Rejection of Coercion
“...In the famous Grand Inquisitor section [of] The Brothers Karamazov, the inquisitor ... tells a disguised and imprisoned Jesus that he made a mistake in the desert by resisting the three temptations. When tempted, Jesus refused the power to win human beings over by providing bread, dazzling them with miracles, or coercing them by earthly power.
The inquisitor says Jesus made himself too easy to reject by refusing to use these powers. In fact, the inquisitor pronounces, ‘if there has ever been on earth a real stupendous miracle, it took place on that day, on the day of the three temptations.’ By resisting those temptations, Jesus declined the use of coercive and manipulative tactics and provided the opportunity for a human decision made in freedom.
The desire to entertain and coerce – whether in the mega church, the multi-site campus, or the prayer meeting – nullifies the very freedom Christ came to establish. In his rejection of coercion, Jesus created the basis for human freedom...”
~Jeff Meyers
The inquisitor says Jesus made himself too easy to reject by refusing to use these powers. In fact, the inquisitor pronounces, ‘if there has ever been on earth a real stupendous miracle, it took place on that day, on the day of the three temptations.’ By resisting those temptations, Jesus declined the use of coercive and manipulative tactics and provided the opportunity for a human decision made in freedom.
The desire to entertain and coerce – whether in the mega church, the multi-site campus, or the prayer meeting – nullifies the very freedom Christ came to establish. In his rejection of coercion, Jesus created the basis for human freedom...”
~Jeff Meyers
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