Kingdom Clash, Part 1: A Leader to Make the Nation Great Again
A religious crowd is gathered at their nation’s capital, cheering on a new political candidate who they believe will cleanse the corrupt politicians from the government—by force and violence if necessary. You know, the people in government that incessantly tax their fellow citizens, cause inflation to soar (by creating more money out of thin air), promote godless policies, encourage public immorality, and commit heinous sexual sins behind closed doors? Yes, this new candidate has what it takes to make the nation great again by taking it back for God. Jesus will be able to pull it off.
Of course I’m talking about Jesus and His loyal fans. Who did you think?...
As Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, “Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road” for Him. Matthew 21:8. Why, you may ask, did they do this? Well, a few hundred years earlier Jehu was anointed king while there was already a king over Israel—the corrupt Ahab. When Jehu was anointed, he was simultaneously given the mission of assassinating the king and taking over the government. When Jehu’s men found out, they took their garments and likewise spread them out for Jehu to walk over. 2 Kings 9:5-13.
Others grabbed palm branches as they went to greet Jesus. John 12:13. This is what the Jews did only a hundred years earlier for the Maccabean who violently overthrew the oppressive yoke of the Seleucid Empire. 1 Maccabees 13:49-52.
This is the context in which the people of Israel shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9. I remember repeating the word, “Hosanna,” as I went along with the Hillsong classic growing up, but I had no idea what it meant. I now know that it literally means, “help” or “save, I pray.” The Jews didn’t care about being saved from their sins; they wanted to be saved from their political enemies. They wanted a manly king who wasn’t afraid of “the powers that be”; they wanted Jesus to take up His AK-47 and send the “godless liberals” to the proverbial guillotine. In their mind this is how Israel would be made great again.
All of this adds incredible significance to the fact that Israel chose Barabbas (a “son of the father”) instead of Jesus (the Son of the Father). The Jews wanted a violent revolutionary, and they got what they wanted when they chose Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus, for Barabbas was someone “who had committed murder in the insurrection.” Mark 15:7. Israel had rejected Christ’s way of self-sacrificial love for one’s enemies and non-violent resistance and chose Barabbas’s way of violent self-exaltation at the expense of one’s enemies.
Jesus had been teaching a religion of self-sacrificing love and non-violence for over three years, and now He is surrounded by His “followers” who want Him to smite their enemies. So much for the whole thing about loving your enemies, praying for those that oppress you, and turning the other cheek. Matthew 5:39-45. No wonder Jesus wept during His entry! Luke 19:41.
All of this begs the question: are we repeating history when we, as the Church, look for political saviors to overthrow the unbelieving powers that be with violent words and actions? This question makes me worry when I see my fellow Christians using violent rhetoric when describing their political enemies and what they think they deserve. We need to remind ourselves that this kind of thinking was not what Christ came to instill in His followers. We are to love and serve everyone, including those we disagree with, regardless of race, gender, politics, or nationality. This question becomes even more crucial as we dive deeper into how Christ's teachings challenge our modern political assumptions. Next time, we'll explore what it means to live in God's Kingdom in today’s political landscape.
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There is a great hunger out there for a true Christianity that will lighten the earth its glory. But few Christians have said anything or seem to realize what is happening as church after church enters politics, thinking that is the way to make the country more moral. There are few who speak up against Christian Nationalism and the tearing down of separation of church and state. Often it is left to politicians to do so, and while their critiques can be good, it would be better if those in the ministry themselves did. There is a hunger for this type of material. Here is Texas Democrat calling out Christian Nationalists in his state, and he preaches on this subject. He says some things we don't agree with, but we welcome his clear insights into how billionaire christians are taking over the state of Texas and how it is spreading over America. Notice the comments sections in his talks on YouTube. There is a hunger among people for well-researched info to be presented as well as arguments from scripture for what Jesus is really like.
The billionaries mentioned in this video are worth looking up. Tim Dunn is extremely influential, and has stated his belief that those who are not Christian should not be allowed office and school counselors should be replaced with chaplains. See this Rolling Stone profile of him: Meet Trump’s New Christian Kingpin: Oil-rich Tim Dunn has changed Texas politics with fanatical zeal — the national stage is next
Tim Dunn's billionaire partners, Dan and Farris Wilks are also interesting, in that they also preach and are actually 7th day sabbath keepers.
All these people need to be looked into. Powerful political Christian nationalists are happy if the only people standing up to them are Democrats. They can bide their time. Even if the Democrats win, the immoral aspects of their secular agenda will continue to alienate people and push them into the hands of the Christian nationalists. Let us educate ourselves and speak up for the truth of Christianity, glorying God's name not by getting involved in politics but by sharing light on God's true character of love and living it out in our life.
