Marva Dawn wrote her doctoral dissertation at Notre Dame under the supervision of John Howard Yoder. Her work, “The Concept of ‘the Principalities and Powers’ in the Works of Jacques Ellul,” is one of the most insightful studies on Ellul available. Drawing specifically from The Presence of the Kingdom, one of Ellul’s earlier and most important works, she draws out seven fundamental points which she describes as Ellul’s “basic elements for understanding the Christian life.”
- Ethical method must be rooted in the dialectical nature of the reality of the Christian life in its combat against the powers. The ‘two cities’ to which the Christian belongs create a constant inner tension, for the Christian cannot abandon either.
- The first form of action for the Christian must be realistic assessment of social and political conditions.
- The second action of the Christian is a constant effort to incarnate the will of God in actual institutions and situations.
- The third action of the Christian is ceaseless watching to maintain limits as part of God’s order of preservation.
- These actions must constantly be guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Ethics is thus not a system, but following Christ and living eschatologically.
- Confronting the powers can only happen by the creation of a new style of life in the context of the Christian community.
What do you think of these?
Questionable Answers 