Why do people rebel? Whether it’s the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, or the Civil Rights Movement, collective rebellion is started by the realization that something needs to change. Today, many of us have experienced injustice in the world, and our helplessness to change it. Sometimes we want to rebel against evil and usurp the powers of darkness, however those may manifest.
Scripture and Christian tradition give us hope for the ultimate destruction of evil and oppression. They speak of a final consummation of godly justice in the return of our victorious King. More than that, the Gospels teach that a new kingdom has arrived in Jesus but is not yet entirely manifest. It is in a paradoxical state, wherein the kingdom of God is here presently, but not yet fully come. Prophets like Daniel and the Apostle John give glimpses into this good future where heaven and earth are renewed and a loving God rules the world. His reign will be characterized by justice and love. That’s why Christians for millennia continue to pray “thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Therefore, the rebellion common to human experience may reflect our longing to set things to right and our desire for a loving king and perfect kingdom.
Out of our hope for the ultimate king and kingdom, which is both here and not yet, we are empowered to seek positive change for those who are suffering and oppressed right now. In fact, it is precisely because we believe that the kingdom of God has started in the person of Jesus that we are spurred to work for change. However, we do not seek it through the guillotine, but through love. We pray for our enemies, we seek the good of our neighbor, and we stand up for the foreigner and the oppressed. Nevertheless, because we believe that the kingdom is also paradoxically not yet, we can be encouraged that God’s work will be done, when Christ returns and renews all things to himself. For centuries, Christians have held in tension the “here” and “not yet” aspects of the kingdom of God. This tension has propelled the Christian community, the Church, to work for change and hope for a better future.
This future is rooted in the promises of Christ’s return and physical renewal of the cosmos. In my favorite musical, Les Misérables, part of the story takes place during the June Rebellion of 1832 in France. This populist uprising of the students, poor, and disadvantaged workers was quickly put down. Herbert Kretzmer, the man who wrote the lyrics to the musical, captures the “already, not yet” theme of the coming kingdom. In the middle of the musical, the rebelling group sings “Somewhere, beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see?” The question has its rousing response in the fight that ensues in the streets of Paris! But even if they were to win, there would still be death, sickness, disease, and suffering. Even political governments that promote the good of the people are eventually flawed from within or toppled from without. In the final scene of Les Misérables, the hero passes from this life to the next. As he does, he is greeted by those who have gone before him. But now, it is a great chorus of singers, singing the same rousing barricade melody. However, the lyrics have become cosmic in scope, and it has reemerged as a hymn of biblical renewal. As the song alludes, somehow our efforts have helped build this new and final kingdom. The beautiful thing about this life is that every act of justice, courage, love, and self-giving, are used in this renewal of heaven and earth. God in Christ will somehow expand and perfect our efforts! He will one day manifest his kingdom and in some paradoxical way, he will be able to engulf and incorporate every act of love. In this hymn of rebellion-turned-reconciliation, we find an anthem of a new world that is beyond the violence of the barricade and rooted in new creation found in Christ.
Excerpt from “Epilogue” in Les Misérables by Herbert Kretzmer.
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord
We will walk behind the ploughshare
We will put away the sword
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
Published in the Edmond Sun: Sunday Sermons 9/21/19