We Christians paint such a fragile picture of Jesus when we act as though his will is somehow threatened by every political and cultural shift. We Christians paint such a codependent picture of Jesus when we act as though he needs a political party, a president, and a...
Jesus laying down his life out of love for the world rather than using all cosmic and political power to force the world to obey him is the eternal critique of any form of Christianity that seeks to secure power in order to ensure that others conform to its will.
The mission is dangerous because God's will for the world is in deep tension with the way the world is organized.
Individual will, reason, compassion, and character are not strong enough to consistently defeat selfishness, pride, greed, and self-deception. Everybody needs redemptive assistance from the outside--from family, friends, ancestors, rules, traditions, institutions,...