When Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He created a new “nation” of chosen people – the church – made up of every tribe and every people. God’s chosen people aren’t comprised solely of the present-day country of Israel and its’ political hangers-on.
Were early Christians communists? Well, yes and no.
Can we really have a virtuous society if violence, force and coercion serve as its driving force?
When Time starts printing covers undermining the legitimacy of the state and its foundation of violence, force and coercion, then we can start talking about subversive art.
No government program could do what the Trinity Hill UMC church family did for me after my surgery. No politician cares enough about me to show up at my bedside at 5:30 a.m., or to sit with my wife, or to come to my house and sing Christmas carols to cheer me up. So why do we count on these people?
The concept of “the people” is nothing more than a political construct. Those in power, and vying for power, use the “will of the people” to wrap their actions in moral legitimacy. But does the existence of a majority consensus within an artificially constructed group really provide any kind of moral authority?
Where do we find the greatest value in life? through our relationships and our shared traditions. Institutions that foster those relationships – family, churches, civic organizations, communities – enrich our lives. Politics and governmental structures don’t.
If you agree that force, violence and coercion are not moral/ethical ways to interact with your neighbors, I would implore you to start looking at other ways to make the world a better place than using political processes and the power of the state to impose your conception of the greater good on the world. It’s always wise to remember that every tyrant in history claimed to be acting for the greater good.
