This is the heroism of Christ as Deacon. In the moment before it sunk in that he would be horribly crucified, and all his disciples anticipated a traditionally heroic savior, our tied a towel around his waist and washed his disciples feet. In that moment, Christ upended traditional heroic narratives forever. Not even the pagan fan boy Joseph Campbell could put that genie back in the bottle.
Thanks for this wonderful post Bethany. I fully agree that we need casserole heroes!
"Most of us can’t reasonably live, work, and raise our families without participating in systems shaped by the rules and authorities of this present age." As you point out, there are ways that we can be heroes without leaving our homes. Living within the system, but finding ways to "thrive in the margins" (as Jack Leahy notes). This can take the form of raising children, homeschooling, hospitality, staying connected to the land (even if it is just a small garden), rejecting the dopamine-drip of tech, and fostering community among other Machine resistors.
It IS helpful to think in terms of heroism because so often, this role of being hospitable can feel lowly and overlooked, "just the cook, dishwasher, housekeeper, etc. But when I think in terms of being a heroine on behalf of Christ, it feels different.
Thank you so much for another well-written call to open our hearts and homes to hospitality! Just this morning I was leading a Bible study in Judges. We talked about Jael, the wife of a traitor who used the tools and resources she had on hand to fight for the Lord. She knew how to extend hospitality, so Jael used that skill to placate Israel’s enemy, Sisera. She lived in a tent, and as a homemaker had the muscle and skill to drive a tent peg through tough ground. She used that knowledge and the spare tent peg and hammer she had to overcome the enemy. Jael’s hospitality was a literal weapon and she was the heroine Deborah prophesied would receive the glory for the battle.
This is the heroism of Christ as Deacon. In the moment before it sunk in that he would be horribly crucified, and all his disciples anticipated a traditionally heroic savior, our tied a towel around his waist and washed his disciples feet. In that moment, Christ upended traditional heroic narratives forever. Not even the pagan fan boy Joseph Campbell could put that genie back in the bottle.
Thanks for this wonderful post Bethany. I fully agree that we need casserole heroes!
"Most of us can’t reasonably live, work, and raise our families without participating in systems shaped by the rules and authorities of this present age." As you point out, there are ways that we can be heroes without leaving our homes. Living within the system, but finding ways to "thrive in the margins" (as Jack Leahy notes). This can take the form of raising children, homeschooling, hospitality, staying connected to the land (even if it is just a small garden), rejecting the dopamine-drip of tech, and fostering community among other Machine resistors.
Thank you for your article, Bethany, which I have just referenced in my latest post.
I love the idea of the heroism of hospitality as a way to resist the Machine. Thanks for exploring it.
It IS helpful to think in terms of heroism because so often, this role of being hospitable can feel lowly and overlooked, "just the cook, dishwasher, housekeeper, etc. But when I think in terms of being a heroine on behalf of Christ, it feels different.
It's so beautiful. thank you
Thank you so much for another well-written call to open our hearts and homes to hospitality! Just this morning I was leading a Bible study in Judges. We talked about Jael, the wife of a traitor who used the tools and resources she had on hand to fight for the Lord. She knew how to extend hospitality, so Jael used that skill to placate Israel’s enemy, Sisera. She lived in a tent, and as a homemaker had the muscle and skill to drive a tent peg through tough ground. She used that knowledge and the spare tent peg and hammer she had to overcome the enemy. Jael’s hospitality was a literal weapon and she was the heroine Deborah prophesied would receive the glory for the battle.