Politics & Kingdom

Welcome Statement

Good morning everyone, last week we wrestled with the struggle of love and grace in conjunction with other characteristics of God, such as when we find him angry at the injustice in the world. This week, we are going to dive a bit into the issues we find ourselves dealing with in the 21st century, that is, the struggle to keep God’s Kingdom at the forefront of our lives. Today, we find our minds and souls divided by a million different things to captivate our attention. Whether it is TV, social media, drama with celebrities, or international politics, or domestic politics, there is something for us to always argue, and talk about, and get wrapped up in, before we even stop to look towards God with thanksgiving. This world we live in is a world of distractions. That much is true, but, throughout the centuries there were always problems that distracted people from the Kingdom of God. During the time of Rome, Jews were wrestling with how to faithfully live out the Kingdom while also under subjugation of a foreign power. During Daniel’s time, the Israelites were subjugated into exile by the Babylonian empire, and had a plethora of problems that make ours look silly in comparison.

We look around in today’s life, and think things are dire, that the end of the world is near,

Old Testament Reading - Daniel 3:1-30

Daniel 3:1–30 NIV

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

The Fourth Man

4 Men showed up in the fire. How can this be? God clearly was in the midst. But who was this 4th person in the fire? Nebuchadnezzar identifies him as the “son of the Gods”, but if one looks to the hebrew, the same word is used to describe God in the singular sense. By this token, we realize he is witnessing the “Son of God”. Sons of God is a phrase used for people in a special relationship with God. Clearly, Christ has a special relationship with the Father, as he is another person in the trinity. Recall how I said the trinity simply explains how God relates to himself across time and space, as well as outside of it, and how he relates to us, both as that Father in Heaven, that Messiah who walks beside us, and the Spirit that is within our hearts. So! Knowing this, we can be confident Christ revealed himself here, and in many other instances in early Old Testament scriptures, where the Glory of God is revealed. Their faith paid off, and it saved them from certain doom. Their faithfulness to the Kingdom actually empowered them to server in the government of Babylon, As Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by the power of God. How does this relate to us today? People aren’t worshipping Golden Statues, at least not in this sense. People probably worship other false idols like money, pleasure, or even some group they are a part of. What does this have to do with our lives today? Well, the issue is, we are witnessing a time, where people are identifying themselves not exclusively by their faith in God. Many people have allowed their identity to become overlycomplicated. If you check the Facebook bio of someone, it will generally give you a short rundown of what that person is about, normally a lot of different titles. Some are noble and humble, others are very outspoken and want to send a message. What do I mean? Well to give you an example, mine on Facebook says “Christian, Father, Methodist, Coffee Junkie, Software Engineer”, and so forth, so I’m also guilty of this behavior, it’s a part of our human nature to find things outside of Christ to identify ourselves with. Mine are probably “harmless”, but there are examples you can find on Facebook that one might find more offputting if you look around. We all label ourselves, whether through political positions/ideologies, our opinions, and with what groups we associate with. But we know that these things are all things that pass away, our institutions, our nations, none of them are guaranteed to exist tommorow, the only thing that does is God’s Glory. So really, my bio should just say “Christian”, as my Identity is in Christ, and nothing else. As it says in Scripture, there is neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, in Jesus Christ. This puts us at odds with the world, that decides everyone has to fit into a silo or a box. This exilic language in scripture needs to be reclaimed, not that we don’t care about anything around us, but that we always are facing towards the Kingdom of God. (Muslims always face towards, and so for us, we should find ourselves always facing towards God, not a place). Our actions should be reflective of the image of Christ, and people’s behaviors on TV, on News Outlets, and in our political parties, are not reflective of that, one bit. The world is at odds with the Kingdom, and so we have to decide if we will offer a third way. Daniel chose the third way, it’s called subversive loyalty. It’s when you wish to bless the nation and the people around you, even if you disagree with them, even if they don’t see things your way, because you are called to by God’s Great Commission, to be a loving neighbor, and a peacemaker. It’s not about ignoring injustice, absolutely not, you can look at Methodist history where Methodists were activists in fighting against all sorts of atrocities. It’s about understanding that we are called to be civil, humane, and provide a sane place of calm, within this world of darkness and Chaos. When the church isn’t providing that, it is failing.

New Testament Reading - Revelation 18

Revelation 18 NRSV

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor. He called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul bird, a haunt of every foul and hateful beast. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxury.” Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you do not take part in her sins, and so that you do not share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her as she herself has rendered, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double draught for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give her a like measure of torment and grief. Since in her heart she says, ‘I rule as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief,’ therefore her plagues will come in a single day— pestilence and mourning and famine— and she will be burned with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning; they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas, alas, the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.” And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, choice flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, slaves—and human lives. “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your dainties and your splendor are lost to you, never to be found again!” The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, the great city, clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste!” And all shipmasters and seafarers, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?” And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in one hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints and apostles and prophets! For God has given judgment for you against her.” Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “With such violence Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and minstrels and of flutists and trumpeters will be heard in you no more; and an artisan of any trade will be found in you no more; and the sound of the millstone will be heard in you no more; and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more; and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more; for your merchants were the magnates of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in you was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on earth.”

Romans 13:1–14 NRSV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

New Testament Point #1

The question becomes, are we willing to be so faithful as Daniel was, by walking into the fire, with faith that it was possible to be saved, but not know the outcome? Are you willing to storm the gates of hell, with the knowledge God CAN save you, but it may not be the way you want it be? What does it mean to be faithful to God’s Kingdom? It’s the true sacrifice of self, whether or not God acts the way we want. As Daniel says, God can save us, whether he will or not, is up to him, and we will still act faithfully. Sometimes the cup cannot be passed up, as Christ cried out asking for it to be passed to someone else if it may even be possible. God calls us to a life of servitude and ego death, and such a life is tough, and brutal. It is not some social club. While the body of Christ does break bread, these are meaningful familial relationships that are deeper than just acquaintances one hangs out with on a Sunday. No this is true discipleship.

Closing Statement

This is the universal call of all Christians. Daniel and other faithful servants of God simply are just historical examples of what it means to balance this tension of both living in the world but not of it. We care about God’s creation, but we also understand the world we live in is not perfect. We care for our neighbors, but we also hold the truth of God in us. We show disciplined love to those around us, and address inequities and injustices in our communities and our country. We live locally, but think heavenly. This is what it means, to drop your nets and go. It is breaking of worldly cycles, it’s dropping your things even if you think they are important, and following the mission of God even when it is inconvenient, painful, and frustrating. Luke 1:16 This is what it means to follow the Kingdom of Already but not yet. Are we posturing ourselves towards the kingdom? As it is said in Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15 NRSV

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Do we believe that Good News? Do we act it out in our faith? That the news is truly hopeful and Good? Or do we fear the future? As it is said in Isaiah 41:10-12

Isaiah 41:10–12 NRSV

do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

Paul expands upon this with his own proclamation of total victory over this tension:

1 Corinthians 15:50–57 NRSV

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:38–39 NRSV

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is the promise of the Gospel. You cannot be separated simply because you fail to completely fulfill the mission, but that doesn’t absolve you of the mission either. Remember, it is our response to God’s Grace that motivates us to follow him. We take on the Cross and find it a light yoke in this world, because we are willing to go through the darkest valley with him, and know he is there, despite our pain. The world divides, the world separates, Christ does not. Christ is the bridge builder, the Living Son of God, The scriptures are the evidence and proof, God’s little blessings we receive everday are the proof. You will find him, it’s guaranteed. F

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord, we ask that you help inspire us this week to continue your great commission, in a world that feels like it is falling apart. Help us to push through the darkest valleys, so we can fulfill that great and profound mission you’ve called us to so we can truly glorify you the way you have planned us to. Help us to be peaceable neighbors, and be a pillar in our communities that find themselves wrought with fear and hopelessness. We need to show our nation, what it means to be a Hopeful Citizen, and a disciple of Jesus Christ, once again.

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

As you go out this week, take on those opportunities of peacekeeping God has called you to, they don’t have to be profound, it can simply be checking in on someone and seeing how they are doing. These are things we already do most of the time, but this week, I want us to be especially conscious of what Wesley calls social holiness, being that witness and physical representation of Christ’s love in the world, so we can transform this world into nothing but the light of Christ.

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!