A Political Jesus?

We read in John's gospel that Jesus "perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king" (John 6:15 KJV). I fear that this is what many professing Christians desire to do today as well. They seem to believe that somehow Jesus wants to reign and rule in the affairs of the United States through political means. If somehow we can get a "conservative" president, the right mix of conservatives in congress, a conservative bench, then righteousness will reign in this country, Jesus will be king of our nation.

I find it interesting that Jesus, when He perceived the intentions of the people, departed from them. He had no interest, no desire to rule an earthly kingdom. Imagine the good He could have accomplished in His lifetime for the nation of Israel had He actually displaced the Roman empire and ruled from Jerusalem. However, that was not His true purpose in coming to earth.

We read of Him standing before Pilate, when He states, "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36 KJV).

Why then do we insist upon embroiling ourselves in the politics of this world, when instead, we should be living for the advancement of the true kingdom of Jesus Christ. There are indeed two kingdoms, the kingdom of this world, and the kingdom of God. Let the world take care of the world, while we put our effort and energy into Christ's kingdom, where our allegiance truly belongs. 

Someday the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. (Rev 11:15) Until then however, this world will wax worse and worse. We as followers of Jesus Christ, can accomplish far more good through the spreading of the gospel and fervent prayer. It has never worked to legislate righteousness through political means, and it never will. The "legalizing" of Christianity during the reign of Constantine is the perfect example of the error of mixing Church and state. Let the Church be the Church, living as strangers and aliens in this present world, looking for the city which is to come (Heb 13:14), while calling people out of the darkness of this world, into the kingdom of Christ (Col 1:13).

See also this link

Victory Over the World.

It is impossible to be a worldly Christian, as the values of this world are in opposition to the values of Christ and His kingdom.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

(James 4:4 KJV)

Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. Our allegiance cannot be divided (Matt 6:24). Likewise, friendship with the world puts us at odds with God. The things that this world esteems make it impossible to serve Christ with the wholehearted devotion that He demands of His followers. We read in 1 John,

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

(1 John 2:15-17 KJV)

Once again, it is impossible to love the things of this world and God at the same time. Those who claim to love God and yet live in the pursuit of worldly pleasures and accomplishments show that they neither love, or even know God.

Love towards God requires obedience. To truly love someone is to desire the highest good of that person, even to the giving of ourselves to meet the needs, and promote the well being of that individual. To truly love God requires that we seek His will and kingdom (Matt 6:33); it is to do all in His name, and for His glory (Col 3:17; 1 Cor 6:20, 10:31). Obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ will flow naturally from the disciple who truly loves Him (John 14:21-24; 1 John 5:2-3). 

We are required to Love God with the entirety of our beings (Deut 6:4-9). This is upheld by the words of our Lord Jesus as well (Matt 22:36-40). Love is something that cannot be legislated; it cannot be coerced, it must come from the heart willingly, and unrestrained. Jesus demands this love, as the Highest good in the universe. How can we measure up? How can we overcome this world with all of its vain trappings; with all of the things that would steal our hearts from the One who truly deserves our highest affections? 

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory thst overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God? 

(1 John 5:4-5 KJV)

If we are not overcoming the world, it is overcoming us! We overcome by faith in the risen Christ, Jesus the son of God. When we trust, we will obey, with a faith that works by love (Gal 5:6).

Investment Principles According To Jesus

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be  also.

Matthew 6:19-21 KJV

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:32-34 KJV

The Cross As A Barrier.

     But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Gal 6:14 KJV)

     The cross has become a barrier between the Christian and the world. We read in Paul's epistle to the Romans that our old man is crucified with him (Jesus), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Rom 6:6 KJV).

     I heard a minister recently put it this way. As we go through this life, we continually bump up against the cross. We must ask ourselves this question in every circumstance we face, in every choice we intend to make; "How will this choice affect my relationship with Christ?" We are living in an age when so many professing Christians seem to flirt with sin, trying to get as close to it without "losing their salvation." Instead of this "carnality" we should follow the example of Paul who counted all things loss for the sake of knowing Christ (Phil 3:7-8).

     Our relationship with Christ should be the one great thing in our lives. The one thing that encompasses all others. Everything else should pale in comparison to Christ in us. We dare not allow anything to come between us and our Lord, to hinder the fellowship that we share with Him. This is what it means to live the crucified life.

Dead to the World.

     But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
                                                             Galatians 6:14 NASB

     The cross of Christ is a barrier between the believer and the world. By it, the disciple has died to this world; he has forsaken it for the kingdom of God. And by the cross, this world has lost its attraction for the child of God. His mind is set upon heavenly things, and his life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:1-3).
     In scripture we are warned that to have friendship with the world is to be an enemy of God (James 4:4). Those who love the world cannot love God (1 John 2:15-17). Even though we see such plain warnings in the world of God, we often tend to overlook them. We speak of "worldly" Christians, but the plain teaching of scripture is that we as Christians are to come out of the world and be separate from it. In reality there is no such thing as a worldly Christian, for the Christian is not of this world according to Jesus Christ (John 15:19, 17:14-16).
      Once again, the answer is found in the cross of Christ. This is the means by which we die to the world and all of its attractions. The Apostle Paul states that He is "Crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20). Dead men have no plans or agendas. A man on the cross could do nothing. His life was over. He had no more purpose in this world but to die. Likewise, as we come to the cross in total surrender to the claims and Lordship of Jesus Christ, we lay down absolutely everything. all of our hopes and dreams, plans and purposes, all we hold dear, we forsake it all, and pick up the cross by which we must die (Mark 9:34-34).
     This is the standard for all who profess to follow Christ,
     
          Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
                                                            Galatians 5:24 NASB

"My Kingdom Is Not Of This World."

     In John's account of the trial of Jesus, we see a profound statement, that has implications for us today as followers of Christ. Jesus makes this statement to Pilate,

     "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." John 18:36 NASB

     There are several things that we can draw from this passage concerning the kingdom of God, and how we as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are to live as subjects of this kingdom.

 1. There are two kingdoms, and only two. The kingdom of this world, made up of kings and kingdoms, politicians and parties, and the kingdom of God, where Jesus Christ reigns supreme.

 2. In the kingdom of God, His servants do not fight. While nations may war against nation, and politicians war against politicians to gain control of human government, Christ's servants do not fight.

 3. Christ's kingdom is not of this realm. The world has its ways, based upon selfish ambition, and physical force. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, where Christ rules in the hearts and lives of His faithful followers. The power of this kingdom is not a physical power, but the very power of God poured out as His subjects cry out to Him by faith. His followers affect this world only as they seek first His kingdom (Matt 6:33). A true Christian will be motivated by love rather than selfishness. This stands in stark opposition to the ways of the world.

     As Christians, we live in this world, but are not of this world; we are strangers and aliens here (Heb 11:13). As members of the heavenly kingdom, we strive toward a different purpose, and wage a different warfare than that of this world (2 Cor 10:3-4).  As soldiers in the heavenly army, we do not get entangled in the affairs of this world (2 Tim 2:4). This should affect us in every area of our lives as we live in this world as ambassadors of another kingdom! We do not get involved in the affairs of the world; in its politics and its conflicts. We represent Jesus Christ, as His ambassadors. Our purpose is to seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and to urge men to be reconciled to God through Christ (2 Cor 5:20). 
     As Christians, we are to be in subjection to human governments where it does not conflict with the word of God (Romans 13:1-2; Acts 4:19-20). We are to give honor to whom honor is due, pay our tribute and taxes, and render unto Caesar that which is his (Romans 13:7; Matt 22:17-21). We are commanded in scripture to pray for those in authority so that it would go well for us, and also so that they may be saved (2 Tim 2:1-4). 
    We can do far more for the cause of Christ if we let the world take care of the world, while we make Christ's kingdom the focus of our lives. If we would faithfully do this rather than immersing ourselves in politics and social activism, we would actually see souls saved, lives transformed, and God's kingdom advanced.
     We have tried fixing the world, the world's way, but it seems to have only gotten worse. Isn't it time to try it God's way?

Tattoos, Yoga Pants, and the Cultural Relevance of the Modern Church.

     Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
     Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
     Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
     Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
                                                           Matthew 5: 13-16 KJV

     Jesus calls us to stand out, to be different. As Christians, we are called to "come out from among them and be separate" (2 Cor 6:17), and to noncomformity to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2).
     Could it be that in our rush to be culturally relevant, to engage the society around us, we have lost our saltiness? Has the professing Church become so much like the world, that it is hard to tell them apart? Has the fog of lukewarm compromise set in and hidden the city on a hill? Have we as the professing body of Christ, in our concern not to upset others; in our desire to be inclusive, actually put a basket over the candle?
     In our arguments and debates over liberty and freedom in Christ, let us ever be mindful of the fact that as Christians, we are Christ's representatives upon this earth. The world should not be able to look at us and see a reflection of itself, it should see us as radically different. After all, if we have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness, and placed within the kingdom of the Son of God, shouldn't that change how we live and appear before others (Col 1:13)?