Where does God fit in?
A friend of mine shed some light on a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about over the last year:
Israel expected a Messiah-King that would come to earth as a conqueror to depose the Roman government’s control over the Jews. When Christ came as the Messiah he came on His terms offering freedom and abundant life. He did not come on their terms. Our own expectations of who Christ is to us and to the world are those of ancient Israel. We want a Christ who will conquer by being strong and forceful. But that is not who He is. Victory is gained through servanthood. Christ came to serve, and this should be our mark; not domination in government or arrogant superiority in belief.
I think that many times we’re expecting the same thing. Just like the Jews, we try to put Jesus on the throne, whether it be by nominating the perfect President, or keeping prayer in schools, or stopping abortion, or whatever. We think that once this happens everything will be made right.
Many Jews were disappointed by Jesus’ lack of “action” and I think we’re also being very disappointed. Yet, we keep fighting and kicking in hopes that we can coerce Jesus into subscribing to our agenda. Instead of seeking to bring Christianity on a national scale, we need to take a good look at our local communities and see if we are embodying Christ to them. If the government allows for oppression of the poor, are we providing for them? If abortion is legal, are we caring for the women who can’t handle pregnancy and motherhood? If “under God” is taken out of our pledge, do we live like we are under God’s authority?
One of the major dangers of this thinking is that our identity as Christians becomes entangled, and in some cases synonymous, with our national identities. Then my question is, what would happen if our country renounced her faith?
It is a good thing you write or else you would blow up.
You have good thoughts.
Preach on, preacher.
who is this you've quoted?
he must be awesome.
A fish doesn’t know he is in water. The average American Christian doesn’t realize how American they are, and the lines between being American and being Christian are horribly blurred for them. This is one reason I’m soo thankful for growing up a missionary kid: I can kind of see outside of culture, and not just swim in it, but be able to discern which parts are pure water, and where the muck is growing.
“Christians know that politics is all about spirituality, the underlying principles that people hold. . . But the world thinks that spirituality is all about politics.” Paraphrase of Tim Keller
I think both the quoter, the quotee and the material quoted are awesome.
Ok, that was three things, thereby negating usage of the word "both". I don't care. Try to stop me!
hi aaron,
what happened to my reply?
Hi Aaron,
What made you decide on a muscial career?
Hi Aaron,
I agree with you in that we are not to confuse our identity as a born again believer with our national identities because there would be no distinction and people can’t see the people set apart for Christ to be the light for this world.
An christian from South Africa - thanks for this great teaching. In the dark days of apartheid, I’ve often spoke out about Christianity vs Culture. I’m a christian before I’m a patriotic . many times people are so patriotic it supersedes their christian identity.