The church…is not the master or servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool.
Martin Luther King, Jr. quoted by Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, 238.
Martin Luther King, Jr. on the church as the conscience of the state
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Ted M. Gossard
Ted, a good quote. I fundamentally agree. My problem is that for most of church history since Constantine, the church has found itself the tool of the state. That has already happened with Jim Dobson and the religious right and it is now happening with Jim Wallis and the religious left.
We become the tool of the state when we decide that the politics of power is more important than the politics of witness.
Allan, Thanks. Yes, I tend to agree. I certainly think we err when we think we can make headway in the world as the church through something other than the way of Jesus. Witness suggests we speak and live out the good news of the kingdom come and of God’s grace in Jesus. Power means joining the world in its game. And maybe blurring the lines between the church and the state? I was thinking that certainly some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s followers have not heeded these words well. Not sure if MLK Jr. lived up completely to them either. Who does live completely up to even our understanding of God’s truth? I am kind of wrestling anew through this now.
Too often we try to run the state. Instead we should pray for the state. And our activity should be limited to the probing conscience, asking questions, speaking the word of God….
Thanks, David. Maybe that is the primary way we’re to be present. I certainly would not question a Christian being in politics, though it the challenge to me would seem daunting. And there are times when we may have to stick out like a sore thumb to make our point. We do need to be present, and not hidden somewhere in our cloister, like some Christian groups do, although the ones who live to themselves are sometimes inflicted with something like the Galatian heresy, I’m afraid.
[...] to the politics of witness, rather than the politics of power. This came to the fore with the quote I left from Martin Luther King, Jr., yesterday, providing a bit of stimulating feedback. Along with [...]