My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36, NIV).
My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36, NIV).
Such was Jesus’ reply to Pilate’s inquiry about Jesus being the king of the Jews. The governor was interested in just what kind of kingdom this was and why it should have provoked such a vitriolic clamoring for Jesus’ execution.
The same question aggravated the former king at the time of Jesus’ birth. Herod saw this new kingdom as a threat; so he sent his soldiers on a draconian campaign of infanticide to try to stop it before it could gain momentum.
At his birth and at his death, and in all his ministry in between, Jesus was identified by the message: “The kingdom of God is at hand.” It caused everyone to ask the same questions – the religious establishment, his disciples, and the throngs who followed him everywhere:
What kind of kingdom is it? Will it rival the Sanhedrin for religious control? Will it overthrow Rome? Will its followers be lords and rulers over the culture?
People are still asking today, “What kind of kingdom does Jesus promise?”
One of the goals of our current Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana initiative is to answer that question. A good starting place is to take seriously Jesus’ statement to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” No, Pilate, it will not replace you or your Roman hierarchy. No, disciples, you will not get to sit in the political seats of worldly power. It is an eternal kingdom with concerns that supersede all temporal, parochial machinations. It is not that temporal things do not play a role in the kingdom of God. It is just that they are not the priority or the goal.
The goals of the kingdoms of this world center on prosperity, power, and prestige. The kingdom of God centers on peace, purpose, and permanence. It is important to understand the difference.
I get concerned when Christians begin to confuse the two, and suggest that the kingdom of God is about personal power, prestige, and prosperity. There are popular Christian teachers today who assert, when you come to the kingdom of God, you can expect to be on top and not on bottom, to be the head and not the tail. They teach that you receive a birthright which allows you to marshal the resources of God so that circumstances will turn to favor you. You never have to live “in lack.”There is nothing particularly sinister about prosperity and comfort, or in being in charge of your world, or having influence over your fellows. It’s the American dream. It is just not what Jesus promises his subjects.
Jesus told those contemplating joining his kingdom that the Son of Man, unlike the foxes and birds, has nowhere to lay his head, that the world hates him and will hate them, and that he came not to be served but to serve others.
It is not that God is not aware of the temporal needs of his people. Or that he is against us being industrious, acquisitive, and successful. Those goals, however, are secondary rather than primary.
Prosperity, power and prestige are useful only so long as they serve true kingdom goals. The kingdom of God has greater aims. Jesus promises his subjects peace with God through the forgiveness of sins. He gives purpose to our existence as it is incorporated into the design of God for the ages. He secures our eternal abode in the glorious mansions of heaven. These are the things he most cares about.
The experiences of this life for kingdom people will be a mixed bag. Sometimes we will have material success. Other times it is required that we lose everything. Sometimes people will hear us gladly. Other times they will mock us or worse. Sometimes the kingdom is advanced by our living; other times by our dying.
The Apostle Paul teaches, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22, NIV). While prosperity, prestige, and power may be used to advance the loftier goals of the kingdom, for the most part, they are inconsequential and certainly undependable. They should never be thought to be guaranteed by God or to be the priorities of God’s people.
You may be able to experience the American dream and, at the same time, seek the kingdom of God. But you may not. Don’t be dismayed. Just pursue peace, purpose, and permanence in the kingdom of God.