Citizen of Two Kingdoms

“He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” (Luke 20:25, NIV)

When I did supply preaching on a regular basis, I was often called on to preach the Sunday closest to the Fourth of July holiday. It was a popular vacation time for many pastors. My default sermon was built on this text (found in the three Synoptic gospels). The role of faith (church) and state (empire) was as much an issue then as now.

My usual approach was to point out that Christians are actually citizens of two kingdoms. One is the Kingdom (or Reign) of God which is emerging among us--almost but not yet. The other kingdom is the secular state in which we live. I always argued that both are important to believers, but we should never confuse the two and our Christian citizenship always takes priority.

I write this, first of all, from the perspective of being a citizen of the United States of America. In this role, I pay taxes, vote in all elections, try to keep myself informed about politics and government issues, say the pledge of allegiance, and fly the American flag on the appropriate holidays. I have also served in the armed forces of my country.

Why do I do these things? There are many reasons. I do it because we, as a country, usually end up doing the right thing. Churchill is reported to have said, “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.” Whether he actually said it or not, I think this is true. At our core, we want to do the right thing.

I also do this for others. I do it for my family--my children, my grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All of those are no longer here, but I think I honor them all by being a good citizen and contributing in some small way to the stability of our nation.

I also do it for comrades who have fought and died in American wars. I do it for my father and grandfather in served in wartime. I know people who did not come back from Vietnam, but I do this for them because they are not here to do it themselves.

I also do it because I believe that our nation is still a work in progress. The founding documents of our nation did not reflect the reality of the situation at the time they were written--women could not vote, thousands of people were enslaved, native people were being eliminated, and the rich predominated. The Declaration of Independence has always been an aspirational document, challenging us to grow, develop, create something new, and to be better people.

Perhaps this is the point at which the secular kingdom and the Kingdom of God are alike. Both are emergent. Neither is fully formed. Just as the Reign of God is breaking through, perhaps the secular kingdom is evolving and breaking through in new and beneficial ways. This is something that Christians can pray will come to pass.

Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist. I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age. I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving. This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students. We supported missionaries at home and abroad. We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course). I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition. Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect. There were significant theological differences, often geograp

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself. The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church. Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs. What once worked no longer seems to be effective. Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educational dimension of church ministry, as the

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor. He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.” In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.” Jesus turned this around. In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner. His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced. He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality. These are metaphors for the Kingdom. Where do w

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church. On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter. Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year. He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability on behalf of the congreg

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business. For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates. He has already left the church and resigned from the board of the association.

Barnabas File

Search This Blog