J4P – The Empire Has No Clothes / On the Political Fringes

Guest Blogger: David Wolf (this is part two from Davids post on June 18th)

As Shane and Chris note many early Christians were known as followers of The Way. I find this a beautiful description of a Christian, and not that Jesus is the Way to heaven. Instead when one truly follows Jesus, it should cause one to life a way of love, hope, and new life practices.

So what does it mean “The Empire Has No Clothes”? I think I’ve missed how this title relates to this section. Can anyone help me? The authors jump into Revelation to discus how the followers of the Way knew that the Kingdom was at hand and it affects the way they live to how they interact in the Roman market. I’m not an expert, but in these times to shop with the Romans meant you had to claim Caesar was Lord, yet for the Christians Jesus was Lord. During the time that Revelation was written the emperor would sign document as dominus et deus (“Lord and God”). A central theme in Revelation is that Jesus is Lord, and his servants are to be selfless people who are not concerned with wealth and status, but with humanity, and that the God’s Kingdom is colliding with earth. John wasn’t allowing the followers to be comfortable; instead the way included all of life including every purchase and every bite. In a war torn empire, with unrest, and civil war, there was a way of hope. There seems to be a similar story today, and many times I find myself torn between comfort and The Way. Can we live without the market today? Or is the question how do we live for the good in out markets finding vendors who offer fair wages and benefits to their employees. Is there another way? Or are we satisfied with giving a pinch to those who are dehumanizing God’s beloved?

Following The Way should put people on political fringes during the first century, but it should also push us to the fringe. If Christians are to be about the ways of Jesus, justice, love, beauty, prayer, and hope; we cannot ignore political issues like Third World Debt, and the economic impact of slavery. Shane and Chris point out that the convictions of early Christians often had major costs, even life. This should not be a surprise for Jesus warned his disciples that following his way would have such ramifications. Does this challenge us today? Are we able to “pull out” of the intoxicating allure of our culture and society, of our empire? The comforts of the empire are so good, but I think that at time I get lost in such deception. I wonder if I’ve become content with what our culture makes to seem “good”, and am missing the fullness of God’s goodness.

(On a side note: N.T. Wright’s book “Surprised by Hope Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church” that these concepts further and is a must read, especially if you have grown up going to church.)