Subverting The Empire: Undermining.

Subverting the Empire: Why We Do What We Do
Subverting the Empire: Dangerous Criticism

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:10, “His intent was that now, through the called out community of God, this wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms . . .”

Undermining

Part of the role in subverting the empire . . . the powers, the structures, and the philosophies that run antithetical to the kingdom of God . . . is that of undermining.

To some that will sound like anarchists. But anarchy is about as far from true subversion as you can get.

In reality, true subversion of a host empire has less to do with anarchy and more to do with non-violent resistance and good old fashioned undermining.

Lately I’ve been thinking of it a bit like being mischievous or playful with someone. Now I’m not saying I do this . . . but for example . . . if you’ve ever been in a fight with someone or in argument. And you know, that you know, that you know that you’re right. And the person opposite you has a rather stubborn personality. And perhaps isn’t very bright to begin with. Or at the very least is so “caught up” in their words and actions that they don’t even realize what they’re saying or becoming. And you know you can “win” at any point. But to do so would only alienate and irritate them even more. So you play with them. Mischievously baiting them and dancing around them with your words. Letting them get caught up further and further in the absurdities of their argument. Letting their ignorance prove their ignorance. And the hope that the ignorance leads to a kind of self-revelation about the absurdity of the argument.

I mean I’m not saying I’ve ever done that before (cough . . . cough . . . staff meetings). But that’s the way I think of “undermining” something. I think the role of the prophet is to mischievously undermine things in that same manner. Playfully toying with our host.

They say nice big gas guzzlers are the way to go. So we get rid of a car, ride a bike, carpool, and walk. They say we should be left to ourselves when we pull into our suburban home. So we sit on our front porches with our garage doors open. They say we should buy what we want when we want it. So we cut up our credit cards and give micro-loans to videographers in Ghana and a medical clinic in Kenya. They say having a multi-million dollar building campaign and excessive utility bills is worth the 3 hour event on Sunday mornings. So we break bread with our friends 7 days a week and give our tithe away. They say the truest indication of beauty comes from the commercials, magazines and what you wear. So we say a child’s way of life is more important than any lotion, t-shirt, or luxury that a child can provide us. They say you should care only about yourself and do whatever it takes to get ahead. So we live together with other couples as family sharing expenses and resources. They say the only way to protect ourselves, ensure security, and live peacefully is by way of state of the art weaponry directed at our enemies. So we usher in peace by way of the cross for our enemies.

Undermining is a radical posture and extremely polarizing. It is a dangerous thing to suggest that there is another way to live. So much that it can get you killed by the empire.

So Jesus comes and talks to women. He touches them and they touch him. The host culture did not allow that. But he didn’t care. He was too busy undermining the cultural role of men and women.

So Jesus comes and washes the feet of his friends. The host culture did not understand this “lowering” of one’s self for the sake of others. But he didn’t care. He was too busy undermining individualism and pride.

So Jesus comes riding a donkey. A farcical and mischievous thing for someone claiming to be a king to do. But he didn’t care. He was to too busy undermining Caesar and Herod and every other political leader who ruled from position and not service.

Speaking of the empire Walter Wink writes, “The Domination System tenuously maintains the upper hand; shattering its hold at any single point threatens its stability all along the line.”

That’s why people dismiss us. That’s why people dismiss half of what Jesus taught. It threatens stability. It’s too true and too revolutionary to be safe.

Paul realized this as much as anybody. Paul over and over in his writings uses the phrase “Jesus is Lord”. For those of us unfamiliar with the word “Lord”, we probably think it originated back in the Old Testament. It’s one of those names of God like Jehovah-Jireh or El-Shaddai or IAM. But it was used as an honorary name for Caesar. When Caesar would pass in the streets, chants of “Caesar is Lord” would ring out. It was a title reserved for him alone. But Paul and the early church subverted the empire. They began using the phrase “Jesus is Lord” to undermine and subvert the rule of Caesar. Jesus is Lord was not a spiritual name or title for God. It was an undermining, political subversion directed at Caesar and his empire.

This undermining is the work of the community of God. It is part of our prophetic role to undermine the crooked and shadowy ways of our empire. Where things are kept in the dark . . . we are to shine the light of truth. Where there are those who are oppressed without voices . . . we are to speak with them (not for them). Where there are culturally accepted norms for living and spending and relating . . . we are to live and spend and relate in a different way.

This different way is the kingdom of God. A way that is different than the nationalism, consumerism, militarism, and individualism (I hate “isms”) of our empire. Again Walter Wink points how odd it was that when Jesus discussed the kingdom of God he would use metaphors of “farming and women’s work, not warfare and kings’ palaces. It is not described as coming from on high down to earth; it rises quietly and imperceptibly out of the land. It is established, not by armies and military might, but by an ineluctable process of growth from below, among the common people.”

We are the common people. And like a mustard seed we are too use our voice and actions to undermine the kingdom of this world. And like yeast we are to infect everything around us with a different way of living.