{"id":38133,"date":"2024-09-03T22:44:19","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T05:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38133"},"modified":"2024-09-03T22:44:19","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T05:44:19","slug":"heavenly-value-authority-nilai-syurga-kuasa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/heavenly-value-authority-nilai-syurga-kuasa\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavenly Value &amp; Authority (Nilai Syurga &amp; Kuasa)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The book, &#8220;Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness In An Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies&#8221; by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird explores the concept of &#8220;powers&#8221; as understood in the New Testament and its significance to the life and mission of Jesus.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> Wright and Bird provide a comprehensive exploration of the theological and practical dimensions of Jesus&#8217; interaction with the powers, offering valuable insights for both historical and contemporary Christian thought.<\/p>\n<p>In chapter 3, \u201cPower and the \u2018Powers\u2019 in Early Christianity: John, Paul and the Paradox of Biblical Politics\u201d,\u00a0Wright and Bird thoroughly explore and speak into how the early Christian writings of John and Paul address political power.<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<p><u>John\u2019s Perspective:<\/u><\/p>\n<p>Revelation: John\u2019s apocalyptic vision in the Book of Revelation<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a> portrays the Roman Empire as a beast, symbolizing oppressive political power.\u00a0This imagery is used to critique the empire\u2019s idolatry and injustice, urging Christians to remain faithful to Jesus\u2019s kingdom despite persecution.<\/p>\n<p>Dual Allegiance: John emphasizes that Christians owe their ultimate allegiance to Jesus, not to earthly rulers.\u00a0This dual allegiance often puts them at odds with the political powers of their time.<\/p>\n<p><u>Paul\u2019s Perspective:<\/u><\/p>\n<p>Romans 13<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a>: Paul\u2019s letter to the Romans discusses the role of governing authorities, stating that they are instituted by God to maintain order and justice.\u00a0However, this does not mean blind obedience; Paul also calls for discernment and resistance against unjust rulers.<\/p>\n<p>Principalities and Powers: Paul frequently refers to \u201cprincipalities and powers\u201d in his letters (e.g., Ephesians 6:12), indicating that political powers have a spiritual dimension.\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a>These powers can be both good and evil, and Christians are called to engage with them critically, recognizing their potential for both justice and oppression.<\/p>\n<p>Wright and Bird contend that both John and Paul offer a sophisticated perspective on political power. They recognize the essential role of political structures while also pointing out their susceptibility to corruption and idolatry. Christians are urged to interact with these powers by advocating for justice and opposing oppression, all while remaining steadfast in their allegiance to Jesus\u2019s kingdom. This part of the book motivates Christians to engage in political activities that embody the values of God\u2019s kingdom, striking a balance between obedience to authorities and prophetic resistance to injustice.<\/p>\n<p>Wright and Bird discuss the concept that \u201call authority is from God,\u201d drawing from biblical texts,<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Aren&#8217;t you going to speak to me?\u2019 he said. \u2018Don&#8217;t you know that I have the authority to let you go, and the authority to crucify you?\u2019 \u2018You couldn&#8217;t have any authority at all over me,\u2019 replied Jesus, \u2018unless it was given to you from above. That&#8217;s why the person who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.<a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\">[6]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some notable key points:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Divine Ordination<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Purpose of Authority<\/strong>: Wright and Bird explain that God ordains political authorities to serve a purpose in His divine plan.\u00a0These authorities are meant to promote good and restrain evil, acting as instruments of God\u2019s justice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accountability<\/strong>: While authorities are established by God, they are also accountable to Him.\u00a0This means that rulers and governments must act justly and righteously, as they will ultimately answer to God for their actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Christian Engagement<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Critical Engagement<\/strong>: Christians are called to engage with political authorities critically.\u00a0They should support and obey just laws and rulers but also resist and challenge unjust and oppressive regimes<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Jesus-Powers-Totalitarian-Dysfunctional-Democracies\/dp\/0310162246\"><sup>.<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Prophetic Witness<\/strong>: The authors emphasize that Christians should act as a prophetic witness, advocating for justice, peace, and the common good, reflecting the values of God\u2019s kingdom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Balance of Power<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Submission and Resistance<\/strong>: Wright and Bird highlight the balance between submission to authorities and resistance against tyranny.\u00a0Christians are encouraged to discern when to obey and when to resist, always prioritizing their ultimate allegiance to Jesus\u2019s kingdom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Wright and Bird\u2019s work combines political theology, biblical overview, and church history to argue that advancing Jesus\u2019s kingdom involves confronting various forms of empire. They suggest that Christians should \u00a0engage politically in ways that support democratic values and oppose autocracy and nationalism. The book reflects on how this kingdom-focused approach applies to contemporary issues, including conflicts in Russia-Ukraine, China-Taiwan, and political instability in the USA, UK, and Australia, as well as the challenge of Christian nationalism.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Takeaways and application to self:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I often struggle what to say when people engage me in politics and God conversations. This book offers me practical insights for applying Christian principles when engaging in political discussions in my daily life:<\/p>\n<p><em>Engage politically with integrity<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This book encourages advocacy for justice, peace, and the common good by supporting policies and leaders that reflect these values and opposing injustice. Wright and Bird stress the need to discern when to follow authorities and when to resist unjust laws, helping me navigate political complexities while remaining faithful to my beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Reflect kingdom values<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This book teaches me to embody the values of Jesus\u2019s kingdom in all aspects of life, including politics by showing love, mercy, and humility in my interactions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>Stay informed and thoughtful<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This book provides me a framework for analyzing political situations through a Christian lens. \u00a0To engage with political systems critically, supporting what is good and opposing what is evil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Community and Accountability<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This book led me to engage with my church and community in discussions about political issues.\u00a0It guides me to look to trusted Christian leaders and scholars for guidance on complex political matters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By applying these principles, I can engage in political life in a manner that respects God and supports His kingdom values. This approach allows me to positively impact society while keeping my primary commitment to Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Wright, N. T., and Michael F. Bird.\u00a0<em>Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies<\/em>. London: SPCK Publishing, 2024.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> Wright, N. T., and Michael F. Bird, 40.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Revelation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> Romans 13.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Ephesians 6:12.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a> Wright, N. T., and Michael F. Bird, 41.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The book, &#8220;Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness In An Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies&#8221; by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird explores the concept of &#8220;powers&#8221; as understood in the New Testament and its significance to the life and mission of Jesus.[1] Wright and Bird provide a comprehensive exploration of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3210,2967],"class_list":["post-38133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-wright","tag-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38133"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38134,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38133\/revisions\/38134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}