Forest Hills Baptist Church

Bringing glory to God by contending for His truth, multiplying servants of Jesus Christ, and caring for one another.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • New Here?
  • Connect
    • Hub Groups
    • Kids
    • Students
    • 1829
    • Wednesday Family Nights
    • Men
    • Women
    • Missions
    • ESL Conversation Class
    • Olivia’s Gift
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Beliefs
    • Service Times
    • Location
  • Resources
    • Live Stream
    • Sermons
    • RightNow Media
    • Documents and Forms
  • Give
  • The Path
  • Contact

The Divine Coup D’état

December 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

Coup
Fyodor Dostoevsky is most famous for writing Crime and Punishment. But one of his lesser known works, The Idiot, made a more lasting impression on me. The main character is a twenty-six year old Prince Myshkin. He is not the prototypical hero. He seems somewhat naïve. He is very simple in his outlook. And he has some physical infirmities.

He finds himself out of step with the high culture of St. Petersburg. The society is obsessed with money, power and manipulation. It seems that Prince Myshkin will quickly be trampled upon by the selfishness of others. But as the story progresses, Myshkin truly is the hero. He accomplishes things that others cannot. And the wealthy and strong actually begin to admire and envy him. They are enslaved to politics and possessions. And they begin to see that Myshkin is the one who is truly wise and strong in that he has remained free of these things.

Myshkin transforms the society in a way that could never have been predicted. He didn’t do it by force or clever arguments. He conquered through humility and truth. It is likely that Dostoevsky had the pattern of Jesus in mind as he wrote. For Jesus, too, came in weakness without money and without an army. This is usually the nature of a coup d’état. It involves the overthrow of a government but not through overwhelming force. Jesus didn’t launch a frontal attack on sin and Satan. He didn’t destroy him in his deity. Instead, he laid aside his glory and defeated Satan by taking on humanity. He came in the way no one would suspect and launched a surprise attack to recapture his kingdom.

This is God’s consistent mode of operation. He allows the Hebrew slaves to be backed up against the Red Sea. He whittles Gideon’s army down to a meager 300. He pits a young shepherd boy against a giant warrior. We would do well to remember that our weakness is often a setup for God’s power.

Pastor Jeff

 

Photo credit: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SocialistRepublic.jpg

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Pastor Jeff's Weekly Tagged With: Christmas, Coup', Peace, Redemption, The Gospel

What to expect when you visit FHBC

FHBC Worship Team
We welcome you to join us for either of our services, and to come as you are!
Learn more about the atmosphere and worship service style at FHBC »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Watch / Listen Online

Podcast and Live Video Stream

The Path

The Path – Forest Hills Baptist Church

An online community where church members can connect with other church members, groups, events, and calendars.

Log on to The Path »

About FHBC

  • New Here?
  • Service Times
  • Our Faith
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Mission

Members

  • The Path
  • Online Giving
  • Photo Directory

COVID Guidelines

As of July 18, 2021, we are lifting all COVID guidelines.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Forest Hills Baptist Church is a church in Grand Rapids, MI that focuses on gospel-centered teaching, worship, spiritual growth in the context of community, and reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Forest Hills Baptist Church · 3900 E Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Copyright © 2023 · Log in