The values of the kingdom and life in society
Christians in the early centuries lived a lifestyle that was set free from the values and attitudes that bound many Romans, ‘fear of the occult, quest for status, quest for material security, and fear of foreigners’. Naturally decisions by rulers and others in authority related to those values! Some kingdom values may be identified in the sermon on the mount, the context which elaborates on ‘beautiful works’:
-Humility that comes from knowing our own weakness and failures with a joy that comes from being forgiven
-Concern for what is right and merciful and pure
-Active peace making, seeking for reconciliation (and not a passive ‘peace-loving’ quest for security)
-Goodness that is ‘beautiful’ (sadly some goodness can seem cold and unloving)
-Awareness of the pernicious results of anger and of the harbouring of grudges
-Respect of the personhood of the opposite sex and of the integrity of marriage: for men, women are not to be treated as objects.
-Importance of truth and integrity in public utterances
-Love of enemies (Mel Gibson’s film The Passion Christ highlighted this in Jesus’ words and actions: while the film was violent, it was the first film from Hollywood in which ‘bad’ violence was not defeated by ‘good’ violence)
-Doing good without wondering ‘what benefit or kudos will I get in return’ (how many political decisions and giving of aid relate to benefits in return?)
-Recognition of the seductive power of Mammon (why does Jesus say more about money and status than about prayer and sexuality?)
-Dependence on a generous Father, free from worry about security
-Hope that transcends appearances: the prayer ‘your kingdom come’ will be answered
What will these mean in political debate? Politics is how a polis (city state) works as a unit, with all the competing demands and interests of its citizens. Christians are to take part as citizens - as Christian citizens. We have responsibility to live and speak the values of the Kingdom. The way of Christ is:
-not the Constantinian model of imposition (which sadly the Church has used and some Christians still desire)
-not the model of withdrawal, since light is to shine in darkness and salt is to be spread around.
-but a pattern of incarnation, a model of participation, living different values with sacrificial service despite opposition, being like Christ.
The city of Jerusalem was to be a ‘light to the nations’, joyfully sharing blessings with open doors. Human ‘cities/states’ tend to be like Babel, building walls to safeguard prosperity and security of people ‘like us’. In contrast, Jesus speaks of ‘salt of the earth … light of the world’. As citizens we seek the well-being of the city – the nation as a whole – but in a way that actively shares blessings and prosperity with the world. We promote actions that share.
At times Christian action will be like salt, helping to preserve what is good in society or making life more pleasant and enjoyable. At other times it will be like light, exposing injustice and untruth and sectional interests, setting free from various forms of bondage and injustice, drawing attention to forgotten people, pointing to a better way, showing how it is possible to be peacemakers and to do justice and be concerned for the wider world for their benefit, pointing to new life in Christ.
Central is prayer – ‘Father in heaven, Your kingdom come’. Go through the items and tease out their relevance for praying for our nation. Pray for wisdom and strength to ‘do your will on earth as it is in heaven’. Living out the faith that Christ alone has all authority and that he intends his words to be followed is being ‘salt and light’, bringing glory to our Father in heaven. - John Olley
-Humility that comes from knowing our own weakness and failures with a joy that comes from being forgiven
-Concern for what is right and merciful and pure
-Active peace making, seeking for reconciliation (and not a passive ‘peace-loving’ quest for security)
-Goodness that is ‘beautiful’ (sadly some goodness can seem cold and unloving)
-Awareness of the pernicious results of anger and of the harbouring of grudges
-Respect of the personhood of the opposite sex and of the integrity of marriage: for men, women are not to be treated as objects.
-Importance of truth and integrity in public utterances
-Love of enemies (Mel Gibson’s film The Passion Christ highlighted this in Jesus’ words and actions: while the film was violent, it was the first film from Hollywood in which ‘bad’ violence was not defeated by ‘good’ violence)
-Doing good without wondering ‘what benefit or kudos will I get in return’ (how many political decisions and giving of aid relate to benefits in return?)
-Recognition of the seductive power of Mammon (why does Jesus say more about money and status than about prayer and sexuality?)
-Dependence on a generous Father, free from worry about security
-Hope that transcends appearances: the prayer ‘your kingdom come’ will be answered
What will these mean in political debate? Politics is how a polis (city state) works as a unit, with all the competing demands and interests of its citizens. Christians are to take part as citizens - as Christian citizens. We have responsibility to live and speak the values of the Kingdom. The way of Christ is:
-not the Constantinian model of imposition (which sadly the Church has used and some Christians still desire)
-not the model of withdrawal, since light is to shine in darkness and salt is to be spread around.
-but a pattern of incarnation, a model of participation, living different values with sacrificial service despite opposition, being like Christ.
The city of Jerusalem was to be a ‘light to the nations’, joyfully sharing blessings with open doors. Human ‘cities/states’ tend to be like Babel, building walls to safeguard prosperity and security of people ‘like us’. In contrast, Jesus speaks of ‘salt of the earth … light of the world’. As citizens we seek the well-being of the city – the nation as a whole – but in a way that actively shares blessings and prosperity with the world. We promote actions that share.
At times Christian action will be like salt, helping to preserve what is good in society or making life more pleasant and enjoyable. At other times it will be like light, exposing injustice and untruth and sectional interests, setting free from various forms of bondage and injustice, drawing attention to forgotten people, pointing to a better way, showing how it is possible to be peacemakers and to do justice and be concerned for the wider world for their benefit, pointing to new life in Christ.
Central is prayer – ‘Father in heaven, Your kingdom come’. Go through the items and tease out their relevance for praying for our nation. Pray for wisdom and strength to ‘do your will on earth as it is in heaven’. Living out the faith that Christ alone has all authority and that he intends his words to be followed is being ‘salt and light’, bringing glory to our Father in heaven. - John Olley
posted by Mim @ 5:17 PM
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