Alan Storkey on John 18:36

John 18:36 has often been understood to deny that our Lord’s kingdom extends to the realm of earthly politics.  But Christian political theorist Alan Storkey offers this correction:  

“The short sentence ‘My Kingdom/kingship is not of this world’ has become for many a kind of abstract statement of Christian political otherworldiness.  It means, for many, ‘My rule is only spiritual and does not engage politics.’  This text, interpreted in an apolitical sense, has often been the reason for ignoring the political content of the Gospels down the ages, popular especially with secular rulers.  We must reflect on whether this interpretation holds up.  What does Jesus mean by telling Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world?’  ‘World’ (kosmos) is used with a number of meanings in John–created order, human existence, people as a whole, or sinful world.  Within all these meanings, except perhaps the third, which is more colloquial, the engagement of God with the world is paramount.  This is not withdrawal language.  ‘For God so loved the world’ is typical (3:16).  It is false to use the phrase ‘not of this world’ in the sense of withdrawal from politics.  Doing so undercuts the Johannine emphasis on God’s relationship with the world and replaces it with a view that withdraws into asceticism.  This can be seen from the words we earlier examined: ‘Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince [ruler] of this world will be driven out’ (12:31).  This is not withdrawal language.  Nor is Jesus’ petition: ‘My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one’ (17:15).   Consequently, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ and ‘My kingdom is from another place’ are not spoken in withdrawal language.

Jesus is actually talking to Pilate in his pagan terms rather than Jewish or theological ones.  He means something like this: ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world.  My kingdom is not based on human power, or fighting, or the kind of intrigue that is going on here.  It is not like the Roman Empire or the Herodian rule.  My kingdom has its roots with God rather than in this evil age.  It has a different basis from the kingship that you or the Jews are discussing.’” — Alan Storkey, Jesus and Politics, p. 268.

 

Not Necessarily Disbelief or Denial

In his book Dealing with Doubt (Moody Press, 1990), theologian Gary Habermas offers this pastoral advice for those who struggle with doubt.  Doubt, he says, “is not necessarily disbelief or denial.”  As Karl Barth says, it is only a staggering between Yes and No (p.195).  While unbelief is rebellion against evidence we will not accept, doubt is more like stumbling over a stone we do not understand.  And just because a person has questions about something or is faced with contrasting evidence against his or her object of faith does not mean that he or she is in unbelief.  After all, “Scientists do not discard a model every time a bit of data opposes their central thesis or framework” (p.103).  This is something to keep in mind for all who struggle with challenges to their faith in Christ from time to time.

 

Theology of Worship

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) has a position paper on worship.  You may find it here.

 

Three Purposes for Work

“Work serves three main purposes in the world.  It exists to provide for human needs, to fulfill our humanity, and to glorify God.  These goals, in turn, are standards by which we can weigh the morality of work.  Work that satisfies these puporses is moral in nature.  Some work, of course, fails to measure up to these ethical standards.” — Leland Ryken, Work and Leisure in Christian Perspective, p.165.

 

Piper on Breaking from Entertainment Idolatry

Dr. John Piper has some wisdom for those of us who struggle with an idolatry of entertainment.  You may find it here.  You may also find more articles on sanctification and growth here.

 

Article on Plagiarizing in the Pulpit

Christianity Today featured this article on plagiarism from the pulpit.  It asks what is driving ministers of the Word to plagiarize.

 

“Did You Get Anything Out of That?”

“Persons move from congregation to congregation looking for the worship experience that will meet their perceived spiritual needs.  Worship is turned into just another consumer commodity. 

This focus on the self and its perceived spiritual needs is another symptom of the basic narcissism at the heart of human sinfulness.  Christians leave church services asking each other, ‘Did you get anything out of that?’  Churches produce surveys to measure expectations for worship.  Would you like more music?  What kind?  How about drama?  Is our preacher sufficiently creative?’” — R. Albert Mohler Jr., in Give Praise to God, p.119.

 

How the Dark Powers Work in Society

“Not only does sin have a degenerative effect on the social order, but so also do the powers of darkness. The powers exert their influence to corrupt the various social orders of the world as a further means of drawing humanity away from God.  Working through people, the powers can pollute a society’s traditions and values.  They can influence authors, television producers, political thinkers and analysts, pastors, university professors, composers, artists, screenplay writers, economic policy makers, architects of defense strategies and journalists.  Through a unified networking influence, it is not difficult to imagine how the powers can influence the direction of an entire culture.  In one decade something may be considered morally outrageous and in the next morally acceptable through a changed public opinion.” — Clinton Arnold, Powers of Darkness, p.204.

 

Coming to the Lord’s Table After a Bad Week

John Piper wrote a brief piece on coming to the Lord’s Table even after we’ve had a bad week.  Read it here.

 

On the Cross…

“On the cross Christ paid the debt for every selfish desire, thought, word, or deed to which you will ever give yourself.  You no longer have to be afraid to own up to your selfishness.  You do not have to whitewash your thoughts and motives.  You do not have to cover your sin by blaming others or by self-atoning logic.  You do not have to give yourself to acts of penance (self-atonement) that make you feel better about yourself.  You do not have to search for biblical passages that will give ease to your conscience.  No, your debt has been fully paid.  Your punishment has been borne by Another.” — Paul Tripp, A Quest for More, p.69.