Redeeming the World

Years ago, I remember my practical ministries professor in college, Orval M. Morgan, saying that years in which presidential elections were held were difficult years to keep the church on mission. This year after the election doesn’t promise to be easier. I suspect that if he were still living, he would still say the same – perhaps even more. To merely say that this year’s (actually more than a year) political process has created tension would be to grossly understate reality. And it is far from over.

So, as Christians, how do we balance our absolute allegiance to Christ as Lord on the one hand, with all of those reminders that believers should “submit themselves to governing authorities,” (Romans 13), “honor the emperor,” (1 Peter 2:17) and Jesus’ own words when He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25)?

Of course the very apostle who urges the Roman Christians to “submit to the governing authorities” would himself be put to death because he would not obey the Roman demand to call the emperor Lord. (See F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, pages 441 ff.)

Obviously I nor anyone else has an easy answer to the challenge. Knowing exactly what the role of a believer who has declared that Jesus and only Jesus is Lord should be in modern western culture and its governments is a hard, but important, question.

But in re-reading William Robinson’s The Biblical Doctrine of the Church, recently, I discovered some very thoughtful advice that can, perhaps, at least set some of the parameters for us as we think about as a new administration begins. His comments are in a section where he says of the church, “She is in the world, not to conform to the world, but to redeem it.” (page 115) That in itself could change to focus of lots of people were it taken to heart. But, Robinson goes on to say of the church:

• “It is clear that the church herself cannot take political shape and become another political entity over against the state.” (115)
• “It is also clear that the church cannot take national shape. She cannot become the handmaid of the nation to serve her national pride.” (116)
• “It is further clear that the church has to struggle for a Christian civilization, which it must be recognized is something quite different from the life of the church herself. A Christian civilization may be described as one in which the main principles of the Christian ethic are actualized, and in which Christians themselves are able to take on the full disciplines of the Christian life without interference from the state..” (116)

Though Robinson’s book was published in 1948 – it sounds remarkably relevant and remains something worth reading! Perhaps that suggests something about the author’s understanding of the Christian gospel and his faithfulness to proclaim it.

Whatever happens in these tension filled days of political discourse, may we all remember that when all is said and done, the church is here “to redeem” the world!