesus. This is just not true. Wink could have built a better case if he had a better grasp on Paul, but instead he sees in Paul a man who simply peddled justification by faith, when in fact Paul was totally in line with the message of Jesus.

Regardless, of Wink's weak view of the authority of all scripture, his overall point is right on and needs to be heard by the Church and the world. Wink is right to oppose all war, including the just war theory, and to call the Church to do the same. I do recommend this book to all pastors in the USA and anyone interested in how to oppose the Powers that Be.

Questions or comments contact me at darrengjohnson38@yahoo.com

This volume is an excellent and very readable summation of Wink's more academic Powers trilogy. He proposes a major shift in worldview and offers some potential ways in which people and society ought to be changed by this new worldview. This is a powerful and challenging book that anyone can read. It may or may not change your life, but it will certainly give you food for thought for many days after closing its cover.