Reflection: On Power, Position, and Politics Part 1

This past weekend I was listening to a lecture entitled "Revelation and Christian Hope: Political Implications of the Revelation of John" by N.T. Wright, a famous New Testament scholar and retired Bishop of Durham in England (lecture given at Duke Divinity School, 2010 - it can be found by link at the bottom of this post or on podcast).  N.T. Wright is one of my favorite scholars - wise, insightful, thorough, Jesus following, and challenging. 

In the lecture given, N.T. Wright describes how the restoral of the earth will come when Jerusalem (a city) comes down to earth from heaven as part of the Christian hope.  He says (around minute 42) "the Creator God wants humans to run his world, to build and flourish, to run them humanely. "  However, he says, this is abused from the beginning of time onwards.  Israel is then to live the God given critique of the abuse of power as a restoral of the right use of power (even though Israel fails too, so the prophets give self-critiques).  Wright continues saying, "Not because power is bad, but because power is abused.  As with gardens and cities so with power.  The nostalgic or romantic longing for a world without power is a desire to return to the nursery."  He goes on to list Joseph and Daniel as examples of wise human beings bring society into order which I hear him insisting is a needed function of Christians. The church bears witness to what proper use of power is for, not for condemnation but for restoration and reconciliation.  The early Christians were asking not how people got into power, but what are you going to do with power now that you are there?

N.T. Wright's lecture is challenging for me.  As a summary, I hear him saying that the church is to bear witness about how Jesus conquers the world through his death and resurrection and overthrows evil to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.  Upon a second listening to parts of his lecture, what I struggle with is not the theology.  I think he's right.  What I struggle with is, "in what ways are we to bear witness as the church to the earthly powers concerning Jesus reign, to reconciliation, and to restoration?"  Do we do this through our occupation?  Do we avoid political power in position?  What is the power dynamic of the Kingdom of God? 

These are relevant and important questions to ask as people of the United States, "What is my role in critiquing the powers that be in this world through my life?"  In further reflections, we'll tackle these issues, bringing in other scholars to assist and lay out the practical question that N.T. Wright brings up in his lecture.  The responder to the lecture also heads in this direction, if you want to listen in.

The full lecture can be found here:

http://divinity.duke.edu/news-media/news/2010-10-26-nt-wright-revelation