Many Christians quite wrongly believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is supposed to be 'non-political.' The supposed 'true' Gospel (according to this mistaken view) is that Jesus spoke of a purely 'spiritual' Kingdom that is so spiritual that we just wait around on Planet Earth for Jesus to Return (Hal Bopp comet-cult style! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale-Bopp) and divorce ourselves from the political arena.
But Jesus spoke constantly of 'the Kingdom.' Basileia (please see a good word study found at http://www.preteristarchive.com/PartialPreterism/walker-don_pp_03.html) is the Greek New Testament word for "kingdom" and this word occurs over and over again throughout the Gospels. Yes, Jesus was not a 'revolutionary' in some marxist-sense (although some Catholic Liberation Theologians try to make Him fit this model, contrary to the warnings of Pope Benedict XVI). But just because Jesus was not a 'revolutionary' trying to overthrow the Romans and set up a utopian kingdom on earth does not mean that Jesus' reference to the Kingdom meant anything other than a real politic. From the Amish-Mennonite 'communitarian' vision of late ethicist John Howard Yoder (former Professor of Ethics, University of Notre Dame) to the strange sort of 'real cultural politique' of Professor Stanley Hauerwas (Ethics Professor at Duke University) to the various inner workings of Opus Dei, the Church's calling is to embody and CONQUER in the Name Christ Jesus! Constantine the Great, the former military general became Emperor literally because he painted the Christian symbol designating Jesus Christ on the shields of his Roman Legions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_I). Similarly, although Mennonites and Amish (and some Hauerwasian Methodists/Catholics/et al) do not advocate such Constantinian Imperia, their vision is, nonetheless, still political, and although non-violent, still militant! John Howard Yoder (author of The Politics of Jesus and numerous other works) did not espouse governmental overthrow, yet through his uniquely Anabaptist Vision, could still advocate the forward Advancement of Jesus' Reign here on earth. No "Hal-Bopp comet-watching" for Yoder and his Mennonite kin! Rather through embodying the sorts of community-sustaining practices that Jesus taught his first disciples (as found in the New Testament canon), Yoder (and by extension Hauerwas) invite the fallen pagan world to join up and enlist in the non-violent, eschatologically-consummating JESUS KINGDOM!
So, are you ready to sign up?
Jesus is watching and calling you personally by name. Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me . . . dear beloved sinner, come home.
My prayer is that the former Christendom of Swiss, German, French and English neo-pagans will sign up today for the Jesus-Army!
Love in Christ Jesus,
Rob J. King, non-Mennonite CONQUERING CHRISTIAN in Jesus' Most Holy Name!
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