In the 1st century, Christians found themselves living as a subversion to the powers and politics of the kingdom around them. They saw themselves as bringing in a new Kingdom, one that has existed since the beginning of time, but was crashing into this world, bringing hope, light, and True peace. They preached the Good News of Jesus Christ, which in the 1st century, had some very steep implications. It meant that they were opposing Caesar. They had a different King.
In the 21st century, Christians have chose live with and within the powers and politics of the kingdoms around them. Christians now travel, not carrying the Good News of Christ, but preaching the good news of Caesar (now namely Obama or McCain). We are trading the Hope of True hope, light, and peace for the empty hope that can be found in politics or a politician.
May God's Kingdom, not man's, truly come.
9 comments:
Following this line of thoughts though, there are questions that rise for me.
Is there a movement right now that we could say has it completely right? If we can say yes, than can't we be pretty sure that they don't have it right and neither do we?
In this Jesus movement there was a lot of different opposing groups doing things, each with their own flaws and successes.
Do we have to be absolutist that everything be a the way we see the kingdom coming, and anything that's off that vision is wrong? Is that being a good critical thinking Christian or narrow-minded?
I have been trying to answer these questions the past month or so, thought you would like them as well. Great Post man!
GRACE and PEACE
I would say there is not a movement that is right, and I would surely say that I am not right too.
I don't think I am being an absolutist, if you arer implying that...haha
I think the only way to deal with these issues is Grace and Peace, but we should as christians challenge the common thought if it is contrary to the Kingdom. Do I have it perfect? Do you have it perfect? Does N.T. Wright have it perfect?
Nope...
But we still need to think and dialogue about these issues.
Can we not speak about the truth and good news of Christ through speaking about politics?
absolutely.
This is the goal of everything a Christian does-- to show our story of our salvation through our engagement of our culture. Yes, we must be counter-culture at times, but that requires we know culture. I engage politics because I believe Christians need to live counter-culturally here, too. In my voting and my political discussions, I desperately try to show the contrast between this kingdom and God's kingdom.
Of course people seek to find hope through politics because they know no else. As I advocate for Obama, it gives me the ability to show the even greater story of Christ.
very good thoughts Naomi...I like the logic. I feel that it is actually consistent.
My feelings are along the same lines, but I am still trying to figure things out, not that I ever will! haha
I do however feel a little uncomfortable when I hear my fellow Christians say they feel a sense of hope from either candidate.
i completely agree.
i mean, obviously, those in politics have something we don't, something that is guaranteed to give us hope and a happy life. HA.
Like some of you know, I am a conservative that more often than not will vote republican. I am not voting for John McCain because I honestly do not trust the guy, and I think he is politically motivated instead of motivated by anything greater than himself.
What I cannot understand is why I am not hearing that from 'emergents' and/or liberals/democrat-leaning persons in the church about Obama? Naomi, if you'd permit me to ask... what is biblical about the Obama platform?
Great to hear from you Ryan on this topic! Good thoughts man...
so have you successfully deconstructed orthodoxy yet?
ummm...hard question. no I have not.
I think the bigger question is have we re-constructed orthodoxy.
more and more I am finding that I am not adequate to do either tasks.
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