Categories: uncategorized
Date: 08 December 2011 16:23:12
Interesting BBC article today from Stephen Tomkins related to the use of WWJD as a slogan and concept. Today though I want to look at what did Jesus and the early church do and ask "Is Christianity based on Counter Power?"
Tim Gee's book Counter Power is based around the proposition that much history is made through resistance and the use of Counter Power. He acknowledges Counter Power is not a new concept but says he is seeking to extend the idea and use it as a simple explanation as to why some social movements achieve their goal and why others don't.
He argues that change and history are based upon three types of Counterpower being used: Idea; Economic and Physical forms of Counterpower. Idea Counterpower involves "challenging accepted truths, refusing to obey authority and finding new channels of communication." Economic Counterpower occurs via "strikes, boycotts, democratic regulation and ethical consumption." Physical Counterpower "can occasionally mean literally fighting back or alternatively non-violently placing our bodies in the way of injustice".
Before I start theologically examining the concept in relation the emergence and success of Christianity there are a few obvious points to make.
Firstly, Christianity emerged within the Roman Empire; primarily amongst an oppressed people. We know the zealots were also using Counterpower methods, but did not do so successfully (hence the fall of the second Temple in AD 70). So there were a range of Counterpower movements operating at this time.
Secondly, Counterpower has been applied by Gee to movements of resistance against political oppression. His is a political rather than a theological concept. Christianity is interested in structural politics but it goes beyond this. It is a movement based primarily upon resisting spiritual oppression.
Thirdly, whilst Gee uses a neo-Marxist framework which focuses primarily on the macro level the old maxim of "the personal is political" is also true. Christianity is a movement which began, and I would argue is still, seeking to resist oppression and bring about active change - rather than simply reform - on personal and an institutional level.
So with those reminders in place the question is asked did Christianity succeed because Jesus and his followers were using Counterpower?
Idea Counterpower is a pretty uncontroversial one here. Jesus was a rabbi and a debater. He challenged assumptions and accepted truths in what he said. He did not accept hegemonic explanations. Throughout his ministry he refused to obey norms and values which he felt were contrary to the spirit and meaning of the Jewish Law. Peter, inspired by the Spirit, used words and ideas against the authorities who were seeking to silence the disciples. Paul felt it was so important he used his right as a Roman citizen to have his case heard in Rome because he too was using idea counterpower.
So Idea Counterpower was certainly an element but what about the other forms. These are more controversial.
Economic Counterpower is sometimes discounted as something used because of Jesus saying give unto Cesar what is Caesars's and unto God what is God's - regarding tax. However, I believe the gospels and the letters provide alternative approaches to economic issues.
Firstly, the New Testament challenges both Roman and Jewish sacrificial systems on the basis of the oppression which was linked to them. This was what Jesus was doing when he turned the tables over in the temple; clearly an act which was using Economic Counterpower.
Secondly, the encounters with Tax Collectors which led these people to renounce the system of bribes which the system was based upon is an example too. So is the instruction to "sell everything you have and give it to the poor." This together with the feeding of the 5000 and the pooling of possessions in Acts relate to promoting ideas and practices based around communal economic inter-dependence. The new testament both symbolically (via idea counterpower) and practically (through economic counterpower) promotes economic relations between people which are resisting oppression and oppressive practices.
The way the Gentiles provided help to the Jewish Christians was also using Economic Counterpower in order to confront economic conditions and practices designed to cause greater hardship to the Jewish Christians.
The concept of Physical Counterpower is one which has been hardest for people both within the church but also outside - often within social movements - to see within the gospels. I think this is because people are looking for acts which are similar to those used within political movements and I believe it is in this area where the difference between a theological understanding and a political understanding is greatest. Healing on the Sabbath was not just an example of idea counterpower and a challenge to the authorities it was also an example of physical counterpower. I say this because it was an act which involved the physical act of healing in order to right an injustice and to challenge a continued oppression. Other healings equally could be seen as political acts because of the oppression they physically challenged: the hemorrhaging woman; lepers and so on. I think it is interesting at the beginning of Jesus ministry that he wanted people to keep quiet about these subversive acts. Could this in part be related to the fact the healings were so subversive Jesus understood they were immediately threatening to his safety?In terms of other physical acts there are many but the greatest has to be Jesus own crucifixion and resurrection. These were physical acts intended to end spiritual oppression.
Looking forwards in time I want to argue that the second coming which involves all three elements of Counterpower in one act (the truth of death will be challenged; the current economic systems will immediately cease and the reason is a physical act) and it is because they will be combined in a single action that it will change everything so completely.
However, that second coming is in the future - today we are left looking to ensure God's kingdom comes on earth as in heaven in a present continuous tense. I want to argue that it is time Christianity rediscovered the power of counterpower in all senses. Having hit 1000 words how we do that is going to have to be the subject for another days musings.