I’m in, but I need you to know that I’m doing so despite my experience with people who talk about politics in Christian language. Do you understand? I find this kind of thing terrifying.
I'm not sure it's a rational fear, you know? I just struggle with the idea that any movement, even this one (which I really like the sound of, let's be clear) could become coercive. Theocracy doesn't have a good track record, but maybe you wouldn't characterize your vision that way. I'm open to dialogue.
Even though I'm a professing Christian I have some ideas that would not be very welcome among people who talk about Truth a lot - what happens to me if I disagree on what Truth is? Who decides what the official Truth is? Maybe I've found insight and truth in something you consider illusion?
It's not as though you sound like the Heritage Foundation. But as a kid I knew a lot of people who had to flee Iran after the revolution there, and now a organization claiming a Christian basis has helped elect the most corrupt president in living memory.
I'm not some saint - just a regular guy. I just want to live my life.
I appreciate your honest response. I think you will appreciate my approach based on what you have said here. And for me truth is a person. One that no one sees perfectly. We all come with our known and unknown biases, and only come to see his face more clearly through each other. Appreciate your interaction.
Thanks for your comment and I’ll check out your source as I get time. I listed autocracy, technocracy and oligarchy and will get to the other two soon. I think they are all at work.
Oh wow, some kindred spirits here. Goodness, you’re hard to find :)
Looks like the Spirit’s up to something, as I thought and hoped. I’ve been drawn by a similar call—our generation’s desperate need for (global) church renewal.
Your V3 Movement also picked my interest, you might hear from me.
JR, you've influenced me along with so many others you have referenced. As I talk with a lot of my friends and colleagues both in N.A. and in Europe, I'm finding that people are just as appalled as I am by the caving in of many in my tribe to the false amalgamation of church and state. Thank you for calling us to faithful resistance through your writings on the church as movement and The Scandal of Leadership. Deeply appreciated. Encouraging.
Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. I’ll do my best with the help of the Spirit to speak to our context. The study in the Powers certainly helped me prepare for this moment. Prayers most welcomed.
JR, I'm thankful you are carving out a Faithful Resistance safe space within the Substack ecosystem--which I believe has potential to cultivate a generative ecology of faith, hope, love, and koinonia in the toxic, mimetic realm of empire. I pray that you'll have wisdom in the Way of the kenotic Christ as you bring your voice and action to the streets for the sake of neighbor. I also pray you will have eyes to see and ears to hear what is hidden, and creative imagination to tell it slant. I am encouraged you are drawing from the wisdom of past wayfinders in this work for our moment. Blessed are the shalom-makers; they will be called children of God.
That is the goal my bro. Thanks for your Substack and your recent book, "Wayfinding with Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Off the Beaten Path into the Kingdom". It's a needed resource for our time!
So - you never actually 'explain' what your are 'against' with Trump and the current Adminisration. Let's take some of your comments from your first post:
Your opening sentence: "We are living in a time when influence is bought, not earned, when those who dominate the stage do so through spectacle, not substance." So - BECAUSE Trump actually spoke of 'substance' - those kitchen table issues that affect the middle and lower classes - such as - crime, open borders, inflation - he won the election. The former VP could not answer a question - she had ZERO substance to her campaign - a big reason why she lost.
Cannot you not see that?
Here is another one of your quotes:
"Though some rise through the ballot box, their power is often built on false promises,..." Yet, Trump has ALREADY KEPT a number of his promises - such as: Protecting our border to stop the flow of illegal aliens = which in turned stopped the flow of human trafficking, sex trafficking (especially of minors) - and the fentanyl flow - number one killer of Adults 18-34 in this country. He also kept the promise of stopping men from competing as women. He kept the promise of unleashing America's natural gas and resources - and fuel prices are already coming down. He kept his promise of removing criminal gang illegal aliens who have harmed Americans - from our country.
You 'use a lot of words' in this first post - but you actually don't name the policies that you disagree with - what change you would like to see- and overall = what, exactly - are you asking the Faithful to 'Resist' against? What do you want to see them do? What do you believe Jesus want his followers to ‘do’ = specifically?
It is explained more fully in posts 2 & 3, and will be further developed in ongoing posts what i have deep concern about. The first post was simple to set my approach.
I agree with you. It seems some progressive Christians simply can not stand to see president Trump doing exactly what he campaigned on- closing the border, getting us out of a recession/endless money printing, and getting rid of the corruption in government. He really is trying and mostly succeeded in these tasks, despite democrats going against him at every turn. Obama deporting 12 million was cheered on by Dems and Trump deports a dozen and is called hateful. There is no consistency of what Dems stand for or actually want. I could vote for Trump based solely on his Abortion stance and the horrible act of killing babies. Actually he is not pro choice enough for me but my alternative was Harris and late term abortions! How as a Christian do you justify this? How do Christians go along with policies that enslave children into prostitution over the border, support gender ideology agenda that ignores the first book of the Bible, and exposes them to pornograhic books in their school libraries? This is your party and I hardly understand why nonbelievers are following these progressive ideas but for the life of me can not understand why a faithful, Bible reading, Spirit filled individual would be FOR all that. Is hate for one individual blinding you to truth?
Susan. Thanks for your encouragement. I’m seeking to do my part, however imperfectly, because we are at a critical moment. It brings much satisfaction to hear my words bring inspiration to you as we all need to stand together in the moment. Christ though his life, death and resurrection is seeking to build one new humanity, but too often we live in the illusion of separation. May his Spirit continue blow across our world.
I’m in, but I need you to know that I’m doing so despite my experience with people who talk about politics in Christian language. Do you understand? I find this kind of thing terrifying.
I appreciate your honesty and would love to know your concerns better.
I'm not sure it's a rational fear, you know? I just struggle with the idea that any movement, even this one (which I really like the sound of, let's be clear) could become coercive. Theocracy doesn't have a good track record, but maybe you wouldn't characterize your vision that way. I'm open to dialogue.
Even though I'm a professing Christian I have some ideas that would not be very welcome among people who talk about Truth a lot - what happens to me if I disagree on what Truth is? Who decides what the official Truth is? Maybe I've found insight and truth in something you consider illusion?
It's not as though you sound like the Heritage Foundation. But as a kid I knew a lot of people who had to flee Iran after the revolution there, and now a organization claiming a Christian basis has helped elect the most corrupt president in living memory.
I'm not some saint - just a regular guy. I just want to live my life.
I appreciate your honest response. I think you will appreciate my approach based on what you have said here. And for me truth is a person. One that no one sees perfectly. We all come with our known and unknown biases, and only come to see his face more clearly through each other. Appreciate your interaction.
And I appreciate you and look forward to reading what you have to say.
I suggest search YouTube for Dark Gothic MAGA.
I’m not into conspiracy theories but this one seems to check out.
I mention it because of your mention of technocrats. This is perhaps more techno-oligarchy
Thanks for your comment and I’ll check out your source as I get time. I listed autocracy, technocracy and oligarchy and will get to the other two soon. I think they are all at work.
Oh wow, some kindred spirits here. Goodness, you’re hard to find :)
Looks like the Spirit’s up to something, as I thought and hoped. I’ve been drawn by a similar call—our generation’s desperate need for (global) church renewal.
Your V3 Movement also picked my interest, you might hear from me.
Glad to hear is resonates with you. I would love to connect. If you want my number or email, then we can do through direct message.
Super, thank you :) Let me take a deep dive into the 3V Movement and I’ll get back to you. Would be great to connect, cheers!
Sounds good!
JR, you've influenced me along with so many others you have referenced. As I talk with a lot of my friends and colleagues both in N.A. and in Europe, I'm finding that people are just as appalled as I am by the caving in of many in my tribe to the false amalgamation of church and state. Thank you for calling us to faithful resistance through your writings on the church as movement and The Scandal of Leadership. Deeply appreciated. Encouraging.
Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. I’ll do my best with the help of the Spirit to speak to our context. The study in the Powers certainly helped me prepare for this moment. Prayers most welcomed.
JR, thank you for this. I appreciate your reflection on the Powers and how it explains our situation in the US. Grace and peace to you.
Thanks bro.
JR, I'm thankful you are carving out a Faithful Resistance safe space within the Substack ecosystem--which I believe has potential to cultivate a generative ecology of faith, hope, love, and koinonia in the toxic, mimetic realm of empire. I pray that you'll have wisdom in the Way of the kenotic Christ as you bring your voice and action to the streets for the sake of neighbor. I also pray you will have eyes to see and ears to hear what is hidden, and creative imagination to tell it slant. I am encouraged you are drawing from the wisdom of past wayfinders in this work for our moment. Blessed are the shalom-makers; they will be called children of God.
That is the goal my bro. Thanks for your Substack and your recent book, "Wayfinding with Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Off the Beaten Path into the Kingdom". It's a needed resource for our time!
I’m so glad you are embarking on this. So needed! I’m with you.
It wasn’t my decision, it is more of a calling. I do believe that God has prepared me for this moment. Thanks for your encouragement!
So - you never actually 'explain' what your are 'against' with Trump and the current Adminisration. Let's take some of your comments from your first post:
Your opening sentence: "We are living in a time when influence is bought, not earned, when those who dominate the stage do so through spectacle, not substance." So - BECAUSE Trump actually spoke of 'substance' - those kitchen table issues that affect the middle and lower classes - such as - crime, open borders, inflation - he won the election. The former VP could not answer a question - she had ZERO substance to her campaign - a big reason why she lost.
Cannot you not see that?
Here is another one of your quotes:
"Though some rise through the ballot box, their power is often built on false promises,..." Yet, Trump has ALREADY KEPT a number of his promises - such as: Protecting our border to stop the flow of illegal aliens = which in turned stopped the flow of human trafficking, sex trafficking (especially of minors) - and the fentanyl flow - number one killer of Adults 18-34 in this country. He also kept the promise of stopping men from competing as women. He kept the promise of unleashing America's natural gas and resources - and fuel prices are already coming down. He kept his promise of removing criminal gang illegal aliens who have harmed Americans - from our country.
You 'use a lot of words' in this first post - but you actually don't name the policies that you disagree with - what change you would like to see- and overall = what, exactly - are you asking the Faithful to 'Resist' against? What do you want to see them do? What do you believe Jesus want his followers to ‘do’ = specifically?
It is explained more fully in posts 2 & 3, and will be further developed in ongoing posts what i have deep concern about. The first post was simple to set my approach.
I agree with you. It seems some progressive Christians simply can not stand to see president Trump doing exactly what he campaigned on- closing the border, getting us out of a recession/endless money printing, and getting rid of the corruption in government. He really is trying and mostly succeeded in these tasks, despite democrats going against him at every turn. Obama deporting 12 million was cheered on by Dems and Trump deports a dozen and is called hateful. There is no consistency of what Dems stand for or actually want. I could vote for Trump based solely on his Abortion stance and the horrible act of killing babies. Actually he is not pro choice enough for me but my alternative was Harris and late term abortions! How as a Christian do you justify this? How do Christians go along with policies that enslave children into prostitution over the border, support gender ideology agenda that ignores the first book of the Bible, and exposes them to pornograhic books in their school libraries? This is your party and I hardly understand why nonbelievers are following these progressive ideas but for the life of me can not understand why a faithful, Bible reading, Spirit filled individual would be FOR all that. Is hate for one individual blinding you to truth?
I thank you our leader JR Woodward and our mentor. Your V3 learning and now the substack post of faithful Resistance are quite inspirational.
We stand together with you.
Susan. Thanks for your encouragement. I’m seeking to do my part, however imperfectly, because we are at a critical moment. It brings much satisfaction to hear my words bring inspiration to you as we all need to stand together in the moment. Christ though his life, death and resurrection is seeking to build one new humanity, but too often we live in the illusion of separation. May his Spirit continue blow across our world.