The Kingdom of God has come in Jesus Christ the Lord right in on top of the kingdoms of this world. We live in the tension of the “now and the not yet” of the Kingdom of God! This means the U. S. Constitution is not the Bible; the pledge of allegiance does not replace or even rival the confession “Jesus is lord;” no nation is the Church-the light filled community sitting on the hill ; the Declaration of Independence is not our call to discipleship; we do not live to pursue happiness but to pursue the kingdom. The Bill of Rights has no authority over the Sermon on the Mount. The U.S. Supreme Court judges are not my judge- Jesus is! The 1st amendment does not replace “speak the truth in love.” The second amendment does not replace “ turn the other cheek.” The 14th amendment’s rights to equal protection and due process do not replace “all things are legal but not all things are helpful.”
- The Lordship of Jesus in a world in which Jesus’ lordship is contested by the “powers” calls for discerning, courageous, compassionate discipleship-allegiance; living in the confident tension of the “now and not yet.”
- We must clearly recognize governments limited authority over us under the absolute authority of Jesus; never reducing Jesus to a private opinion.
- “I believe in Christ as Lord of the nations as I believe the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Adapted from C.S. Lewis.