Friday Finds 6/24

“… Christianity suffers from a bad case of Disney Princess theology. As each individual reads Scripture, they see themselves as the princess in every story. They are Esther, never Xerxes or Haman. They are Peter, but never Judas. They are the woman anointing Jesus, never the Pharisees. They are the Jews escaping slavery, never Egypt. For the citizens of the most powerful country in the world, who enslaved both Native and Black people, to see itself as Israel and not Egypt when it is studying Scripture, is a perfect example of Disney princess theology. And it means that as people in power, they have no lens for locating themselves rightly in Scripture or society — and it has made them blind and utterly ill-equipped to engage issues of power and injustice. It is some very weak Bible work.”

EK Hackett

This quote caught my attention this week. I’m still thinking about it – the truth embedded in it.

I remember the feeling of surprise as an adult when I first heard someone say about the story of David and Goliath that we should see ourselves as the fearful Israelites quaking in their boots at Goliath’s challenges – not as David. We are not the champions, but instead, we enjoy the victory of the One who steps in for us, and we join Him in His work.

We tend to make ourselves the heroes in Bible stories. In general, our theology is weak in understanding power and injustice. The issues are complex. I have a desire to read Scripture rightly and allow the Spirit to teach me how I can advocate for the ending of injustice!