Building for the Kingdom…Perhaps Someone Missed The Message
“A third thing that the Church can do in attempting to solve the race problem is to take the lead in strong Christian social action. It is not enough for the Church to be active in the ideological direction; it must also move out into the arena of social action. The first act in this area should be the Church’s determination to purge its own body of discriminatory practices. Only by doing this can the Church be effective in its attack on outside evils.” (1)
If you are wondering why I began with the excerpt from a speech that Martin Luther King gave on Social Action, please hold that thought. I will come back to that a little later in the post.
I made a commitment to read all the books (cover to cover) this term and take my time with them, to let the information sink in, and take the time to interpret the material in a way that I can relate to my experience. It takes me a little longer to do that, but I am okay bringing up the rear with my posts. I did not know what to expect from this book but what I quickly realized is that it covered a topic that is so timely for me. This election season (just like the last and the one before that) has really brought to the forefront the political views and opinions of people that I interact with on a regular basis. I have had conversations both virtual and face-to-face with people in my Church circle and Bible Study group that left me with a terrible feeling. Not because we argued or had a heated discussion, but because the things that they shared were things that they believed with such conviction that there was no room for any other opinion. Their Christianity in so deeply intertwined with their nationalism that they cannot separate the two. So true is this statement, “Christian nationalism is a danger to Christians and non-Christians alike.”(2) And this is probably what left me feeling terrible, the danger of it all creates an awful pit in my belly and a saddest in my heart.
N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird state that this book has one objection, “to say that, in an age of ascending autocracies, in a time of fear and fragmentation, amid carnage and crises, Jesus is King, and Jesus’ kingdom remains the object of the Church’s witness and work.”(3) My immediate response to that was, “Yes, please, and thank you!”. Before I go too far down the rabbit hole on that topic. I want to acknowledge that this book provides a great deal of historical and biblical information on the very contested issue of Church and State, so I would content that it fulfills a second objective. It provides Bible content to highly contested question of whether Church and State should remain separate. I appreciate this summary that the authors provide as it offers some clarity, “To recap, we’ve seen that Christians have a complex relationship with the State, existing the poles of seeking political favour with civic leaders and being a political nuisance in Jesus’ name.”(4) This gets very confusing and murky during intense political seasons. I try to reconcile how I feel about the mixture of church and politics. Admittedly, it is difficult. The reality is the Church was the epicenter for organizing social action in the late 50’s and 60’s (Hence the MLK quote). The political momentum of the Civil Rights Movement began in the Church. This was before the coining of the term socio-political. Political activism for social action took place in the Church. It is important to remember and acknowledge that the premise of the movement was equality. That we might all be treated, under the law and in society, as equals. I have always felt like the movement was centered around an understanding that we are all God’s children and just as he loves us, we should love each other, following the second great commandment to Love thy neighbor. I know that I am not alone in this belief. The authors articulate this so well,” We can provide a Christian justification for ‘liberalism’ through the notion of “love thy neighbour’. In order to love our ‘neighbor’, we must allow our neighbour to be beside us and yet be different from us. Our neighbour has permission to be ‘other’ than us.”(5) I feel differently about this when the political views do not seem to support “Love thy Neighbor” but instead promote divisive views. I have a difficult time hearing politicians solicit votes on Sunday morning when their platform does not reflect an inclusive message.
For many, the Church is a place of safety and community. A place where we can share a sacred space. To achieve this it is necessary, as the authors state “To build for the kingdom, we need to confront the difficult subject of empire, appreciate the ambiguous place that Christianity has occupied in Western civilisation, and consider how best to offer a Christian witness in an age that has lost its ability to reason with others.”(6)
It is so interesting how many of us align on so many things until the one thing surfaces that creates an instant divide. Yet beyond that, if we leave that out, we can easily co-exist in our different opinions and find comfort in knowing that we are all children of God. If we are to live out the teachings of Christ, it is not a question of whether we vote different, it is really in a world where we lean in to being brothers and sisters in Christ. When we do that, the question of Church and State is not such a big debate because we are committing to lead with love and all things that flow from that will unite us in the most powerful way. This is Kingdom Building!
1. King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1957. “The Role of the Church in Facing the Nation’s Chief Moral Dilemma.” Transcript of speech delivered at the Conference on Christian Faith and Human Relations, Nashville, TN, April 25, 1957. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu
2. N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in An Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2024), 129.
3. Ibid., xiii.
4. Ibid.,122.
5. Ibid.,159.
6. Ibid.,10.
About the Author
Jonita Fair-Payton
10 responses to “Building for the Kingdom…Perhaps Someone Missed The Message”
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Appreciate the posts Jonita, these ideas really challenge some views that faith is meant to be private. However, a public faith can become a dangerous thing when it means its our job or duty to force or impose our beliefs and practices onto others rather than fight for “liberal democracy” or “confident pluralism”. I can get on board with fighting for the former but shutter at the last one! Loved your quote of Rev. King!
Hi Adam!
Rev. Dr. MLK is still teaching us so much about how to navigate this world. I would love to have a deeper conversation with you about confident pluralism. Perhaps in DC!
C’mon Jonita. you shared with grace but you were definitely preaching! I was tracking with you all the way. I do have one question. When people in your church express themselves with such conviction without being open to a different viewpoint, what do you do with that “terrible feeling” you have deep down inside?
Thanks, Todd. It is interesting that you asked that question. I have learned to chat in my head a phrase that helps me navigate these types of situations. I have on repeat, “You will never look in the eyes of someone that God does not love!”. It usually soothes the instinct to react or feel angry. I am really on a path of learning to love them where they are. It’s not easy and I have not fully mastered it. I will admit that there are days that I go home to Larry and just complain.
“It is so interesting how many of us align on so many things until the one thing surfaces that creates an instant divide. Yet beyond that, if we leave that out, we can easily co-exist in our different opinions and find comfort in knowing that we are all children of God. If we are to live out the teachings of Christ, it is not a question of whether we vote different, it is really in a world where we lean in to being brothers and sisters in Christ. ” yes it is! I have to remind my self of that as I drive to my close loved one’s home, and as I walk into patients rooms where an opposing candidate is speaking from the tv. I have to breathe and center myself, as I love this person as one created in the image of God. Jonita, what do you think MLK,Jr would say if he were alive today in this political atmosphere? What would he say on the steps of Lincoln memorial to everyone, what would he say from his pulpit, and most importantly, what would he tweet? You don’t have to reveal sides, just what would he say to our discourse?
I believe that he would be saddened by where we are. I wonder if he had not been assassinated would the world be different. I am under no illusion that he alone would have changed things, but change can bring about change. What kind of emerging leaders would hold his principles to civil disobedience, activism, collective action, or community organizing. I truly believe that he truly believed that love is a great weapon to activate against the ugliness of this world. Maybe he would tweet, “The enemy is powerless over love!'”
Jonita,
I loved this phrase in your post, “…committing to lead with love” because it captures the heart of Jesus’ message and a solid foundation from which to lead. I have been reminded of 1 Corinthians 16:14, Let all that you do be done in love” while reading everyone’s posts. Leading with love might look very different from situation to situation, but I wonder what would happen if leaders checked the motivation behind their decisions and actions. Thanks for a great post!
Hi Jenny,
I wonder too. What would the world look like if they all checked their true motivations? What would the world look like if ego and greed were not at the center of decision making?
1. Every single page of every single book this semester?!?! You go girl! I will not be joining that challenge! However, I did read the entirety of this book (or in truth, I listened to it). I too, thought it was a timely read.
2. We had a retired preacher preach a fabulous sermon this morning. One of his quotes was, “Would Jesus be a Christian Nationalist today? I don’t think so. That phrase is an oxymoron. Jesus separated his faith’s teaching from the political realm basically saying, “The coins with Caesar’s image are the national part of life. My teachings are about faithfulness to God who is over all of life and all nations and not uniquely part of any one nation.”
3. I too, find myself with “terrible feelings” when having a conversation with someone about politics to find out they are so far on the “other” side yet call themselves a Christian. I want to find a middle way, I really do. But I’m not sure a middle way is the good/loving way when the other side’s views/actions actively hurt the more vulnerable. I’ve seen this quote from James Baldwin: “We can disagree and still love each other. Unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” I have to agree with Mr. Baldwin. There are certain things that I just will not find a “middle way” on because often the “middle way” is just the way of trying to keep the oppressor comfortable.
What are your thoughts on that?
Well Kally…we will see how far I get. As for now, I intend to read them all…cover to cover.
You are truly speaking my language. I love me some James Baldwin. I feel like I should have been born in his era. I understand your feelings about the middle creating a comfortable place for the oppressor. But some people are just not equipped with the ability to move beyond their box. It is unfair that most of the work must be done by those of us that see all sides and want to fight for the most vulnerable among us. It’s frustrating and makes me so angry at times. I have to lean in with love and compassion for them…my anger only fuels their misguided beliefs.