The Kingdom Perspective

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

In our current cultural climate, we are increasingly tempted to absolutize politics. We, thus, become convinced in our own rightness, and so begin operating in a very “us vs. them” framework.

In contradiction to this Jesus calls us to a different posture. He calls us to humble service and love, even toward those we might think are wrong. There is no righteousness, there is no truth, without humility. Proverbs tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”—the “beginning of [true] knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). True wisdom begins with humbling yourself. True wisdom never ceases to be a humble servant, a humble learner.

That’s why James challenges us in our prideful “wisdom”:

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him, by his good behavior, show forth his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (James 3:13-16)

Does your “wisdom”, or your “rightness”, lead you to bickering, hatred, and bitterness? Then, it is not from God—no matter how right your position might be.

Rather, true wisdom is:

…first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17-18)

And that is something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

~ James 3:13-18 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Rome was the most pluralistic civilization the world had ever seen.1 The Empire was comprised of people from all sorts of backgrounds, cultures and religions. So, this raises the question: Why then were Christians so singled out as a threat? Well, the answer is simple: they refused to declare the state and its leader ultimate. Under the authority of Rome, you could worship any god you please. Rome didn’t care which of the gods you preferred, so long as you also worshipped Rome and its Emperor.

Now, these early Christians had nothing against human government. They believed and taught that it was established by God (Romans 13:1) and was necessary for good order (Romans 13:2-5; 1 Timothy 2:1-5). They had nothing against obeying human laws and kings. They simply refused to worship them, as their ultimate authority. Just like faithful Jews before them, they refused to bow down and swear absolute allegiance to any earthly king or man-made god.

This meant that they could not obey any human dictate that forced them to disobey the dictates of heaven. However, this was a huge problem to Rome. In the mind of Rome, the universal and absolute worship of the Emperor guaranteed the continuation of Pax Romana—the Peace (stability) of Rome.

Historian and scholar Justo Gonzalez summarizes why Christians and their Jewish counterparts were seen as such a threat:

“In that atmosphere, Jews and Christians were seen as unbending fanatics who insisted on the sole worship of their One God—an alien cyst that must be removed for the good of society.”2

To the early Christians, Jesus was the Lord of all, or He was not Lord at all.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

~ Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)

References:
1. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1776).
“Roman Religion” by Donald L. Wasson in World History Encyclopedia (2013). Accessed online at https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Religion/.
2. The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1 by Justo Gonzalez (Harper One: 2010).

Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

When engaging in political discussion, we must always seek to be considerate of our brothers and sisters who may have differing perspectives, born of differing personal experiences. Do not stand in judgment of one another.

Human politics are always messy. Our options are never perfect, and our perspective is never quite clear. In a real sense, whenever we enter the voting booth, we are always settling for some compromise. Therefore, when we fulfill our civic duty to vote, we must have the freedom of conscience to make the choice we think is best, before the eyes of God. It is before God that we will give an account, not before one another!

Certainly, we have the freedom to persuade one another as to which choice would best facilitate the common good. But we do not have the freedom to judge one another’s consciences—disdaining others by casting their motives and intelligence in the worst possible light.

Inevitably, we are going to have differing perspectives, differing consciences, and therefore, we may come to different conclusions. Our responsibility is not to sit in judgment, but to love, understand, and serve one another under the kingly authority of Jesus. Jesus commands us to love our enemies; how much more so our brothers and sisters with differing opinions!

The true and final Judge has commanded us to understand and accept one another. He does so precisely because He has already been judged for us all.

And that’s something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

~ Philippians 2:1-8 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

The gospel of Jesus is completely counterintuitive. Now, to be clear that is not because it doesn’t make rational sense. Rather, it is because our souls have become irrational under the effects of sin. Because of sin, our minds tend to reason that we must get our life all together before God will accept and forgive us. Nothing could be further from the truth. That’s like saying that we need to prove our innocence before hiring an attorney! No, we hire an attorney because we need to prove our innocence. God specializes in saving those whose lives are a mess. Indeed, He can only save those who need to be saved. The gospel is for sinners only.

Listen to the great London preacher Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892):

“If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing; go in your sins, they are your [proper attire]. Your ruin is your argument for mercy; your poverty is your plea for heavenly alms; and your need is the motive for heavenly goodness. Go as you are, and let your miseries plead for you.” ~from a sermon on Matthew 15:27

Well said! Spurgeon nails the sentiment of our Savior. Jesus famously said that it is the sick who need a doctor not those who are well. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Jesus in Luke 5;29-32).

Indeed, Jesus has come to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). God demonstrates His own unique love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”

~ Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)

References:
“Children’s Bread Given to Dogs: Matthew 15:27” by Charles H. Spurgeon on 14 October 1866. Sermon delivered at The Free Tabernacle, Notting Hill.

Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate click here or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

The message of Jesus’s Gospel was very difficult for the ancient Roman Empire to process. The word “gospel” was not unfamiliar to the Romans. They would have spoken of the “good news” of the rise of a new emperor. For example, when Augustus, who a few years earlier had conquered all the rebellious factions within Rome, was established as emperor on January 16th, 27 B.C. monuments were soon erected proclaiming statements, such as, “Providence… by producing Augustus [has sent] us and our descendants a Savior, who has put an end to war….” Such language sounds quite religious to us, but it was actually quite natural for one to use of the empire. The state demanded ultimate allegiance. Thus, the state and its leaders took on, what we would call, “religious significance.”

So, when the message of Jesus comes on the scene proclaiming Him as “Lord and Savior”, His followers are not using “religious language” but are borrowing from secular. They are saying that there is an allegiance higher than all earthly kingdoms. Thus, is it any wonder that this was seen as a threat to the peace and stability of Rome? It was actually this implied threat that helped seal Jesus’s fate. Remember, the crowd at Jesus’s trial shouted: “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar” (John 19:12). And so, Jesus was executed by Rome.

Now, today’s Christians have, perhaps, the opposite difficulty the Roman state had against Christians. Since we live in the wake of 2,000 years of Christian influence, we have a hard time processing the audacious claims of Jesus. We have a hard time seeing how our “private and personal” beliefs could be a threat to anyone. However, Jesus is not just your “personal Savior and Lord”; He’s Lord…of all!

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

~ Luke 2:1-11 (ESV)

Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Classical Christianity suffers no illusions that this world will ever be perfected by any human effort. Christians have no reason to fall prey to naïve utopian fantasies.

Nonetheless, Classical Christianity does believe that the church should have a redemptive and salutary effect on general society.

Jesus put it this way to His followers:
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be
restored? …You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-14)

Salt has a preserving effect, and light causes darkness to flee. We should operate in such a way that it preserves civil discourse and encourages social connection and cohesion. We should strive to engage like Jesus, who was neither cranky nor lacking in courage.

As the church, we have a responsibility to operate in such a way that it demonstrates a new way of living—a way of walking that is out of step with the kingdom of this world, but lock step with the kingdom of God. Although the world may disdain what we believe, we ought to engage them in such a way that they are thankful for our presence. Although they may look askance at our gospel, they’re grateful for the value we bring to our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, etc. Our presence should make things better. Proverbs says that when the righteous thrive, the city rejoices (Proverbs 11:10).

The best thing you can do for your earthly neighbor is to live for heaven.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

~ Matthew 5:3-12 (NASB)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

One of the critiques of Christianity is that it makes its followers so heavenly-minded that they are of no earthly-good. This assumes that heavenly-mindedness is somehow contrary or detrimental to earthly-good. I beg to differ. Any honest look at history will tell you the exact opposite; the most heavenly-minded did the most earthly-good.

For example, the movement to abolish slavery was largely a Christian movement, animated by the basic biblical principle of the dignity of every person made in the image of God.

The push for universal free education was likewise a largely Christian-animated movement. We forget that there was a time when a basic education was considered a privilege only for the elite.

Likewise, Dr. Peter Brown of Princeton shows that the development of the hospital, as a place of care for all regardless of means or status, was a Christian invention. Prior to the church, the world had never before seen such an institution.1

The list could go on.

But, why is it that the most heavenly-minded are of the most earthly-good? Because the God of the Bible cares about His world. He not only created it; He also came to redeem it. The Bible tells us that one day He will make it all new. Jesus promises a new heaven and a new earth—not just a new heaven but a new earth too. God’s coming judgment will not destroy the world but restore it. As the prophets foretold, all sin and evil will be removed, and “justice [will] roll down like a river and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24).

Those animated with this vision have no illusions they will perfect this world. God alone can do that. Nonetheless, this hope makes them stalwart to live into that vision in the here and now.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord,
For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?
It will be darkness and not light;
As when a man flees from a lion
And a bear meets him,
Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall
And a snake bites him.
Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light,
Even gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters
And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

~ Amos 5:18-24 (NASB)

References:
1 Poverty and Leadership in the Later Roman Empire by Peter Brown (University Press of New England, 2002).

Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

The devil is the mother, the fountain, of all grumbling and accusation. He has no gratitude in him but is upset and angry about everything.

Now, how does he get us to be complicit with his tactics? One of the chief ways is through our own unresolved anger.

Ephesians 4 warns us: “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” The Scriptures are exhorting us not to hold on to our anger, but to deal with it before the Lord. Not dealing with it gives the devil an “opportunity”.

The word for “opportunity” is commonly translated “place” or “position”. It suggests a “foothold”, in a military sense. When we fail to process our anger before the Lord, it gives the devil a foothold in our life, a place of power from which he can manipulate us.

Nursing this bitter attitude convinces us of our own rightness. It distills our own perspective into a 200-proof, self-justifying liquor—a toxic drink that drives us into a stupor of self-obsession. With every lick of a wound… with every time you see that person at church… every time you hear another person speak positively or see them experience some good fortune… every time you run into them at the store…your heart goes “ballistic”, fomenting with anger. Every time you do this, you take another sip of the devil’s drink of self-justification.

And that’s when the devil’s got y0u! You’re intoxicated with your own self-righteousness.

What about you? Are you giving the devil a foothold in your life? Are you nursing bitter anger in your heart?

That’s something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

~ Ephesians 4:25-32 (NASB95)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

Many cultural commentators are suggesting that the church in the Western world is experiencing greater degree of what the Bible calls “exile.” The church has lost its position of prominence and has become more scattered in its influence.

However, we must remember that even when we have the greatest freedom to gather, proclaim, and practice our faith, we are still a church in exile. Why? Well, ultimately, we are looking for a gathering that is yet to come. We are looking for the new heaven and the new earth. The church is created in Christ Jesus to be the New Jerusalem, that city that will come down out of heaven, a bride made ready by and for the Lamb—a multitude redeemed out of all tribes and nations and languages, from all times and all places!

For now, though, even in the best of conditions, the “communion of saints” we experience is only partial and incomplete. Yet, as we long for its fullness, we should always fight to make the best of it.

Nonetheless, even so, that fullness is only by faith. But take courage, someday our faith will be sight. Someday we will hear “the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready… (Revelations 19)

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

~ 1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

The Bible presents the devil as a grumbler, always finding fault, always accusing. He’s the poster child for the unhappy grump.

Now, why is the devil so unhappy? Well, he’s so unhappy because he’s so ungrateful. He doesn’t have a thankful bone in his body. He’s utterly discontent. Nothing is ever good enough for him. Heaven and all the joys of God were not good enough for him! It wasn’t fair enough. It wasn’t equitable enough. It wasn’t glorious enough.

C.S. Lewis famously wrote: “Hell begins with a grumbling mood….” You see, grumbling is the devil’s original recipe.

The devil hops from relationship to relationship, from family to family, from office to office, from church to church—complaining, accusing, and grumbling.

The Greek term for the “devil” is comprised of two words suggesting the idea to “launch” an attack that “pierces through”. Etymologically its related to the English word “ballistic”. The devil is the one who postures superiority and hurls insults, complaints, and accusations intended to pierce others and bring them down.

And so, the devil is always finding fault, pointing fingers, and throwing stones. Slandering, maligning and condemning! He’s a backbiter, liar, and malicious gossip—always bringing charges, rehearsing grievances, tearing others down to bring himself up. Not surprising, he’s called the “accuser” of God’s people (Job 1, Zechariah 9, and Revelation 12)

Nothing is ever good enough for devil!

Is it for you?

Are you walking in the pattern of the grumbler, or are you leaning into an attitude of gratitude?

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

~ Job 1:6-12 (ESV)