{"id":38155,"date":"2024-09-05T13:21:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T20:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38155"},"modified":"2024-09-08T05:23:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T12:23:23","slug":"we-are-confident-in-our-kingdom-vocation-because","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/we-are-confident-in-our-kingdom-vocation-because\/","title":{"rendered":"We are confident in our kingdom vocation because\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Political theology [1] <\/span>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<\/em> to confidently \u201crecover 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]<\/span> Our kingdom vocation is to, as Sandra Richter writes in Stewards of Eden<\/em>, \u201clive our lives as animated representations of what God\u2019s 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 \u201cleaven 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\u2019s Jesus and the Powers<\/em> and Sandra Richter\u2019s Stewards of Eden<\/em> to discuss why we can be confident in our kingdom vocation to engage with the powers as Christians.<\/p>\n

We are confident in our kingdom vocation because\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is and will always be God\u2019s purpose for us within His creation.<\/span><\/strong> 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\u2019s dilemma from the Fall in chapter 3. Richner writes concerning our fallen reality, \u201cYahweh\u2019s 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.\u201d [6]However, Wright and Bird triumphantly reiterate that the \u201canti-creation forces have been defeated\u201d [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, \u201cThus, 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.\u201d[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, \u201cThings should look different! And one day, Jesus will make all things new!\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

We have a message of hope! <\/strong>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, \u201cDo you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?\u201d Paul responds in verse 29, \u201cShort time or long\u2014I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.\u201d 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, \u201cThe Church\u2019s 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\u2019s vocation is to build for the kingdom!\u201d[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, \u201c\u2026 the redemption of all creation is the gospel\u2026like all of the fallout of Eden, the only true solution to our dilemma is the gospel\u2014 the message of transformed lives, living in alliance with God\u2019s strategic plan.\u201d [11] Ultimately, this message of hope gives us confidence in our “kingdom vocation.”<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s purpose for them in creation, and they possessed a message of hope. We can share in this same confidence. Wright and Bird state, \u201cThe 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.\u201d [12] When we act out of love for God and others, we declare to the powers, \u201cThings should look different! And one day, Jesus will make all things new!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

[1] “Political theology investigates the ways in which our theological concepts inform our collective existence and political experiences.” (Ali S. Harfouch, 2023)<\/p>\n

[2] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers:Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies <\/em>(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), ch. 3, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

[3] Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden<\/em> (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[4]\u00a0Ibid.<\/p>\n

[5] <\/span>N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers,<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), ch. 4, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

[6] Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden,<\/em> (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), chap. 6, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[7] <\/span>N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers,<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 3, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

[8] <\/span>Sandra L. Richter, Stewards of Eden,<\/em> (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

[9] <\/span>\u201cFor 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]).\u201d<\/p>\n

[10] <\/span>N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers,<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 3, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

[11] <\/span>Sandra L Richter, Stewards of Eden,<\/em> (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020), conclusion, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[12] <\/span>N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers<\/em>, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), chapt. 4, Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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