Apparently, Senator Obama believes that his purpose in life is to create God's kingdom on earth. While visiting a church in South Carolina, he made these comments:
During the nearly two hour service that featured a rock band and hip-hop dancers, Obama shared the floor with the church's pastor, Ron Carpenter. The senator from Illinois asked the multiracial crowd of nearly 4,000 people to keep him and his family in their prayers, and said he hoped to be "an instrument of God."Just two things."Sometimes this is a difficult road being in politics," Obama said. "Sometimes you can become fearful, sometimes you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power just for power's sake instead of because you want to do service to God. I just want all of you to pray that I can be an instrument of God in the same way that Pastor Ron and all of you are instruments of God."
He finished his brief remarks by saying, "We're going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth."
1. We don't create God's kingdom. God's kingdom is a reality. Period. There has never been a time when he hasn't been in charge, on the throne, sovereign over this world. God certainly doesn't need my help to establish his rule over this world.
2. If our job is not to create the kingdom, then what is it? Jesus makes it clear in his preaching:
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." ESV Mark 1:15
There are two choices, two ways to live (see the gospel on my sidebar). We can either choose to live our own way, and suffer the consequences, or we can submit our lives and our hearts to God's rule. Because of sin, the only way that can happen is through the grace of God and the gospel. When the Holy Spirit moves, opening blind eyes to the holiness of God, bringing a conviction of sin and awakening repentance in our hearts, the gospel is understood as good news to sinners! It tells us that the King is merciful and will forgive our rebellion if we will bow and accept his rule in our lives.
I wonder what Senator Obama thinks is involved in creating this Kingdom here on earth...and what that might look like. I'm pretty sure it's not what Jesus was talking about.
2 pegs in the ground:
The fact that Obama wants to "create God's Kingdom here on earth" is fine and good as long as he and we understand WHO God calls and uses to do that - namely, the Church, families, and individuals.
My concern is that Obama wants to use the sword of the civil government to force what he thinks is "God's kingdom" on us.
The Bible is clear that civil government was ordained by God for a very limited purpose - to bear the sword against the evil doer. In effect, to protect life, liberty, and property - so that the Church, families, and individuals could carry out their God-given mandates.
It is not the role of civil government to create God's Kingdom here on earth, that will be done by God through the other institutions He ordained - the family and the Church.
Bo...
I agree wholeheartedly that Obama is confusing roles (of government and church) in his comment. In reality (as you know too), I think he is probably pandering to a certain group.
I also agree with your last comment: "That will be done by God through the other institutions he ordained..."
Again, I would just emphasize that the kingdom of God is a reality we have to deal with, not something we
must create or expand. It is eternal.
ESV Psalm 145:13 "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations."
It does grow (Isaiah 9:7), yes, but again, we do not create that growth. And yes, we are taught to pray that the kingdom "comes" (Matt 6:10), but again, I believe Jesus is speaking of the in-breaking of eternal reality into history, God's authority and rule made accessible to rebels who could never deserve it (by grace through the gospel).
Our key response to the kingdom is to "enter" it. And Jesus is clear that to enter the kingdom we must be born again. Part of my concern is that in many emerging churches, the gospel of the kingdom has replaced the gospel of justification by faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice for sin. The gospel of the kingdom is all about the stuff we do for God, to advance His agenda, and tends to minimize that we first need to enter the kingdom. The really good news is that the kingdom is near to us, accessible to rebels who have rejected it.
That said, I appreciate your clarity about the roles of civil government and the church.
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