The Politics of Jesus pt.1

I've been reading through The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder, and I must say, it has been quite thought provoking. For anyone interested in a good, serious diologue with pacifism, this is probably the best biblical approach to it that I have read (granted my reading on the subject is certainly not exhaustive).
If there was ever a man who could have waged a just war, it was Jesus of Nazareth. If there was ever a man who had just cause for war, it too was Jesus of Nazareth. If there was ever a man who had the authority to wage a just war, again, it was Jesus of Nazareth. Finally, if there was ever a man who had the power and military following to win a just war, it was Jesus of Nazareth.
Yet, as easy as it would have been for Christ to usher in his kingdom through armed conflict, he chose to die instead. Why is it then that we as Christians today fail to see our own death as a serious possibility for ushering in God's kingdom? Why do we argue for 'just war' when our savior so seemingly set the precedent for our socio-political action in his death? Yoder puts it like this, "Jesus' rebuke to the unseeing pair on the road to Emmaus was not that they had been looking for a kingdom and should not have been. Their fault is that, just like Peter at Caesarea Philippi, they were failing to see that the suffering of the Messiah is the inauguration of the kingdom."

'Leaving Babylon'

I almost forgot to explain my cheesy, semi-cliche blogger title, 'Leaving Babylon.' Babylon in the old and new testaments of scripture was a symbol of sin, injustice and despair. That having been said, the idea of leaving Babylon is probably self explanatory. As Christians, our earthly home is still Babylon, but we are no longer citizens of Babylon. We are aliens, strangers and outcasts in this land. While we may not be able to physically leave the city of Babylon, not at least without dying, we can leave behind Babylon's way of thinking, acting and injustice. By exchanging war for peace, hatred for love, injustice for justice, and cynicism for hope, I believe we can leave Babylon.

My new blog

Well, after sojourning from the blogging world for a while, I've decided to return. I feel like this might be a little different than my last one, so consider this first post the 'apologia' for my new writings.
First off, let me clarify what this blog is not. This is not personal journal or window into my everyday life. I question the motivation of people who publish their lives on the internet for the entire world to see. There are some things that should remain private.
This is not a place for me to complain and breed cynicism. I do not think that there is a place for cynicism within the Christian world view. Cynicism is despair, and we have exchanged despair for hope.
This is not a place for me to criticize the church, government or individuals. I may say critical things, but I will try not to without a viable, or biblical alternative. Jim Wallis points out that it is easy to protest, but alternatives are better.
This blog is a place where I will attempt to think publicly about various issues that effect my everyday life. For this reason, it will be a personal journal of sorts. People who know me know that I am interested in politics, so I will probably write on politics from time to time. I also plan on writing about new things I am learning and reading that I think could be a benefit to others. I hope that things that I write inspire discussion, but most importantly thought. Finally, this goes without saying but, I am not an expert or a scholar so please be gracious.