Quote: The Kingdom and The World (John 18:33-38)

"Some might read the popular phrase ‘My kingdom is not of this world,’ and mistakenly think that Jesus meant, ‘My kingdom is not in this world.’ But Jesus was talking more about essence than location. In other words, he was talking about the ‘real world.’

"Jesus said this while on trial for insurrection. His kingdom had finally collided with the kingdoms of Herod and Pilate…Jesus had, for the most part, stayed on the fringes of public life, insisting that the kingdom he preached and represented be undetectable to the powers. But now he had paraded into the center of power, flipped over its tables, and hosted a public and critical teach-in, creating the conditions for his arrest.

"Jesus didn’t mean that his kingdom has no interaction with or claims to make about the world. Jesus even insisted that his whole life was a thrusting of truth into the world, affronting it. Nor did Jesus mean that his goal was to get people ready to die and go to heaven—as if the earth were just a waiting room for the afterlife. The people who were working for Jesus’ execution understood that his identity wasn’t just an abstract theological heresy…His claims had political import…the titles of King, Messiah, and Son of God (all used in the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus’ trials) were claims competing against the emperor in Rome.

"When Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world,’ he wasn’t saying that his kingdom is apolitical; rather he was saying how his kingdom is political. He clarified his statement right after he made it: the essential difference is that in my kingdom, we do not fight to maintain the kingdom."

-- Shane Claiborne, "Jesus for President,” pp. 109-10 ("he," "his," "him" [sic] throughout)

The Problem With Democracy

During World War I, the U.S. Secretary of War decided that prostitution was a danger to the health and moral fiber of soldiers and sailors. Red-light districts near military bases were ordered shut down. Martin Behrman, political boss and mayor of New Orleans, reluctantly complied by shutting down the city's legendary Storyville district: famously remarking, "You can make prostitution illegal in New Orleans, but you can't make it unpopular."

The problem with democracy is a moral problem: sin is popular. Government of, by, and for the people will be as people are: and people are sinners.

Today we're seeing majority popular opinion becoming more accepting of abortion and gay marriage: so we increasingly have laws protecting those evils as "rights." Public opinion is being professionally manipulated to view gun "rights" as sacred: so legislators (politicians who keep their jobs by giving people what they want) rush to make it so in law.

But the deeper problem of democracy is that "people rule" (as "democracy" means) is the exact opposite of the government God desires, intends, warrants, decrees, empowers, pledges, and guarantees among men: His Own Kingdom.

In this choice, this head-to-head confrontation of governments, Jesus cries to followers of democracy the first word He cried to this fallen world, and cries today and always,

REPENT !!

I'm Not Sure

I'm re-reading James 1. Had recommended that as a starting-place for a new believer who's never really read the Bible before, and I wanted to hear it again myself before talking about what he got from it.

One of my favorite verses is in that chapter: "If any man lack wisdom..." I certainly know that's me. But I can still remember when the full import...the operative reality...of that verse hit me 10 or 15 years ago: and I did what James said.

One time when our men's group was studying James, I asked the guys if they'd ever asked God for wisdom. They all said they had, of course. But as we talked about it, it became clear they meant they'd asked God for wisdom in some particular circumstance. It struck me at the time that that was true and good, as far as it went: but that my understanding of the verse was somewhat different.

I put it aside to think about, like other somewhat-differences I note between my own thinking and other believers'.

Maybe I have a handle on it now...maybe not. But I understand James to mean we can ask God for wisdom as a lifestyle (an over-worked word, but the right one here). That's not to say prayer for circumstantial wisdom is at all inapplicable, or any kind of error. It's also not to say that it's either/or: even those who pray for a life of wisdom doubtless have circumstances arise which require particular prayer.

So where does the shade or increment of difference lie ? Prayer for circumstantial wisdom is as obedient to the scripture as prayer for a wise life: and I don't doubt, as fully honored by God. Yet there is something greater in God's pleasure with Solomon's asking for wisdom: and I understand Solomon was asking for wisdom in all that God had given him, more than to act wisely in a particular circumstance (I Chronicles 1:10-12).

I'm not sure: but perhaps God's greater pleasure is in Solomon's trusting Him for more: for all time, rather than one time. That seems to accord with James' words regards wisdom: that God gives generously to any who ask Him without doubting. It makes sense to me that His pleasure, and His generosity, is greater when we trust Him, act-in-belief toward Him, for all things. The latter is how I understand Jesus' Own walk, and His teaching...the Kingdom of God.