Ebook
A Marxist Interpretation of Church Leadership: Romans 13:1–7 is a study of Romans 13: 1-7 from a Marxist perspective. Romans13:1-7 introduce the concept of obedience to civil authorities. As a result, obedience has become an integral part of Western culture, and may be the cultural foundation of how capitalism can manage, control and direct people.
Romans13:1-7 have persuaded many Christians, including priests, bishops and other representatives of the Church, to obey Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, and other tyrants and despots.
Today, Romans 13:1-7 are used as an argument in support of the death penalty. In this way, Jesus’s message of love has become, by means of seven simple verses in Paul’s epistles, an argument that is used to support killing people. The purpose of this book is to get to grips with the Pauline impulse from a Marxist perspective. This is an historic impulse that has oppressed and excluded people, and created an intolerant version of Christianity. It has also established obedience as a fundamental principle in Western culture, and thereby enhanced capitalism.
List of Figures
Foreword
Abbreviations
Part I: Problem Definition: A Marxist Interpretation of the Ethics of the Romans 13:1-7
Chapter One: The Message of Obedience
Chapter Two: The Gospel of Judgement
Chapter Three: The Ethics of Power
Part II: Authorities and Obedience: Nietzsche’s Interpretation of Paul
Chapter Four: The Hierarchical Principle
Chapter Five: Obey Your Superiors
Chapter Six: Reflections and Conclusion in Relation to Part I and Part II
Part III: Operational Leadership Principles: A Marxist Angle
Chapter Seven: Leadership by Exhortation
Chapter Eight: Leadership Through Instructions
Chapter Nine: Paul and Leadership
Chapter Ten: Leadership by Guidance
Chapter Eleven: Leadership Through Suffering, Grief, and Pain
Chapter Twelve: Aspects of Paul’s Quest for Power
Appendix: The Sixteen Supporting Hypotheses of Romans 13:1-7
References
About the Author
The question of flexibility has become more important for churches in the difficult times we are facing in many parts of the world. The role of the church has never been more important. Leadership with a focus on general knowledge and a clear role of the church is the answer this book shows. Further, professor Johannessen shows in an excellent way that instead of supporting people, the church has built networks with political leaders such as Hitler and other terrible leaders. Johannessen suggest that leadership built on Marxism might be the only way out of the crisis when the need for action is critical. I highly suggest the book for church leaders, top leaders from the business world, political leaders, and students at graduate levels in a number of fields. It is a must read.
Jon-Arild Johannessen is professor in Leadership, at Kristiania University College, Norway.