Power, Ellul and Faith

While I was at Salvo College I had a lot of time to reflect on my faith and where I fit in the scheme of things. This led to many debates with like minded and not so like minded college mates. I began reading some of the great Christian thinkers writings to further uncover what I believed. Starting with Origen, I worked through to Hans Kung, then on to Kierkegaard, then Jacques Ellul and finally finding some peace with NT Wright. During this journey through great books, no author impacted my thinking like Ellul. He wrote extensively on Christianity’s relationship with anarchy and the need for grassroots faith to be anchored by a solid life of anarchy, and the need to confront, reject and oppose power wherever and whoever it may reside. This is a very challenging idea for many, as Christianity has so many rules and requirements which limit the inner anarchist. While Ellul may be too extreme for some, I believe that he uncovered a fundamental truth in regards to the Christian faith. Power is a devastating force that will gradually corrupt and erode the character of even the most well intentioned person. While there are many people who I have spoken to about this issue that strongly believe that power in the right hands will result in good being done, one only needs to look at our politicians to see the gradual rooting that takes place once power is gained. Kevin Rudd for example is a politician that I admire, I voted for him in the last election and was pleased to see his rise to the Prime Minister. Here is a man who has written some very impressive theological papers and claims the renowned Christian thinker, Boenhoeffer is a hero of his. He has a professed faith in God and a social heart. Yet since he has taken power he has been involved in some very ugly, potentially corrupt political manoeuvres. To top this off he decided that giving out $900 to everyone, even the exceptionally rich, was the answer to the world financial crises, rather than investing in infrastructure. But I digress. Since being in The Salvation Army, I have personally seen what power can do to people and the blatant temptation of power that is offered to people who are professing to be followers of Jesus. My next blog will look at two Jacques Ellul quotes and their significance in the life of faith.