I have been thinking about N.T. Wright's talk about the way Jesus brought about the kingdom of God. He said that there were three parties during Jesus' time who have different views or ways in establishing a kingdom or the kingdom of God.
First, the Romans. They demonstrated through the execution of lethal force that they were the rulers of the world. However, they were happy to allow some form of diversity to exist in order to dilute the voice of any opposition.
Second, the priesthood who colluded with the Roman masters to secure their authority and some form of religious freedom.
Third, the revolutionaries who cried out for freedom and were willing to go to war to dethrone their Roman masters.
Then, there were the cynics who scorned at all these and live their lives questioning everything in authority.
But, Wright said that Jesus, our Lord, chose none of this. He chose to declare another kingdom that challenges all the above. He chose the cross and forgiveness to establish it. He relied on God rather than the approval of man for vindication, justification and judgment to show to the world that His way was the only way. He did not succumb to any of the above even though the people wanted him to.
I could see this being reflected in my country's political scenario. I could see that some of us think that the ruling party is the Roman master, and there are some who collude with them to maintain their own authority and obtain some form of freedom. They are also those who think that the only way is to vote out the current government with a revolutionary cry. Finally, some have become so cynical that they would question the entire process and ask, "Why bother?".
But I am convinced that these are not the way of the Lord. I am writing this not because I know the solution already. I am writing this because I am concerned about Christians being caught up in the heat of the moment that clouds their minds to pray and work out the way that we saw in the gospel i.e. the dangerous challenge to all forms of kingdom, the cross, forgiveness, faith, and justification from God. How is this worked out in our daily lives e.g. socially, politically and spiritually is still a question that I am asking the Lord.
First, the Romans. They demonstrated through the execution of lethal force that they were the rulers of the world. However, they were happy to allow some form of diversity to exist in order to dilute the voice of any opposition.
Second, the priesthood who colluded with the Roman masters to secure their authority and some form of religious freedom.
Third, the revolutionaries who cried out for freedom and were willing to go to war to dethrone their Roman masters.
Then, there were the cynics who scorned at all these and live their lives questioning everything in authority.
But, Wright said that Jesus, our Lord, chose none of this. He chose to declare another kingdom that challenges all the above. He chose the cross and forgiveness to establish it. He relied on God rather than the approval of man for vindication, justification and judgment to show to the world that His way was the only way. He did not succumb to any of the above even though the people wanted him to.
I could see this being reflected in my country's political scenario. I could see that some of us think that the ruling party is the Roman master, and there are some who collude with them to maintain their own authority and obtain some form of freedom. They are also those who think that the only way is to vote out the current government with a revolutionary cry. Finally, some have become so cynical that they would question the entire process and ask, "Why bother?".
But I am convinced that these are not the way of the Lord. I am writing this not because I know the solution already. I am writing this because I am concerned about Christians being caught up in the heat of the moment that clouds their minds to pray and work out the way that we saw in the gospel i.e. the dangerous challenge to all forms of kingdom, the cross, forgiveness, faith, and justification from God. How is this worked out in our daily lives e.g. socially, politically and spiritually is still a question that I am asking the Lord.
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