“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”” (John 18:36, ESV)
While defending himself before Pontius Pilate, Jesus explained His mission. In the verse above, it all came to a head with the saying that Jesus’ “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). At the end of the verse, Jesus repeated this stance. He wanted to be very clear to Pilate and to future generations that His Kingdom was not meant for nor planned for this world. In fact, Jesus mentioned several times that His followers would not be accepted by this world. John 17:14 and John 15:19 contain predictions by Jesus that His followers would “be hated” by the world. Being in the world as a faithful follower brings “tribulation” (John 16:33). All of these and many more verses of the Bible show that a true Christian will never feel at home in the world. In fact, you should feel alien to it (see 1 Peter 2:11 for just these words).
Though Jesus taught that “the world” lives by rules in opposition to the Kingdom of God, there continue to be Christians who desire to set up God’s Kingdom in this world. They do so in a variety of ways. Some church people desire to enact laws that force society to follow godly ways. Others attempt to shape the church in a way that is acceptable to the world and thus meld them together. There are many who twist words of scripture to make them more palatable to the world. Still others form their own little fiefdoms in which their view of faith is practiced. These methods all will fail in time, because Jesus’ Kingdom WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD!
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t proclaim your faith in the world! I am saying that no matter how you try to bring God’s word to the world, the world will not accept God’s true teachings. There is evil in the world. Satan is effective in this world. People will twist God’s laws and manipulate the faith to fit the world. In many ways, God’s perfect word is twisted by those who would make it resonate with modernity. God’s kingdom cannot be matched to our world. To do so taints it.
So how do you deal with a world that is in competition with God’s Kingdom? First, don’t try to make God’s word fit to the world. Second, don’t water down God’s commands to fit in. Third, don’t be surprised if the world does not act fair or right. The world operates by different principles. Jesus said that His followers would be like “sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16)! The world needs to see your faith, but it will be difficult. To share your faith will cause some to revolt against you. They will want to shut you up. You shouldn’t be surprised when people are highly critical of your faithfulness.
Recently, I met a woman named Dorothy who was very upset that a friend at work no longer talks with her. What did she do wrong? She invited the friend to her church. She thought her invitation was such a nice gesture that her friend would see it as a grace-filled example of love. Instead, her friend thought Dorothy was “doing something wrong” by talking about her faith at work. How dare she! To this day, Dorothy can’t understand the hostility she is receiving at work from her friend. She’s even heard others complain that Dorothy wants to “indoctrinate the whole office”. Dorothy doesn’t want to do any such thing. Dorothy was just inviting a friend to her favorite place of worship with no strings attached. Instead, Dorothy is having to defend herself and her faith to her office. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is reality.
God’s Kingdom is not of this world. Your faith is alien to worldly people. The world put Jesus to death for proclaiming God’s Kingdom. What might the world do to you? Don’t be surprised when your faith does not fit in the world. It’s not supposed to! Your faith is beautiful and life-giving. The world is a place that often damages beauty and corrupts life. Your faith feels comfortable around grace and love. The world promotes class warfare, hatred, and sin. You will never feel “comfortable” until you are fully in the arms of God. Until that time, you will feel like a stranger in a strange land!
The church was supposed to be a place where people feel “at home” with God and others in the faith. Too often, the church has become so worldly that it does not feel right with your soul. I have been in many houses of worship where you have to be politically liberal or conservative to fit in. I have been in churches where politics and power were openly played. Some churches feel more like a funeral home than a place of celebratory worship of the Supreme God! I’ve met people in the pews who acted more like a social club. I’ve met choir members who cared more about the quality of music than rightful worship. That’s why it is so crucial to not only keep pure your beautiful faith, but to encourage God’s righteous way of life to be central to your church.
Do you feel alien in our world today? How has your church succumbed to societal pressures? Would Jesus feel at home in your church pews? Has the world caused you to twist what you believe to fit in? How might you more emulate Jesus' Kingdom this week? There’s a challenge!
Though Jesus taught that “the world” lives by rules in opposition to the Kingdom of God, there continue to be Christians who desire to set up God’s Kingdom in this world. They do so in a variety of ways. Some church people desire to enact laws that force society to follow godly ways. Others attempt to shape the church in a way that is acceptable to the world and thus meld them together. There are many who twist words of scripture to make them more palatable to the world. Still others form their own little fiefdoms in which their view of faith is practiced. These methods all will fail in time, because Jesus’ Kingdom WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD!
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t proclaim your faith in the world! I am saying that no matter how you try to bring God’s word to the world, the world will not accept God’s true teachings. There is evil in the world. Satan is effective in this world. People will twist God’s laws and manipulate the faith to fit the world. In many ways, God’s perfect word is twisted by those who would make it resonate with modernity. God’s kingdom cannot be matched to our world. To do so taints it.
So how do you deal with a world that is in competition with God’s Kingdom? First, don’t try to make God’s word fit to the world. Second, don’t water down God’s commands to fit in. Third, don’t be surprised if the world does not act fair or right. The world operates by different principles. Jesus said that His followers would be like “sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16)! The world needs to see your faith, but it will be difficult. To share your faith will cause some to revolt against you. They will want to shut you up. You shouldn’t be surprised when people are highly critical of your faithfulness.
Recently, I met a woman named Dorothy who was very upset that a friend at work no longer talks with her. What did she do wrong? She invited the friend to her church. She thought her invitation was such a nice gesture that her friend would see it as a grace-filled example of love. Instead, her friend thought Dorothy was “doing something wrong” by talking about her faith at work. How dare she! To this day, Dorothy can’t understand the hostility she is receiving at work from her friend. She’s even heard others complain that Dorothy wants to “indoctrinate the whole office”. Dorothy doesn’t want to do any such thing. Dorothy was just inviting a friend to her favorite place of worship with no strings attached. Instead, Dorothy is having to defend herself and her faith to her office. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is reality.
God’s Kingdom is not of this world. Your faith is alien to worldly people. The world put Jesus to death for proclaiming God’s Kingdom. What might the world do to you? Don’t be surprised when your faith does not fit in the world. It’s not supposed to! Your faith is beautiful and life-giving. The world is a place that often damages beauty and corrupts life. Your faith feels comfortable around grace and love. The world promotes class warfare, hatred, and sin. You will never feel “comfortable” until you are fully in the arms of God. Until that time, you will feel like a stranger in a strange land!
The church was supposed to be a place where people feel “at home” with God and others in the faith. Too often, the church has become so worldly that it does not feel right with your soul. I have been in many houses of worship where you have to be politically liberal or conservative to fit in. I have been in churches where politics and power were openly played. Some churches feel more like a funeral home than a place of celebratory worship of the Supreme God! I’ve met people in the pews who acted more like a social club. I’ve met choir members who cared more about the quality of music than rightful worship. That’s why it is so crucial to not only keep pure your beautiful faith, but to encourage God’s righteous way of life to be central to your church.
Do you feel alien in our world today? How has your church succumbed to societal pressures? Would Jesus feel at home in your church pews? Has the world caused you to twist what you believe to fit in? How might you more emulate Jesus' Kingdom this week? There’s a challenge!