Yesterday’s post concerned whether or not there are parallels between Rome as empire and the USA as empire. Regardless of your thoughts there, Gorman’s book proposes that the Book of Revelation is a manifesto and a summons to “uncivil” religion.
As we have been saying, Michael Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation discusses this theopolitical reading of Revelation.
So, his point: “Revelation is a manifesto against civil religion and a summons to uncivil worship and witness” (55). I totally agree.
Christmas, my friend, celebrates the birth of the King, and that birth occurred according to Luke 2 in the midst of a Roman Empire — and Jesus was the alternative king with an alternative kingdom. He wielded not Caesar’s weapons but “Lamb power.”
Secular power is not sacred.
Christmas proposes a sacred, non-secular power that is more powerful than the swords of Rome.
Power, sex and money are symptoms of a sacralized political dream that is undercut by Lamb power.
So here’s Gorman’s claim: “The most alluring and dangerous deity in the United States is the omnipresent, syncretistic god of nationalism mixed with Christianity lite” (56).
The plea of this book is for Christians to resist the charms of civil religion. The Church is called to cease from its participation in idolatries and to give itself to the Lamb.
Like Star Wars, it leaves us with an alternative: Beast or Lamb?
I know this is swimming against the current here at Jesus Creed, but Christmas is not just about celebrating Jesus’ birth.
In many pre/non-Christian cultures, there were winter festivals. Yule was one such festival and incorporated feasting, festivities, rituals (in the case of Yule, of a fairly positive and communal sort), and singing.
Christmas co-opted and merged with these winter festivals, and while we do certainly celebrate Christmas today as a time to honor Jesus, we also celebrate carry on the tradition of the winter festival which pre-dates Christianity. I think this should be recognized and appreciated as well.
I really appreciate you discussing this book on this blog. I use Patrick Henry Reardon’s daily bible reading guide and it started the book of Revelation just as Michael Gorman’s book was released, so the coincidence of these three resources has made for a real feast for me. I think that Michael Gorman’s book and his reading of Revelation is remarkably timely for the American church, prophetic.
Go Lamb power!!!
Amen! While I don’t think Christians can’t participate in some national aspects such as national politics, and of course be citizens, we do so as Christians, and nothing less. Our allegiance can be only to the Lamb!
I wonder if Jesus would have picked a different animal today, perhaps Kitten. Lamb Power is a great phrase.
“The most alluring and dangerous deity in the United States is the omnipresent, syncretistic god of nationalism mixed with Christianity lite”
That is a great line.
Great post! I’m thinking that just about every post I read on your site is a gold mine. Thanks for the challenge!
Nationalism + Christianity lite…catchy!
The power of empire is so, well, “anti-Christ”! He was so all about willingness to go low, forfeit power, and all that. Empire-building requires acquisition of power.
But here’s what went through my mind as I read this post, and reflected on yesterday’s: Jesus said to render unto Caesar what is Caeser’s… Palestine was over-burdened with taxes. But the Romans built the Roman Road, and how important was that in advancing the gospel and creating a means for Christianity to grow? God uses whatever and whomever He will to accomplish His purposes on earth, then and now
A great example of this was on “The Colbert Report” last week when he ripped apart Bill O’Rielly commenting on the fact that Jesus wasn’t self-destructive with helping others and that God helps those that help themselves. I was awestruck at how thoroughly nationalist the comments were.