“‘I don’t create institutions; that’s an occupation for those who want to play God. So no, I’m not too big on religion,’ Jesus said a little sarcastically, ‘and not very fond of politics or economics either.’ Jesus’ visage darkened noticeably. ‘And why should I be? They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?’”
– The Shack, p. 179
Thoughts?
Comments
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“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1)
“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:11)
I know what he’s saying, but I don’t buy it. Certianly, God sees these things as unholy if religion is bigoted moralism, politics is oppressive warmongering and economics is the rich exploiting the poor. But if religion is visiting orphans and staying unstained by the world, politics is God’s good provision for our protection and justice and economics is a tool for blessing people richly and allowing humans to provide for the needs of others, not so much. I mainly cringe at the opening statement, that Jesus doesn’t create institutions, that they’re only made by man. That reeks of postmodern anti-authoritarianism to me, rather than biblical truth.
‘What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?’
The mental turmoil and anxiety of rape victims or families of murder victims…is that caused by religion or politics or economics? But it may be that I’m too stupid to see the connection…
First of all: dude, cut down on the adjectives.
I think it’s kind of handy to pass off the anxiety and “ravaging of the earth” on ‘institutions’ rather than the implicit evil of men’s souls. That was an ugly sentence, but do you know what I mean? Institutions are only alive as God makes them so.