The Dominant Characteristic of Human Culture

Paul describes the fundamental characteristic of human culture through the Greek word "orge," which combines the elements of wrath, conflict, and violence.  Orge pervades our social, economic, and political systems, locally and globally.

Orge is manifest in the story of Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well.  The woman is at the well at a time when the woman knew that no one else would be present.  She is hiding from the exclusion and marginalization of her surrounding culture.

But orge is also manifest in Jesus' earlier encounter with Nicodemus.  He is hiding too; as a member of the religious establishment, he is concerned about becoming marginalized and excluded.  The irrationality of human systems of exclusion and violence is demonstrated by the fact that they harm everyone.

Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well evidences how the Church should respond to the wrath, conflict, and violence of human culture; he bypasses it.  He simply engages the woman at the well in conversation, which violated social norms, to bring her salvation.  God's Kingdom is characterized by the absolute absence of wrath, conflict, and violence.    When this dominant element of human culture is removed, there is only God's grace and mercy.