The Donation of Constantine (check this and this) is a forged document of the 8th or 9th Century that claimed to be from the Roman Emperor Constantine I to Pope Sylvester I and those that followed him granting the bishop of Rome authority over most of the world. Not just spiritual authority but secular authority as well. It was generally accepted as real (and its "authority" called upon by some popes) until the 15th Century when it was fairly definitively shown to be a fake.
And that should be the end of that, right?
Well not really. The Vatican chose to ignore the proof that it was fake for a while and I think the Church Universal still bears an underlying belief that even if we weren't granted secular authority, we probably ought to have been. Consequently we still act like we are or should be in charge of the governance of the world.
Before anyone thinks I'm taking shots at our brothers and sisters in Rome let me point out that this basic idea is available in its own handy, dandy Protestant version in forms like "Dominionism" The problem that I have with all of this is that I think it is the exact opposite of what we are called to be and do in the Gospel.
Yes, I'm aware of the passages telling us about Christ's kingdom in this world. I just don't see where we're told that we're to set it up (as if God were incapable of doing it himself) or that we get to run it.
There are also plenty of passages of Jesus' direct teaching about NOT being in power, of giving up power and accepting a role in society outside of power. For me the greatest of these is when he is confronted with the question about taxes and shown a coin of the realm (which you'll find in Matthew 22, Mark 12 and Luke 20).
Is there any more simple expression of power in this world, now or then, than money? Here is the question of power all wrapped up in a single small chunk of metal. And in that chunk of metal we have the perfect simple symbol of governmental authority, the authority to tax. Jesus' response is equally simple and instructive. He refuses the power expressed therein. Not tangentially or indirectly but straight to the point. Give the Emperor (the government) what is theirs (power). Not that "our day is coming" or "yeah, we need to take over soon" or even "See how he keeps stealing from me?". Nope. Give it up.
Power in this world isn't what we're about. In fact it's exactly what we're NOT about. So why do so many of our brothers and sisters (of all theological stripes I might add) spend so much time trying to make sure that government expresses our particular understanding of God, the Gospel and All That Is Good?
I think it's a lack of faith attached with a good old dose of ego. The lack of faith is in the ability of God (through the Holy Spirit) to work in this world. We need to put it into law because it can't happen any other way. To me that is an alarming lack of faith. If legalism was the answer then why does Jesus spend so much time hammering away at legalism? The ego part comes from the very simple idea that we need to put MY vision of what God wants into law so that everyone will live their lives the way I think they ought to live them. (It's amazing how often folks with this point of view don't actually want to live their own lives that way but that's another subject for another day). I know what's right, my way of thinking is right and I'm going to make sure all of you do it my way. Me, my, mine. Pretty sad Christian theology.
What happened to Love God, Love Your Neighbor As Yourself and Love One Another? What happened to "...To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."? Oh yes, the curse.
I believe the most powerful act that the church could offer the world right now would be to utterly renounce power. We're not going to try and influence you, we're not going to lobby you, we're not going to try and impose our view on anyone else. We're going to render unto Caesar and get on with the business of caring for the poor and the ill and those in prison. We will love our neighbors and ourselves.
And the world will suddenly start getting better.
And many people will flock to our sides in wonder at what we are doing.
And the politicians will start showing up because they won't understand what we're doing but they know how to detect which way the wind blows.
And the world will change.
But only if we turn our back on that darkness ensconced in the Curse of Constantine.
Peace
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