“My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said.
Christ rules by His Word.
Teaching. Not by bodily force,
nor the State.
Christ commanded His apostles to teach, to proclaim
forgiveness. He did not give them the
power of the sword, the right to establish, occupy or bestow kingdoms of the
world.
“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh,” Paul
wrote. No, of course not – they are - and
always will be - the declaration of Christ’s saving work on the cross for the
sake of all people.
The recent shootings in Orlando revive in our minds the
dangerous and evil structure of false religions: the mixing of Religion and State. Whenever Religion takes up the power of the
sword, or attempts to establish control with anything other than humble
teaching, it lies squarely in the realm of the Evil One. Oh, it is a great temptation to reach for
that power – no doubt – but Christ resisted even this.
Think about it.
Christ comes gently, humbly – by entreating people to see what He has already accomplished for us in His
battle on the cross. And His battle was
not one of force the way we think of force – but true, undeniable victory – “dying”
our violence, taking it in, absorbing it fully into Himself, that His Word of
forgiveness might control all things.
This is love. He has overcome all
evil power structures in His death. He
has remade humanity in Himself. Christ
is the new humanity, and everyone who hears this and believes it shall enjoy
His new kingdom forever.
The devil wants to scare you so you put your trust in some
kingdom of the world. But these kingdoms
will all let you down. They will never
save you. Only Jesus will, who comes to
you humbly, gently, mercifully by His Word alone. Thanks be to God that His care for us is by
Word and not force.
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