Clashing Kingdoms

Scripture Passages for Further Reflection

John 18:26 (TNIV)

36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place."

Titus 3:1-6 (TNIV)

  1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Matthew 22:16-22 (TNIV)

   15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax  to Caesar or not?" 1

8 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20

and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"

    21 "Caesar's," they replied.

       Then he said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

    22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Not everyone thought it was good news when Jesus announced "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."  There were, after all, other kingdoms already in place.  And kingdoms rarely will themselves out of existence.  More often than not, when Jesus began by saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .", by the time He had finished, the tension between the Kingdom He spoke about and the kingdoms to which many had made their commitments had become evident.  The kingdoms we build for ourselves (alone or in collaboration with others) in order to feel safe or to protect our own interests often clash with the Kingdom into which Jesus calls us, and to which He invites us to give our first allegiance.  The Kingdoms still clash. 

The challenge for followers of Jesus (who may also have citizenship in other "kingdoms" because of the countries in which they live) is to reflect what it means to give their first allegiance to Jesus and His Kingdom in a way that does not end up denying either Jesus or His Kingdom. 

So then, what does this look like?

To Review Pastor Chris' sermon "Clashing Kingdoms" click here.

*(Use this link to access three additional sermons on God and Politics which were presented on January 19, 26 and February 2 of 2008)

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