more fire

Compared to the politically tumultous time in which Christ lived, Americans, even in the aftermath of 9/11, live in relative peace and prosperity. The American political system is a two-party system, and the two parties (Democrats and Republicans) have a similar agenda: national security, free market, individual rights. During the life of Christ, Israel was in a state of complete cultural upheaval. It was controlled and occupied by Roman forces and it hadn’t been an independent state since the Maccabean revolt (165 BC – 63 BC).

Within the Jewish community in Israel there were several factions, which opposed one another politically and religiously, often violently. Among the many factions were Pharisees (priestly, more democratic class), Saducees (priestly, wealthy aristocracy that collaborated with Rome), Zealots (violent insurgent group bent on Israel’s independence), and Essenes (desert dwellers awaiting the imminent arrival of the messiah), and within these factions there was greater division. Amidst this intense political background, Christ chose to refrain from discussing topics of a political nature.

Christ didn’t come to wage a political war. Neither did He come to rule within worldly governments. He came to wage a spiritual war. He came to establish the Kingdom of God so that all might be saved through Him.

Many (including some of his own followers) believed that the messiah would come bearing the sword. They didn’t understand that the Kingdom of God extended way beyond political boundaries. Christ didn’t come to solve the political problems of the world. If He had come for political power He would have succumb to Satan’s temptation in the desert. That is, He would have worshiped Satan in exchange for authority over all the kingdoms of the world.

But Christ didn’t come to take over worldly governments. He came to establish the Kingdom of God. Whenever a person tried to trap Jesus into answering a contentious political question He responded with an answer straight from His Kingdom.

In Matthew 22, some of Jesus’s opponents among the Pharisees sent people to trick Jesus into saying something that would provide a pretext for His arrest. The Pharisees believed it was idolatrous to use a Roman coin because on it was Caesar’s image (it also had on it the inscription”Divus” – “God”).

The spies asked Jesus, “Are we permitted to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?”

Jesus asked them to pull out a coin and then asked, “Whose image is on it?”

They replied that it had Caesar’s image.

Christ said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.” He could have given an easy answer (either “Yes, pay your taxes” or “No, don’t pay your taxes”), but He chose to respond to a politically-motivated question with a radical, godly answer. Jesus Christ is commanding that we submit our whole selves to God since we are made in His image.

Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, so His commandments (which emphasize “power under” as opposed to “power over”) seem foreign to those whose eyes are closed to the gospel. While worldly governments employ violence (military, police) to control the people, Christ commanded us to love and suffer for others so that His Kingdom will be further established.

Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, so His commandments (which emphasize “power under” as opposed to “power over”) seem foreign to those whose eyes are closed to the gospel.

By no means am I suggesting that Christians should disobey their government. Romans 13 says, “Be in subjection to governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.” And I am not suggesting that there need be no wars. Romans also says that governments “do not bear the sword in vain.” I am saying that if we call ourselves Christians then we must be like Christ. That does not mean we should be like Old Testament judges or even like the faithful centurion in the New Testament. It means that we must be like Christ. He commands us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (emphasis on “harmless as dove”) Matthew 10:16.

Whereas governments mobilize armies to defeat their enemies, Christ rescued the poor through charity, healed the diseased and demon-possessed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and suffered on the cross so that we might be saved. He came to save widows and orphans as much as he came to save prostitutes and transexuals. Christ came to save the dregs of society, the ones who have been forgotten by the political and intellectual classes.

Christ didn’t come to wage a political war. Neither did He come to rule within worldly governments. He came to wage a spiritual war. He came to establish the Kingdom of God so that all might be saved through Him. More fire.