ReImagine

Our relationship with power has been a frequent conversation topic as we try to negotiate what it means to be obedient (our last learning lab was about obedience) to the teaching of Jesus. I sometimes hear of followers of Jesus who try to further the kingdom by seeking positions of power within the government. I've wondered where scripture can guide us and what historical precedence there might be about this.

In scripture, I keep coming back to the temptations of Jesus from Matthew 4. Here the tempter offers him all of the kingdoms of this world if only Jesus would bow down and worship him. Jesus responds with 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'. From this, it appears that the one tempting him has some authority (perhaps temporary) over the kingdoms of this world. Otherwise, why would he be offering them to Jesus?

For the historical precedence, there appears to be some indication that the early christians refused to serve in the Roman empire. More recently the Quakers also refused allegiance to any government citing the recognition of but one king and lawgiver, namely Jesus.

Jesus tells us that his Kingdom is not of this world and Paul has mentioned that God chose the weak to shame the strong. It seems inconsistent with the ways of the kingdom revealed in scripture that the kingdom would be advanced through earthly power. We should pause before we consider using power to advance the purpose of God in any sphere whether it is the government, our job, or our relationships with our wives or our children.

Damon