Richard Mouw

Richard Mouw

President, Fuller Theological Seminary

Richard J. Mouw has served as president of Fuller Theological Seminary since 1993, after four years as provost and senior vice president. A philosopher, scholar, and author, the “On Faith” panelist has been recognized as an important voice among reform-oriented evangelicals. Mouw, who earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Chicago, has a broad record of publication with 16 books, including Consulting the Faithful, and Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport and his articles have appeared in more than 50 journals and magazines. Currently he serves on the editorial board of Books and Culture as is a regular columnist on “Beliefnet.” Mouw has served on many councils and boards, including the Commission on Accreditation for the Association of Theological Schools (as chair) and the Council on Civil Society. He currently serves on advisory boards for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, the International Justice Mission, and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy. Close.

Richard Mouw

President, Fuller Theological Seminary

Richard J. Mouw has served as president of Fuller Theological Seminary since 1993, after four years as provost and senior vice president. A philosopher, scholar, and author, the “On Faith” panelist has been recognized as an important voice among reform-oriented evangelicals. more »

Main Page | Richard Mouw Archives | On Faith Archives


Thinking Critically About Politics and Justice

Jesus wants us to think critically about accepted political and economic policies, as well as about widespread social practices.

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BGone:

Speakinbg of the resurrection, there's still another son-of-God or prophet claiming 2+ million followers that I saw on the news recently. He claims to have performed 10 times more miracles than Jesus. I have a suggestion for him and perhaps will help those like the panelists, resurrection syndrome.

This modern day son of God could make a big splash if he had himself crucified and then came back to life. That's one of the Jesus miracles he's not done yet, walking on water being a matter of knowing where the stones are placed.

The resurrection of Jesus is a hoax but it has a solid foundation in perverted science. The real Jesus, Amenophis IV believed, had undying faith that her biological father was the sun. The sun is immortal, dies and resurrects itself daily. Since only the father contributes to the child, she knew that she too would, like her father come back to life here on earth while the rest of us inferrior ones go on to the next world.

Jesus was the king of kings, lord of lords, Pharaoh.

Glen:

Jesus was unique in that he was not a political figure or a representative of earthly power. He did not even have a home. He owned no material home or earthly goods. Matthew 8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."

When they wanted to make him King here is what happened: John 6:15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus did not make political statements but he lead by example. He forgave the adulteress and that was a statement to say stoning adulteresses was wrong. John 8:7 and as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." This was certainly a political and social statement in a world where it was the law to stone anyone caught in adultery.

Jesus did what was considered work on the Sabbath. He again broke the prevailing law that was a set of complex rules around the Sabbath to control the lives of people. The ruling political authorities said this: Mark 2:24 And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" So Jesus by example established a new law that abolished the ceremonial and civil law of the time when he worked on the Sabbath.

Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to say it was politically incorrect to hate your neighbor because of their race. By example, he established a new social order.

Jesus surrounded himself with women in time when women were considered second class citizens. At the tomb, the first witnesses were women while the men were no where to be found. Jesus talked to the woman at the well about theological issues and disclosed his divinity to her. She may have been the first person to clearly be told by Jesus that he was the messiah. Here is what the disciples said when the found Jesus at the well talking to a woman: John 4:27 just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" The disciples marveled because a holy man in their times would not lower himself to talk to a woman and especially to reveal to a woman spiritual knowledge. Jesus changed all of that by example.

This list could go on. Jesus set the example for social change by words and deeds, yet avoided political power and authority. This contributes to the authenticity of His claim to be divine. A con man would have jumped at the chance to seize political power or even to become King. We know of many other prophets and holy men who have jumped at the chance for political power, build themselves large palaces to lay their heads, and have many wives. Christ brought about a social and spiritual revolution and he had no home, he had no material possessions, he did not have political power, and he had no wife and kids. He suffered greatly for His position on politics and justice to the point of his crucifixion. He worked for spiritual, legal, and social change on earth and even for our salvation in the hereafter. How about that for a career!

i never thought about the resurrection in that way, but i will from now on. that's great.

i wonder if maybe we can think about the Kingdom in terms of civil disobedience as well, in that it fulfills the desires of God rather than earthly rulers. like king uzziah, they'll all die eventually, but the seraphs will continue to praise the One through whom the Kingdom is made known.

albie:

Ha, ha ha! That's like saying Santa Claus com9ing down the chimney is an illegal act (break and enter). You do believe in Santa Claus, don't you. You must if you believe the hokum about the resurrection.

frank collins:

i am amazed at how many people know what jesus wanted when those things dont even appear in the bible. wow - to have jesus talk to you and actually hear his voice and then pass it on to those of us who are not so blessed.
maybe you can write it down for us and create a new bible - you can call it - what jesus really wanted to say but didn't, and then you can fill it with his real thoughts.
do you think you can tape his words when next he speaks to you?

Mark W.:

There is no doubt in my mind that damage has been done to Christianity, Government and political party making public office a pulpit. And look, who did not see the Hypocrites praying in public ?

Justice is an interesting subject. Have numerous friends excommunicated from Church due to divorce. One case involved a stalking and abusive husband. Justice shows that individual circumstance is weighed. The sword of Justice itself has two-edges. I would say that religion then becomes religious persecution without weighing specific circumstance. Does the Church enable abuse through strict conservatism ?

In America there is life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. There are State and Federal Constitutions as well as statutes. The Bill of Rights identify personal freedoms. The Law of the land is such that we have a representative form of democracy. That representation is supposed to reflect the norm of constituency.

Marraige is a civil authority at a state level. Norm of society is reflected through civil marraige. Therefore even the State of California recognizes societal norms through consideration of Gay Marraige.

I like the idea of Civil Servants serving the Public rather than the Church. What happens if a Hari-Krishna is elected to President ? Will all teenagers of the United States be subject to shaved heads and chanting at transportation terminals ?

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