A Different Kind of Power
an eastern (if not open and relational) christmas perspective
I love the story in the Eastern tradition of the king who had an increasingly wicked kingdom. He was brokenhearted and contemplated a way he could get the kingdom on track.
One option he considered was force. He could ride into the heart of the business district accompanied by horses and chariots. Trumpets could announce his arrival. He could issue a law against wickedness. He could demand that people behave, for coercion is always an option for a king.
But, the king chose an alternate way.
One evening, he disguised himself as a beggar and quietly walked into the poorest and most broken section of the kingdom, the place where wickedness had made its biggest impact.
There, in the middle of poverty, prostitution, homelessness, and broken dreams the beggar made himself at home. No one knew his real identity, but, in time, people began to notice the way in which this beggar lived.
Where there was dishonesty, he showed truth.
Where there was greed, he displayed generosity.
Where there was hate, he responded with love.
In this way, he began to influence the community. Surprisingly, some even began to emulate his actions and a movement was birthed that grew throughout the community. One by one, individuals, then families, and then districts were affected, until the entire kingdom was transformed… from the inside out. Evil was dispelled, and love became the rule of the day. Only then, did the king take off his beggar clothes and reveal his true identity.
Imagine the surprise and delight of the people as they realized they not only had a king who knew how to lead, they also had a king willing to become one of them, like kin. Imagine them considering the novelty: it’s less a king-dom, as Ada María Isasi-Díaz was prone to say, and more a kindom.
We are those people and our world is that time. Love has been embodied and dwelt among us … to help us change; to show us the way. We are being invited to participate in the kindom way. It’s as novel today as it’s ever been.
I snagged this from the _Medievalart IG page: The Virgin and Child with the Archangels Michael and Gabriel from a Gospel book, likely from a monastery called Gunda Gunde in Ethiopia. I’ve not seen it before today, but it’s beautiful, espcially given that someone created it in the 1500s!
Today’s publication reminded me of my friend, Andrew Davis, and his new book called From Force to Persuasion: Process-Relational Perspectives on Power and the God of Love.
This basic concept, something I sometimes call relational power vs. authoritarian power (and what my friend,
thinks of as amipotence rather than omnipotence), is the veritble backbone of open and realtional theology. Also, see , , , and . And while she uses different language, it’s also something I find to be very resonant with the neurological work of . Speaking of neurology, see the work of Shaleen Kendrick. Haha, okay, that’s enough references for now!I hope you and yours find joy during this🎄and if you’re looking for a place to do some year-end-giving (and who isn’t?) may I suggest LoveHaiti? ♥️
Jonathan
Beautiful message, Jonathan. The core of it reminded me of the precise “amnipotence” that Thomas fleshes out in his book. Great allusion, and powerful insight on the power of Love in this season which should bring much Joy.
May I wish an early “Happy Christmas “ to you and your family?! 🎄💖🎄
You are loved.
Also, I have always leaned toward the Eastern Church’s understanding of most everything. There is a core of proper Wesleyan theology embodied throughout it.
I find it both rich, and compelling.
“Do what you say you are- or do nothing!”
“Don’t corrupt the witness of the Gospels”
“Love is the power that moves us to a relational perspective on how power should be wielded”
[quotations my thoughts/beliefs added for emphasis]