We bid adieu today to Subversive Christianity, a blog which began in February of this year and ends today. (deacon's posts will be blanked out totally by tomorrow.) Here's the last post in tribute to a wonderful blog -
This is it. The final post. Countdown's (10-9-8, 7-6-5, 4-3-2) over. Tomorrow I turn out the lights on Subversive Christianity. The Peace Calendar and the subversive links in the left sidebar will remain. The posts will go.
I've thought a lot about how to finish, and finally decided it would be good to repeat the blog's inaugural post.
So here it is.8 Theses for the Recovery of Christianity
1. Christianity isn't the same as patriotism or civil religion. God doesn't love or protect the United States more than God loves or protects any other nation. The Cross always trumps the flag.
2. Genuine followers of Christ don't read the Bible either selectively or literally.
3. Genuine followers of Christ don't pretend that God blesses participation in warfare or any other form of institutional or personal violence.
4. If the Bible is any standard, God is a lot more worried about poverty, injustice, oppression, hatred, violence, and arrogance than about sex. We should follow God's example.
5. The Bible is a thoroughly political document (in addition to being many other things). The New Testament spells out a clear model (the Kingdom) for how people should live in community with one another. People who deny the Bible's political message generally do so because they disagree with it, not because it's not there.
6. Authentic Christianity is a scandal to the wealthy, powerful, complacent, comfortable, and privileged, because Christ teaches that riches, influence, and security corrupt. The moment Christianity becomes a faith associated with the wealthy, powerful, complacent, comfortable, and privileged, it ceases to live and takes on the character of an idol.
7. Christ was--Christ is--the Great Subverter, the Overthrower, the Cosmic Rebel, Creative Iconoclast, Countercultural Hero, and Gracious Restorer. Those of us who pledge loyalty to Him are likewise called to lives of radical subversion, holy anarchy, and gracious reconciliation.
8. The Church as the Body of Christ is also called to radical subversion, holy anarchy, and gracious reconciliation. But the Church as an institution is continuously tempted, as are all institutions, to strive for status and security. The ensuing tension is symptomatic of the ambiguity of the human condition.
Posted by A deacon, by the grace of God, at 12:24 AM
