meditatio at the water's edge

I'm almost through John Howard Yoder's, "The Politics of Jesus." Yesterday I read the following:
(The Church) "is in itself a proclamation of the lordship of Christ to the powers from whose dominion the church has begun to be liberated. The church does not attack the powers; this Christ has done. The church concentrates upon not being seduced by them."

We really need to examine to what extent we, our local expressions of the church, have been seduced by the powers. I think we really need to hear the words of Jesus to see if the values we hold are in conflict with those he commanded.

The problem with being seduced is that so often, one doesn't realize it is happening. "All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life" (Prov 7:22-23). Do we have our eyes and ears open enough to see the ways our culture tries to seduce us? Perhaps it takes an "African experience" like our friend Jason Evans had. Maybe it just takes a little brutal honesty.

How do you think the church in America has been seduced? How do you think the "emerging church" is being seduced? Because it is--even in its attempt at running away from one particular seduction (marketing of the church). We must follow Yoder's advice and concentrate on not being seduced. So how do we do that? Perhaps it begins by examining what we're caught up in--taking a good critical look at our agendas and our hearts. Are we driven by a love for God or a desire to be proved the next great thing (we were right, they were wrong)? Are we truly driven by a concern for the 'least, last, and lost' or is that just the new catchphrase for the emerging church--paying lip service to stand in contrast with the megachurches? Are we really a missional community (faithful to God's purposes for the church in the world) or is it just a change in name so we aren't associated with the word 'church'? Are we really helping people live as the cooperative friends of Jesus or are we just making another slightly unique event for people to attend?

If we are to find a way forward, self-deception cannot be afforded to us. We must be constantly on guard against the seductive powers at work to render our witness impotent. Maybe this is what Paul was constantly getting at in his letters. He seemed to constantly have to remind people of their true identity--to break them out of their self-deceptions and self-indulgences.