Kingdoms Colliding

We are in the midst of one of the most remarkable campaigns in American history,  and people on both sides of the political spectrum are feeling as strongly about their candidate – and the other  candidate – as I’ve ever  observed. Christians are posting their views on social media and, frankly, it's a frenzy. 

I'm not interested in the political frenzy. 

I'm interested in the bigger questions.  Questions like: 

- What does the Bible have to say about the intersection of Christianity and society? 
- What does God say to Christians about our relationship to the world around us? 
- How does scripture inform believers as to our place and actions in our communities? 
- What should Christians really expect from civil government? 

Christians should be, in my view, more concerned with these questions than with any particular candidate. So I have spent a lot of time in the Word seeking answers to these questions,  in the hopes that it will make me a better Christian and a better neighbor and a better citizen. As I share what I've learned, I hope that  it may be useful for you as well. 

Scattered throughout the Bible is the message that there are two kingdoms here at the same time: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God. We see this expressed in many places.  Consider: 

Colossians 1:13-14 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” 

Ephesians 2:1-3 – “ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” 

John 3:1-8 talks about the need to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.  We are born once and enter this kingdom, but when we are born again we enter the kingdom of God. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 

So we see that the kingdom in which we live is this physical world. It stands in contrast to the kingdom of God,  which is a spiritual kingdom. One can live in this kingdom on earth and never see the kingdom of God. 

This isn't to say that God isn't sovereign over this world too. He is.  But He allows other powers to have rule here too. When the Bible speaks of the “god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4, it is not talking about God Himself. But this lesser “god” (who isn't even a "god"; it's the enemy), despite having significant power, is still subject to the sovereignty of God. 

Nonetheless, it must be stressed that the Bible distinguishes between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God, and that the governance of this world is different than the governance of the kingdom of heaven. In the perfect realm of heaven, we will not be subject to sin or the schemes of the enemy.  Those are reserved for this kingdom. We will not see sinful actions or speech as we worship God in eternity,  but we do see it here and now in this world. 

Despite the differences between these two kingdoms, it is interesting to note that there is an intersection between the two kingdoms.  This intersection is created by three institutions God has put in place in this world: human government, the church, and the family.  In each of these we see how God brings the kingdom of God into contact with the kingdom of this world. 

Human Government 
God created this institution so that men may govern themselves,  but in accordance with His values and principles. 

The Church 
God’s people living in a coordinated effort to bring grace and truth and the love of Christ into this world. 

The Family 
Marriage represents the relishing between God and His people. The family is the foundational building block of society. 

God's kingdom is brought into this kingdom through these three institutions.  When they are messed up, chaos reigns in the world.  Evil seems to win.  When they are functioning properly, this kingdom, despite the enemy’s efforts, reflects God’s kingdom more and more. 

As we think about the relationship between Christianity and society,  if will be helpful to view it through these lenses: government, the church, the family, and of course, the individual as well. 

In my next post, we will begin talking about these points of intersection between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, beginning with government.