power abuse & betrayal - the new gospel impediment?

8/10/2019 POWER ABUSE & BETRAYAL - The New Gospel Impediment?

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POWER ABUSE& BETRAYAL:A New Gospel

Impediment?

Mark Meynell

LAbriFriday 24 October 2014


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POWER ABUSE & BETRAYAL: A New Gospel Impediment?

I. Impediments to the Gospel

Intrinsic: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Jews demand signs and Greeks look forwisdom, but we preach Christ crucified:a stumbling-block to Jews andfoolishness to Gentiles

but to those whom God has called,

both Jews and Greeks, Christ the powerof God and the wisdom of God. For thefoolishness of God is wiser than humanwisdom, and the weakness of God is

stronger than human strength.


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I. Impediments to the Gospel

Intrinsic: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Extrinsic: 1 Corinthians 10:31-33So whether you eat or drink or whateveryou do, do it all for the glory of God. Donot cause anyone to stumble, whether

Jews, Greeks or the church of Godeven as I try to please everyone in everyway. For I am not seeking my own goodbut the good of many, so that they may

be saved.


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II. SO whats new?

Philosophical: Suspicion of ideologies

every philosophyalso conceals aphilosophy; every

opinion is also ah i d i n g - p l a c e ;every word is alsoa mask.


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II. SO whats new?


Historical: Masked power abuse


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II. SO whats new?


Historical: Masked power abuse

Sociological: Institutional power

dynamics


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a purely functional critiqueof the psychological, politicaland social effects of thisfaith

not whether it is true orfalse, but only whether it hasthe function of oppression or

l iberation, al ienation orhumanization.

Jrgen Moltmann(1926- )


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III. Power Plays in the Church

Scandalous Protection of Child Abusers


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U2 Songs of Experience (2014)

4. Hope is where the door isWhen the church is where the

war isWhere no one can

feel no one elses pain

Sleep Like A Baby Tonight


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U2 Songs of Experience (2014)

Youre gonna sleep like a baby tonightIn your dreams, everything is alright

Tomorrow dawns like a suicideBut youre gonna sleep like a baby

tonight

Sleep Like A Baby Tonight


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Cardinal Bernard LawEx-Archbishop of Boston


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Unchallenged Drift into Cultic Practice

AuthoritarianismElitismEnds justifying

meansFinancialdishonestyManipulation


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IV. Gospel Responses

Intrinsic: Within the gospel already

US: Realistic but not despairing about

human nature

JESUS: The Truth about Absolute Power

in the safest hands


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In my vision at night I looked, and

there before me was one like ason of man, coming with thec l o u d s o f h e a v e n . H eapproached the Ancient of Days

and was led into his presence. Hewas given authority, glory andsovereign power; all nations andpeoples of every languageworshipped him. His dominion isan everlasting kingdom that willnot pass away, and his kingdomis one that wil l never bedestroyed.

The Ancient of Dayssetting a compass

to the EarthWilliam Blake (1794)


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In my vision at night I looked, and

there before me was one like ason of man, coming with thec l o u d s o f h e a v e n . H eapproached the Ancient of Days

and was led into his presence. Hewas given authority, glory andsovereign power; all nations andpeoples of every languageworshipped him. His dominion isan everlasting kingdom that willnot pass away, and his kingdomis one that wil l never bedestroyed.

The Ancient of Dayssetting a compass

to the EarthWilliam Blake (1794)

I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit,

and the visions that passedthrough my mind disturbedme.


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IV. Gospel Responses

Intrinsic: Within the gospel

US: Realistic but not despairing about

human nature

JESUS: The Truth about Absolute Power

in the safest hands

Extrinsic: Demanded by the gospel


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power abuse & betrayal - the new gospel impediment?

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