State of the Union, Jesus, and Power

I'm taking a little creative liberty with this blog post veering slightly from the original intention.  I was prompted by the State of the Union address given by President Obama on Tuesday evening coupled with a book that I am reading to share some thoughts about power. 

If you missed the President's address, here is a link to watch the brief 1:07:31 speech ;)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011

The book I am currently reading is "To Change the World" by James Davison Hunter.

Both President Obama and James Davison Hunter describe America as a super power, which is easy to recognize when you look our country's international influence.  Internally there seems to be a perpetual struggle for power in our country most vividly fleshed out through politics.  While I tend to be skeptical of politics, I do recognize the power it wields in our country.  What is fascinating to me is the drastic difference in political position and conviction that exists among Christians.

Hunter highlights this theme sharing the primary challenge facing our country according to the  "religious right," progressives, as well as neo-Anabaptists.  He states, "Among most theological conservatives, the main challenge presented by the modern world has been secularity.  Their solution, therefore, is a 'resacralization' of society - bringing God back into all spheres of social activity.  Among most theological and political progressives, the primary challenge has long been one of inequality.  For progressives, then, the solution is a redistribution of wealth and power with a preference for the poor and needy.  Among many neo-Anabaptists, the most significant challenge of our time is the violence and coercion built into the polity of liberal democracy and consumerism of global capitalism.  Their solution, then is the peace-loving koinonia of the church-based community."  Hunter affirms each of these individual issues as problems, but does not think that any of these issues is THE defining problem in our country or culture, and consequently none of these issues should be our primary motivation for change.  His overall conclusion is that if we want to effect change, we need to be concerned with having a "faithful presence."  A theology of faithful presence starts with a recognition of God's faithful presence to us and a recognition of our call to be faithfully present in return; faithful to Him, to each other (within and outside the faith family), to our tasks, and within our spheres of influence.  While reaching this point, Hunter shares some helpful insights about Jesus and power that I wanted to pass along.

Jesus and "Social" Power (p. 187 - 193)
1. His power was derived from His complete intimacy with and submission to His Father.
2. He rejected the status, reputation, and privilege typically desired in the pursuit of power.
3. Love, specifically compassionate love, was the source, the means, and the end of His power.
4. He dealt with those outside of the community faith in a noncoercive way.

Obviously, this is a very simple summary of Hunter's book, which I would encourage you to read if your curiosity is peaked.  I hope it is at least thought provoking, especially for my politically minded friends.