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Undivided Kingdom: Identity Politics
Senior Pastor Jeff Maness
August 11, 2024
The Church is not to be found on the left, on the right, or even in the middle. It is to be something altogether different. The Church is not to be found at the center of a left/right political world; it is to be a species of its own kind, confounding the left, right, and middle and finding its identity from the center of God’s life. —Pastor Rich Villodas (In a sermon titled “God, Politics, and The Church”)
Big Idea: To properly engage in my earthly kingdom, my primary identity must be in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
Big Question: How do I live in a Kingdom identity?
Main Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-17
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners”… —1 Peter 2:11a
How do I live in a Kingdom identity?
1. Change my perspective
‘Sojourning’ or ‘living as aliens’ became an identifying mark of the early Church. Christians rightly saw themselves as living in the empire but not being of the empire. —J. Ramsey Michaels (New Testament Scholar)
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. —1 Peter 2:11
How do I live in a Kingdom identity?
1. Change my perspective
2. Let go of the pursuit of power
(Our current political culture) creates incentives for Christians to not just seek power but to feel a sense of failure and emergency when they are not in positions of cultural or political control. Any admonition that declares that we must rule should be checked with the immediate reminder that Christ did not. It is the cross—not the boardroom, not the Oval Office, and not the box office—that is the absolute center of the Kingdom of God. —David French (Author & Political Commentator)
Dividing – Distancing – Demonizing
The most important phrase in bridge building is, “Help me understand what it’s like to be you.” —Pastor Raleigh Washington
In 2019, 55% of Republicans and 47% of Democrats viewed members of the other party as more immoral than the average American. According to a more recent survey, the percentage of Americans who “strongly dislike” members of their opposing party has gone up 400% over the past two decades. —Pew Research Center
You can’t hate people and engage them with the Gospel at the same time. You can’t war with people and show the love of Jesus. You can’t be both outraged and on mission. —Pastor Ed Stetzer
According to historian John Dickson, 2nd and 3rd century Church leaders believed that true power to change the world lay not in politics, the judiciary, or the military but in the message of Christ’s resurrection. This is what made Christians good, even cheerful, losers—the thought that they had already won! Their role was simply to remain true to the way of Christ, seeking to transform the world through prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. —Pastor Andy Stanley
How do I live in a Kingdom identity?
1. Change my perspective
2. Let go of the pursuit of power
3. Choose to live properly
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17a Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.
—1 Peter 2:12-17a
How should Jesus-following Republicans and Democrats treat, speak about, and respond to one another? Publicly and privately? The way Jesus treated, spoke to, and responded to those who disagreed with him. Unless, of course, we think we’re greater than our Lord. If we do, we should tell him. —Andy Stanley
Fear God, and respect the king. —1 Peter 2:17b
Books:
Jesus and the Powers by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
Not In It To Win It by Andy Stanley
Exiles: Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle
Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement by Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, and Chris Butler
If you have decided to follow Jesus today, we’d like to celebrate with you and help you with some next steps. Please text Life to 855-725-2939 or click here.