I’m stunned by the “fundamental changes” that have transpired in America in only a few short weeks since we began looking at  government and the Kingdom of God.  It’s for you to decide what to make of it all, but I encourage you to review the relationship between civil government and self government before asking yourself, “Have we stepped forward into fresh freedoms and responsibility, or deeper into the path of slavery and increased government control?”

Since Truth is the defender of freedom, and education is the guardian of Truth, this is probably a good time to ask what the sphere of education might look like in a Kingdom context.  Jesus told us in John 8:31-32 that if we would continue in His word, we would “know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It’s no accident that God’s plan to deliver the Israelites out of slavery to the Egyptians involved both the exodus into the wilderness and the giving of His law on Mt Sinai.  And then He charged them,  “Study this Book of the Law continually.  Meditate on it day and night so that you will faithfully do everything written. Only then will you prosper and succeed.” (Joshua 1:8)

Truth is the foundation for prosperity and success.  All success.   Whether it’s music, mining, mentoring, or mathematics, the degree to which we honor truth will determine the success or failure of the operation.  It’s like the two trees below.  Imagine the tree on the left is watered with kerosene and fertilized with salt.  That’s not a “true” environment for a tree, and the result is certain death.  But the second tree grows in an environment of truth, watered by the rain, and fertilized with compost and nitrogen.   Truth invariably produces life, and anything short of truth results in death and decay.

God has not left us wondering about truth, but has  revealed it plainly in His word, His world, and His Son. And though Truth is intended to be the focus of education, it has sadly been relegated to secondary status behind information, opinion, and power.   We’ll pursue some of the problems and possibilities next post.

On a personal note, I went to see Alice in Wonderland last night and caught myself spontaneously cheering at some of the Kingdom moments.  (I just can’t help it.  Kingdom Truth makes me happy.) “Sometimes, (Alice said), I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” All Truth is God’s truth, even in Wonderland.

Before leaving the sphere of government, there is another important question that must be addressed, and that is the question of Sovereignty.  To whom do we turn as the ultimate authority, the One who will answer the question, “How shall we live?” I can think of only three options:  The sovereign individual, the sovereign state, or a sovereign God.

WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL IS SOVEREIGN:

If the individual is sovereign, that is… if I make up the rules for “my world” and my neighbor makes up the rules for his, we invite conflict because there’s really only one common world, and if every person makes up his own rules there will be nothing to hold communities together.  It’s all well and good, (up to a point), when we each live as we choose in our own home.  But once I step into the street there must be a common understanding of the world we live in; of it’s morals, ethics, laws, and values.

Nature itself shows us a world of common laws which bring order to human existence: sowing and reaping, mathematics, gravity, motion, etc.  Existence without unifying laws equals chaos.  When the individual is sovereign, anarchy reigns.  And anarchy simply doesn’t work.

WHEN GOVERNMENT IS SOVEREIGN:

In today’s culture we’re more likely to choose the alternative route of the sovereign State who, like a kindly older brother will arbitrate disputes and make choices regarding justice, fairness, and life together.  Certainly this idea has been tried from the Pharoahs of Egypt to the Parliaments of Europe.  And it even seems to have some success for awhile.

In a Utopian world where man and motives are pure-hearted and true, the sovereign Government might work.  But in this case both human nature and history testify against us.  Humans in the real world are corrupt and greedy by nature, and the more power they’re given the more greedy and corrupt they become.  Apart from a higher accountability Governments inevitably fall into immorality and blind ambition.  Never in human history has a government, adrift from God, sustained itself in goodness and benevolence towards its people.  We are witnessing at this very moment, the slow, steady decay of the free world into corruption and greed.  The sovereign government is a tyrant.  And if it isn’t today, left unchecked by a higher Truth, it will become one tomorrow.

WHEN GOD IS SOVEREIGN:

Which brings us to the remaining option, the only one which offers both freedom and order in a world of diversity.  If God is sovereign, and if we understand His true nature as a Servant-King, He unifies nations with love, orders them with justice, and liberates them with true freedom.  Jesus demonstrated the true heart of government which values not the strong arm of power, but the beauty of selfless service to its neighbor.  This is the government of the Kingdom, and the closer we come to that model, the more freedom and life we will enjoy.

“He has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8

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(Much of my understanding of government comes from my friend Bill Burtness and his wonderful book, The Third Alternative.  I highly recommend it as a primer for Biblical government).

If God’s Kingdom began to influence human government, what would it look like?   There was a time not long ago when I would have been utterly clueless about that question.  The church wasn’t teaching it, and certainly Christian bookstores weren’t overrun with titles on the subject.  Yet government is a huge part of life, and God did not leave us in the dark.   So we’ll begin this short study with a look at the ideal, and then move on to the practical.  (Since we’re still living in a fallen world, we need to examine how to influence our fallen, imperfect government with the perfect government of God).

The first two things about kingdom government is that it begins with God, (not man), and it governs not from the halls of power, but from the hearts of servants.  Unless we firmly grasp the humility of God’s government we will become a stumbling block to our neighbors as we champion politics over love and relationship.  It’s difficult to point to a loving God and a selfless Kingdom in the heat of a political debate.

This is the government of the Kingdom:  “I will put my laws in their heart, and write them on their mind.” (Hebrews 10:16)

And what is the law?  “To love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself” Matt. 22:38-40

Imagine a world, or even just a community where that simple law was universally honored.  Where would be the need for policemen, judges, prisons, divorce courts, and the Better Business Bureau?  Obviously we’re talking about the ideal.  But here’s the thing: Even though this simple “self-government” of love may never  fully blossom in our present world, to the degree that it does, it will influence everything around us, including the government we do have.   The more citizens are yielded to the love of God, the smaller the need will be for a large civil government with its laws and regulations.  That’s where we’ll start in the next post.

As much of our prayers and attention are being directed towards the suffering and tragedy in Haiti, this might be a fitting time  to focus more clearly on God’s heart and purposes for that nation.

I personally don’t believe God is judging Haiti.  There will be a judgment for the nations at some point in the future, but for now Jesus tells us “the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son:” (John 5:22), and John further assures us that “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.” (John 3:17)  All that destruction in Old Testament times was something very different from the New Covenant, when “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself and no longer counting people’s sins against them.” (2 Cor. 5:18)   What happened in Haiti was not about their sin, (after all, we are still standing), but the result of a world convulsed by the sin of our first parents.

And that’s what these missing pieces are about:  Jesus Christ entered the world to undo the effects of sin, and to restore the universe to it’s original purpose.   Even though that process will not be finished until He returns, the cornerstone was laid at the cross, and the work commenced at His resurrection.

Consider Ephesians 4:10:

Forgiveness on a personal level is just one glorious aspect of the Gospel.   The “gospel of forgiveness” really IS great news because it means the sin issue is finished and we are forgiven.  Hallelujah!

But the same one who procured our forgiveness boldly proclaimed “the gospel of the Kingdom,” which is about Him filling all things.  This is good news for Haiti because even though the partial gospel of forgiveness has been embraced by many, the absence of the rest of the Gospel which lifts up the poor, transforms government, and celebrates justice and right relationships has kept the Haitian people enslaved to poverty, oppression and corrupt leaders.

The great Dutch theologian and statesman, Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, ‘This is mine! This belongs to me!'” And if it belongs to Jesus, it will be glorious.  That’s where we’re headed with this talk of missing pieces.