I've been thinking about how concerned (and entangled) Evangelicals are in the political, legislative, and policy issues of this day. Granted we are expected by our King Jesus to vote, and "render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar." That is to say, our King, expects us to honor the laws and customs of the land of our "earthling" citizenship. This applies insofar as it doesn't violate the commands and dictates of our eternal SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Manuel: the Scriptures.
Believers in Christ have a dual citizenship: one is with the place of our earth-land domicile. The second is in the eternal dimension of the Kingdom of our God and King. The first is temporal, and therefore not the ultimate reality. The second one is eternal, recorded in the heavens and ultimately full of reality. This second citizenship is the primary one: in the Kingdom of God. Because we live in unreality (earthling time-space) we tend to consider the wrong one as real. Therefore we misplace our priorities and loyalties. The closer we live to the border between nations, the more cultures, languages and customs become mingled. These days, it's easy to forget our true citizenship, identity and priorities.
Pontius Pilate once asked Jesus if he was a king. The answer came from another dimension. Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). That is to say “not of this planet, its time, politics or social order.” This was profound and difficult for this Italian ruler to comprehend. It was (and remains) a significant and pivotal statement. It is like a fulcrum point upon which something is moved with a lever to lift and shift priorities and paradigms from one level to another.
When a believer's anxious thoughts begin to multiply within him/her (Psalms 94:19) about changing political or societal orders, then the "Kingdom" consolations of who we are and Who our Lord is, must bring delight to our troubled souls. It recalibrates our views and priorities.
The people of this age CANNOT thwart the purposes and intent of God's Kingdom. So, if we know this to be a reality, and that is where our ultimate priorities really lie, then why should we fret about the problems of America or any other nation of this world? Hmm... Should we not be like, Mary, mother of our Lord, and ponder these things in our hearts?
Believers in Christ have a dual citizenship: one is with the place of our earth-land domicile. The second is in the eternal dimension of the Kingdom of our God and King. The first is temporal, and therefore not the ultimate reality. The second one is eternal, recorded in the heavens and ultimately full of reality. This second citizenship is the primary one: in the Kingdom of God. Because we live in unreality (earthling time-space) we tend to consider the wrong one as real. Therefore we misplace our priorities and loyalties. The closer we live to the border between nations, the more cultures, languages and customs become mingled. These days, it's easy to forget our true citizenship, identity and priorities.
Pontius Pilate once asked Jesus if he was a king. The answer came from another dimension. Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). That is to say “not of this planet, its time, politics or social order.” This was profound and difficult for this Italian ruler to comprehend. It was (and remains) a significant and pivotal statement. It is like a fulcrum point upon which something is moved with a lever to lift and shift priorities and paradigms from one level to another.
When a believer's anxious thoughts begin to multiply within him/her (Psalms 94:19) about changing political or societal orders, then the "Kingdom" consolations of who we are and Who our Lord is, must bring delight to our troubled souls. It recalibrates our views and priorities.
The people of this age CANNOT thwart the purposes and intent of God's Kingdom. So, if we know this to be a reality, and that is where our ultimate priorities really lie, then why should we fret about the problems of America or any other nation of this world? Hmm... Should we not be like, Mary, mother of our Lord, and ponder these things in our hearts?
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