Hope of the Cross, Serving for the Kingdom
It was a crisp autumn day. The wind was blowing through the trees arching over the street. Premature foliage was scattered across the sidewalks. My sister and I marched up to the next address on our list. A pleasant older lady opened the door and smiled at us. I introduced us as we campaigned for the political party to which this kind lady was registered. We encouraged her to vote in the upcoming election and asked if she wanted any political ephemera. She took a bumper sticker and thanked us for our efforts. She promised to have her husband display the yard sign that they had in the garage. Encouraged, we moved on to another house. I remember feeling proud that my sister and I could do something for the upcoming election. It was 2000 and a heated presidential election was on the horizon. My sister was fourteen and I was sixteen. We were too young to vote, but we could campaign. This was the start of my limited political journey.
Almost a quarter of a century ago, this walk down memory lane resurfaced as I read N.T. Wright and Michael Bird’s book, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies. These theologians address the Biblical perspective of governing institutions and structures, give a historical overview of the Church’s impact on politics, and provide a theological outline that challenges Christians in their political perspective and involvement. The authors do an excellent job addressing different eras and styles of politics and Christian responses to these. Woven throughout the book is this challenge: Christians should be living examples by loving our neighbors, serving our communities, and pursuing justice.[1] It was one word that stood out to me: service. This word and similar forms of it appear over twenty times throughout the book. Most of the time it relates to serving as Jesus did. As an advocate of servant leadership, this is a concept to which I can deeply relate.
Jesus humbly came to earth as a servant.[2] He asks his followers to emulate his example by serving him and others.[3] In their book, The Servant Leader: Transforming Your Heart, Head, Hands, & Habits, Blanchard and Hodges eloquently summarize Jesus’ call to servant leaders:
In His instructions to His first disciples on how they were to lead, Jesus sent a clear message to all of those who would follow him that leadership was to be first and foremost an act of service. No Plan B was implied or offered in His words. He placed no restrictions or limitations of time, place, or situation that would allow us to exempt ourselves from His command. For a follower of Jesus, servant leadership isn’t just an option; it’s a mandate.[4]
Leadership and service are not something commonly seen on the political stage. Being leaders that serve our communities, and our world is a way for us to reflect Christ.
I live in an Islamic republic with social injustice, poverty, and political corruption rampant. Sharia law can be legally enforced. Proselytizing is illegal. Sharing the Gospel in my context means serving the people and living in a way that reflects Christ and challenges them to question what is different about me. Racism and ethnic hostilities are a part of daily life. I can reflect God’s perspective of each person being equal in his eyes[5]through how I treat people, serving those who are accustomed to being servants. In a corrupt society and government, I can choose to be respectful and uphold the truth. In my context the Gospel is shared by first being a lifestyle; one that hopefully intrigues and stimulates curiosity in those around me. Ultimately pointing them to the One who came to serve and offer hope.
In Jesus and the Powers, Christians are encouraged to be both focused on the hope the cross brings and be active in our part in working for the Kingdom of God.[6] Considering the dark and challenging political climate of our world, readers are challenged to “live luminously visible lives that appear odd to others because of our allegiance to Jesus and adopting a life patterned after Jesus.”[7] If appearing “odd” is a mark of successfully living a Gospel lifestyle, I have succeeded! In fact, “odd” is probably a mild expression compared to what my African friends and neighbors must think of me. I am a Christian, American, single, and a woman who has left what my neighbors consider the “greatest nation of the world” and has chosen to live among Muslims in the desert of North Africa. I have given up what is their dream, to live in America, and replaced it with the country that they hope to one day leave. My Muslim friends do not yet understand the hope that the Cross of Jesus has given to me. They do not know it is a privilege to live out my calling in service to our God.
As we are just weeks away from another presidential election, it is ironic how my political journey has shifted over the years. I am no longer the teenage campaigner knocking on doors. Instead, I am living abroad, applying for absentee ballots. American politics seems far away as I navigate how to live as a foreigner in an Islamic republic. My interactions with the political realms will continue to change. As I was challenged by this book, by God’s help may I never become apathetic and indifferent to the people and authorities around me.
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:16-19 ESV
[1] N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies, ePub ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2024), 160.
[2] See Philippians 2:5-8.
[3] See Matthew 20:26-28.
[4] Kenneth H. Blanchard and Phil Hodges, The Servant Leader: Transforming Your Heart, Head, Hands, & Habits (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 12.
[5] Galatians 3:28.
[6] Wright and Bird, 80.
[7] Wright and Bird, 77.
About the Author
Kari
Kari is a passionate follower of Jesus. Her journey with Him currently has her living in the Sahara in North Africa. With over a decade of experience as a family nurse practitioner and living cross-culturally, she enjoys being a champion for others. She combines her cross-cultural experience, her health care profession, and her skills in coaching to encourage holistic health and growth. She desires to see each person she encounters walk in fullness of joy, fulfilling their God-designed purpose. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV15 responses to “Hope of the Cross, Serving for the Kingdom”
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Kari, I admire your courage and responsive way of living your faith actively. In a sense I hear you saying that speaking truth to power in your case is using your actions rather than word to bring the message. Speaking truth to power can have strong consequences. Do you have a sense if that is true in your case?
Thank you for your questions, Diane. I have found in own context that actions speak loudly and prepare the way for words. I do not shy away from speaking truth, but I do my best to firstly build trust and relationships through actions. Having already established trust and relationship allows for natural opportunities to then speak out against things I may not agree with.
I agree, speaking truth against powers can have strong consequences. In my context this is true, especially when it involves no trust or breaking trust. It takes courage and discernment to speak out here, especially concerning faith issues. This is a big reason we do not see very many Christians here or people willing to learn more about Christianity.
Kari, thank you for reminding us how different our experiences are in different parts of the globe. I am in awe of your love for Jesus and courage to serve. Someone recently asked me why I enjoy going into some of the most difficult prisons for ministry work. In that flash of the moment, I thought of you – experiencing a similarly difficult environment.
In my experience, Jesus is most alive in the places where others prefer not to go. I’m cheering you on! Keep going!
Thank you, Jennifer! Yes, I have also experienced how Jesus feels more alive in hard contexts. Perhaps it is in those places where we are stripped of ourselves and deeply dependent on him that we can experience His presence and powers in ways we otherwise could not.
Hi Kari,
You are amazing! You have left what many consider the “greatest nation in the world” to live among Muslims in the desert of North Africa.
During my time in Malaysia, I saw American missionaries in Penang and wondered about their choice to leave the U.S., a country many view as the greatest, to share the Good News. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to serve Jesus in the U.S., where the challenges are different from the dangerous situations you face daily. Thank you!
What question would you pose to the authors if you had the opportunity to have coffee with them?
Shela, thank you for your kind words. In this season of presidential elections in the US, I am so very thankful to be living in another location 🙂 Your challenges in the US seem so much more daunting to me than in my context, at least most days. There is beauty in every country, culture, and calling. Thank you for faithfully living out yours.
I love your question! I would love hear more from Wright and Bird on how Christians in the West can help encourage and guide Christians who live in different political climates such as the one where I live.
Thank you so much Kari! Great post. I appreciate your story and the powerful insight, “American politics seems far away as I navigate how to live as a foreigner in an Islamic republic.” Both of these worlds are complex and both require the kind of servant leadership you remind us of here! May Christ strengthen you as you continue to serve Him and build for His Kingdom!
Hi Kari, Thank you for taking us on your journey. It is noteworthy how times change. Living abroad, there is a vast difference between political climates in several ways. I’m wondering how your Christian witness is being received, especially living in an Islamic environment.
Thank you for your comment, Daren. My Christian witness and identity are openly and lovingly received. The Gospel message is often cordially accepted as “your view.” What is rejected is the Gospel being for each individual, including Muslims.
Hi Kari, I always appreciate your posts and hearing about your life in North Africa. How has living amongst a very different culture and government shaped your view of politics and the importance of engaging as a Christian?
Great question, Christy. Here, politics is openly corrupt. During presidential elections, candidates send people into low-resource and underserved communities and villages to buy their ballots. This has helped me understand the political privileges we take for granted in the US, especially concerning voting. It has also reinforced the importance of participating in politics in my home country, even from afar. I have a voice in America right now, unlike so many of my friends here. Using my voice now may help keep that privilege and bring positive change.
Hi Kari, Your post promptly reminded me of the elections just held in our host country. I was distracted by American politics and forgot about the number of tents set up alongside the road in our city as campaigners met to promote politicians and le wifi qui a été coupé for over a month after the elections. What might engaging in politics and holding officials accountable look like for you (us) in our context?
Elysse, those are tough questions. I would be interested in hearing your own personal answer to these.
As an American, engaging in politics in our host country does not come without risk. I engage in conversations and ask good questions to my trustworthy friends and acquaintances. I also encourage my local friends to vote and be peaceful political advocates.
Building relationships with officials allows for some accountability through trust. On a practical, day-to-day basis, this means walking uprightly, being a law-abiding citizen, and refusing to accept and participate in corruption.
Kari, thank you for sharing your past and current situation. Reading Wright and Bird for me was through a narrow perspective of the Western church and politics. Your post expanded my perspective in some beneficial ways. Wright and Bird express the need to build the Kingdom in the context of a community of believers. You mentioned your neighbors’ response to your personal decision to live there. I’m unfamiliar with your situation and am curious to know to what extent you can live out your faith in the context of a community. If so, can it be present in a noticeable way?
Hi Chad. That’s a good question. There is a very small community of believers here, mostly expatriates. The local community of believers is hidden. I have been able to live out my faith in community, but it is small usually 3 or 4 believers at a time. But even with that, we have been able to host special events and opportunities where we invite our Muslim friends, neighbors, etc to come spend time with us. We take those opportunities to also weave in Gospel truths and conversations.