Christians as Loving Adversaries

I read the words today of Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh which said "We are the loving adversaries of every regime". As I reflected on this, I believe it encapsulates perfectly the challenge for the Christian to be "in the world but not of it".

As followers of Christ, we are to embrace God's creation, i.e. to love persons, families, workplaces, subcultures, political and economic realities, i.e. all aspects of how cultures express themselves -- truly loving, serving, and caring as insiders.

However, as much as we love these cultures, they are fallen, and we must serve as adversaries as well. Adversaries against any expressions within these institutions or cultures that lead towards death. As Christians, our battle is to stand against all acts of oppression, arrogance, pride, greed,  violence, i.e. any practice that robs of life, that marginalizes, that excludes. Christians are to act as redemptive agents within all aspects of culture, simultaneously loving and refusing all that each culture/economy/family/political system has to offer.

More food for thought as the church and culture discussion continues...

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Comments

[Bill]

Does "Christian" culture count as one of those fallen cultures?

[ron]

Christians are to act as redemptive agents within all aspects of culture, simultaneously loving and refusing all that each culture/economy/family/political system has to offer.

I love that thought, for far too long, through the churches narrow mindedness...we have made the Gospel into nothing more than saving individuals. The mind of Christ envisions a redemption that blows our minds. The new creation is about redeeming political structures, the environment, the balance of global wealth and resources, social justice and racial and language barriers. This is the "BIG ", gospel picture.

[Emma]

resonates deep.

[Ryan]

Bill, most definitely -- powers are powers, in or outside the church...

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