When the Kings Come Marching In: Isaiah and the New Jerusalem by Richard J. Mouw

Author:Richard J. Mouw [Mouw, Richard J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Biblical Criticism & Interpretation, Old Testament, Christian Life, General, Inspirational, Christian Theology
ISBN: 9780802839961
Google: S-IhCsS3inEC
Amazon: B0027FF1U0
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Published: 1983-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt. 20:25-28)

Jesus has already begun to transform the patterns of human authority. He calls us to cast our lot with the lowly ones, to identify with the poor and the oppressed of the earth. To live in this manner is to anticipate the coming political vindication, when "the least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation" (Isa. 60:22).

In many ways the promise of political sanctification is a mysterious, and even a baffling, notion. But it is also true that in many ways it is a very encouraging promise for us in the present age. For one thing, we can act politically in the full assurance that our political deeds will count toward the day of reckoning that will occur in the transformed City. This vision of the political future is not one that should inspire us to be politically passive. In his second epistle, Peter tells Christians to "maintain good conduct among the Gentiles," even though we may be labeled "wrongdoers" by those who perpetuate the status quo; the important thing is not that we blend into the present political landscape, but that our accusers see our "good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation" (i Pet. 2:12). This is one important sense in which present acts will "count" in the future Day.

Since we are already citizens of God's commonwealth, we must find effective ways of living in political conformity to its norms and patterns. Because we know that all political rulers will someday be called to account before the only true Sovereign, we must not give them more than their due in the present age. And from the perspective of the New Testament, what is "due" them is not blind obedience or uncritical submission - and it certainly is not worship or idolatrous trust. What we must show present-day political authority is honor, because we recognize that it is called to perform an important ministry. But as those who know the radicality of the sin that presently affects both individuals and structures, we can only properly "honor" political authority today by constantly calling it to perform the kind of ministry that God requires of all who administer human affairs.

Those of us who have learned the name of God's anointed ruler must never despair concerning the basic political patterns that are a part of the "filling" of the creation. The Savior who presently calls his disciples to obedient servanthood is also the one before whom every ruler will someday bow. And he is the one who will someday address the creation with words of political healing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.