The older language in which the theme of “conformity to this world” was stated in Bible times had to do with “idols,” with those unworthy objects of devotion to whom men in their blindness sacrificed. Thus it is quite fitting to describe the use of violence as the outworking of an idolatry. If I take the life of another, I am saying that I am devoted to another value, one other than the neighbor himself, and other than Jesus Christ Himself, to which I sacrifice my neighbor. I have thereby made a given nation, social philosophy, or party my idol. To it I am ready to sacrifice not only something of my own, but also the lives of my fellow human beings for whom Christ gave His life.
In the deep nonconformity of mind to which the gospel calls us, we can not accept the analysis according to which one kind of action (suffering servanthood) is right from the point of view of revelation, but some other pattern is equally right from the practical perspective. This ultimately denies the lordship of Christ and shuts Him up in the monastery or the heart. There is clearly a double standard in the world, but it is not between discipleship and common sense; it is between obedience and rebellion.
~ John Howard Yoder, The Original Revolution, 174-75.
What an amazing passage. Thanks. Very Girardian.
But, Israel still has a right to defend itself by clusterbombing Palestinian civilians, right? Or does Yoder slip into liberal pacifism here? :)
Yes, that’s the point, isn’t it.
who give Israel the right to perpetuate reciprocal idolatry
Craig Carter: http://politicsofthecrossresurrected.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-times-of-london-online-comes-this.html
Thanks… that’s a disturbing descent into pragmatic realism
Wow. I would not believe Craig Carter said that Israeli preemptive strikes against Iran would be self-defense, and advocates it, if I had not just read it from his own words. Then in the comments he invokes Yoder to defend his position! I am getting a little tired of these supposed “Yoderians” who do this.
Apparently Yoder supports just war as compatible with pacifism, police, pre-emptive strikes, etc. Is there some secret code in Yoder that I am missing? Some alien language that only “real” Yoderians see in his work?
Yoder has a way of putting things that makes quoting him too damn easy.
What about the destruction of idols? Does that count as violence?
It would seem like Yoder should then admit that what is true from the point of view of revelation is not after all practical. In saying “he won’t accept the analysis” of two truths, he limits our response to obedience or rebellion. But he casually skips over the point which he well knows that ‘obedience’ does not lead to practical success when confronted by ‘rebellion’, nor is it meant to as the archetype of such action shows.
Since this would not be entirely convincing, it seems to lead to two related habits seen among Yoderians. 1) Always use just war theory in public conversations, but only to negatively critique violence 2) make sure before and after the fact that no acts of violence ever appear practically the best option. If the latter was the case it would expose that a Yoderian is equally “ready to sacrifice not only something of [their] own, but also the lives of [their] fellow human beings” to a principle which looks suspiciously, formally like everyone else’s idol.
Maybe Carter’s point was something like this.
Yoder specifically addresses your question about effectiveness all over the place. The problem, from the position of his writings, is that the definition of “effectiveness” your using here is not what he would call the Christian definition of effectiveness.
I tried to send a trackback to this post, but I seem not to know what to do. Anyway, this post and Craig Carter’s prompted me to post this:
http://marvinlindsay.typepad.com/avdat/2009/10/will-the-real-yoderians-please-stand-up.html
And I wouldn’t mind hearing what you have to think…