THE TENSION BETWEEN CITIZENSHIP IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD & CITIZENSHIP AS AN AMERICAN
You’ll note that this series is entitled “Thinking Out Loud About…” That implies that my thoughts are not final. Feel free to disagree and feel free to contact me with your own perspective. I appreciate respectful and thoughtful dialogue.
I have long maintained that it is never good to equate the advancement of God’s Kingdom with the betterment of America as any number of us might define that. Some Christians write and act as if the two are the same. I ask, “Is it possible to achieve the betterment of America as most politically conservative Christians would define that and not advance God’s Kingdom?”
I think so. It’s possible to elect our favorite candidates and institute laws and policies which would, in the eyes of many, make America a better place AND it’s possible (isn’t it ?), that simultaneous to this, the Kingdom of God languor. In theory, it’s possible to sanitize society of the things we Christians find so distasteful-- things like abortion and pornography, while also reducing if not eliminating the sale of illicit drugs, minimizing poverty and violent crime AND it’s possible that we could achieve those things without introducing people to Christ and helping them to become fully devoted Christ-followers. Would you agree?
Isn’t it also possible that we could have a government and policies which are oppressive to Americans AND it’s possible that in such a climate the Church can flourish, correct? All you have to do to admit to this possibility is to look at how the Church is thriving in such places as North Korea, China and Iran.
On this basis, I find that it is never wise to conflate the betterment of America (as we would define that) with the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Would you also agree that for the believer, we must prioritize the advancement of God’s Kingdom (see Matthew 6:33)? That is job #1.
That said, some Christians act as if we should ignore what is happening in government and focus exclusively on the advancement of God’s Kingdom, as if the two are entirely separated. If only it were so simple. I argue today that the reality that we must not conflate the betterment of the nation with the advancement of the Kingdom does not mean that the two do not at times overlap or that it is an either/or situation.
More on this next week.