We are confident in our kingdom vocation because…
Political theology [1] is a term that might make some Christians bristle or shrink in fear, but N.T. Wright and Michael Bird encourage Christians in Jesus and the Powers to confidently “recover our kingdom vocation” [2] concerning our engagement with the powers. The authors urge Christians to carefully consider political theology as we seek to actively yet humbly serve as a moral compass for society, confront corruption, and defend the voiceless.[3] Our kingdom vocation is to, as Sandra Richter writes in Stewards of Eden, “live our lives as animated representations of what God’s kingdom will be.” [4] Furthermore, Wright and Bird carefully define our kingdom vocation not as zealous crusaders or pursuit of hegemonic supremacy but as those who engage and “leaven society with Christian influence” [5] within the framework of liberal democracy. This brief post will not debate or suggest the ‘rules of engagement’ between Christians and the powers. However, I will use Wright and Bird’s Jesus and the Powers and Sandra Richter’s Stewards of Eden to discuss why we can be confident in our kingdom vocation to engage with the powers as Christians.
We are confident in our kingdom vocation because…
It is and will always be God’s purpose for us within His creation. Wright and Bird remind readers of the God-given vocation for humans to steward creation with Him, as seen in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. However, on the heels of chapters 1 and 2, the authors also present humanity’s dilemma from the Fall in chapter 3. Richner writes concerning our fallen reality, “Yahweh’s world was a world in which there would never be hunger, homelessness, abuse, famine, genocide, or refugee camps. But due to the Fall, all these realities became resident on our planet.” [6]However, Wright and Bird triumphantly reiterate that the “anti-creation forces have been defeated” [7] because the crucified and resurrected Jesus has power and preeminence over all things. This victory of Jesus over the “anti-creation forces” should reassure us of our role and embolden us to engage with the powers. God neither abandoned his plan for creation nor disqualified humans from their role as stewards. Jesus has redeemed our vocation. Richter writes, “Thus, in this fallen world, the role of the redeemed community is to live our lives as an expression of another kingdom, to reorient our values to those of our heavenly Father, to live our lives as Adam and Eve should have, as Jesus Christ has.”[8] Therefore, we should be stirred to action when we witness the abuses of the powers, the suffering of the oppressed, the sick, the desperation of the poor, and the spiritual lostness of communities and nations. It is our purpose. When we act, we declare to the powers, “Things should look different! And one day, Jesus will make all things new!” Until that day, we can be confident that we are doing what God created us to do when prompted to act out of love for God and others.
We have a message of hope! In Acts 26, the Apostle Paul confessed before King Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, and those with them that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his people and the Gentiles. Agrippa says to Paul in verse 28, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul responds in verse 29, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Paul was confident in the gospel message because of its power to bring salvation. [9] Paul was sure of his kingdom’s vocation because he possessed a message of hope for all people. Wright and Field emphasize, “The Church’s message and mission rest on the notion that God is King, God has appointed Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the Church’s vocation is to build for the kingdom!”[10] Jesus as King is our message of hope. The rhetoric of fallible powers will never bring complete restoration and renewal, but the healing message of the gospel has the power to transform. Richter writes, “… the redemption of all creation is the gospel…like all of the fallout of Eden, the only true solution to our dilemma is the gospel— the message of transformed lives, living in alliance with God’s strategic plan.” [11] Ultimately, this message of hope gives us confidence in our “kingdom vocation.”
The seriousness of political theology might make some shirk the responsibility to act. However, throughout Scripture, there are many examples of the faithful displaying confidence in their kingdom vocation. For instance, in Acts 26, Paul stands in chains before Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus. Paul’s engagement with the powers would send him to Rome, where he would later be martyred. This is just one example. However, in each circumstance, the faithful were confident in their kingdom vocation because it was God’s purpose for them in creation, and they possessed a message of hope. We can share in this same confidence. Wright and Bird state, “The kingdom of God is the healing, rescuing sovereignty of the Creator God, working in the power of the spirit through the death and resurrection of Jesus to bring about the future consummation of heaven and earth.” [12] When we act out of love for God and others, we declare to the powers, “Things should look different! And one day, Jesus will make all things new!”
[1] “Political theology investigates the ways in which our theological concepts inform our collective existence and political experiences.” (Ali S. Harfouch, 2023)
[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, 2024), ch. 3, Kindle Edition.
[3] Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle.
[4] Ibid.
[5] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), ch. 4, Kindle Edition.
[6] Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden, (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), chap. 6, Kindle.
[7] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 3, Kindle Edition.
[8] Sandra L. Richter, Stewards of Eden, (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle Edition.
[9] “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16 [NIV]).”
[10] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 3, Kindle Edition.
[11] Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden, (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle.
[12] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 4, Kindle Edition.
About the Author
Elysse Burns
10 responses to “We are confident in our kingdom vocation because…”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Elysse.
Thank you for your post.
How does the confidence of biblical figures like Paul in their kingdom vocation inform our understanding of the role of political engagement in the context of God’s sovereign plan and the ultimate renewal of creation?
Shela
Hi Shela. Thank you for your question. I believe the biblical figures provide an excellent standard to strive for because we can see the full picture, their shortcomings, failures, and incredible acts of faith. However, each biblical figure shows us that political engagement has risks. I can’t imagine what Moses felt when Pharaoh’s army closely approached the Israelites. I believe each person saw something bigger than themselves, something eternal. I am reminded of Hebrews 11:13, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” I believe we must do the same in maintaining an eternal vision that is bigger than earthly powers. I am still growing in this area!
Elysse, you made a good effort.
In your blog you write, “…we can be confident that we are doing what God created us to do when prompted to act out of love for God and others.” What are ways you know you are doing what God created you to do? What helps you distinguish between love and pity?
Hi Kari, You ask some deep questions. Often, I know I am doing what God created me to do because I feel confident, even in fear. God has a way of pushing me out of my comfort zone! I also know I am doing what God created me to do when it is God and “others-focused.” I suppose you could call this a dying to self.
Distinguishing between love and pity can be tricky sometimes. I specifically remember the mourning time of our colleague’s husband. I remember sitting on the floor in a room filled with women, flies, and peculiar smells. However, I was not bothered by it. I wanted to be near our colleagues and friends during this challenging time. Her situation might be pitiful, but I didn’t view it that way. I just remember feeling an immense amount of love for her and every woman in the room.
Elysee in your post you highlight how, the “Church’s message and mission rest on the notion that God is King, God has appointed Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the Church’s vocation is to build for the kingdom!”
How can be attune our hearts and voices to share in this polarized world the hope filled message that Jesus is King.
Hi Daren, The first verse that comes to mind is Phil. 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.” We need to ask ourselves if we are engaging in humility and valuing the other person. If the answer is “no” or “I don’t know,” it might be best to keep our thoughts to ourselves. I do believe we can say hard things but still maintain a God-honoring, humble, and others-focused spirit.
HI Elysse, I enjoyed your post. One of the struggles I had with the reading was turning the conceptual truths into practical action. So I’m curious how you have thought about how this book will impact your day-to-day?
Hi Christy, I have been struggling with the same thing! How can I apply the theory in a practical way? I see the importance of political engagement, but my question is,”How can I best engage?” The book “Jesus and the Powers” was a good reminder that we have a voice in this arena. It was a good confidence booster for me.
Following some comment threads, I was impressed with Julie’s idea to get people in a room, share a meal, and discuss difficult things. This format would work in my context (or in most contexts). I believe practical, doable things like this will have a significant impact. I would like to try this in the near future.
Elysse,
Thanks for your post. I am wondering how you might navigate the challenging political landscape of America while living overseas? Does it just seem distant? Are you able to disassociate from it? Does American politics infuse the location you are at?
Hi Adam, I am ashamed to say that I usually disassociate from American politics when overseas. It often feels distant, and I do not have enough hours in the day to follow everything. I have found that American politics do not infuse too much in my context unless it involves the Palastinian-Israeli conflict. I have found that most of the time, people just yell the name of a president at me. Whenever I hear the names Obama, Trump, or Biden shouted at me, I know someone is talking to me. However, over the past year, there has been an exodus of people leaving the country and entering the United States illegally. I do try and follow these conversations.