I love the United States of America and the principles it was founded on: freedom, unalienable & individual rights, justice, a representative government, equality, popular sovereignty, property ownership, separation of powers, free enterprise, checks and balances, the pursuit of happiness, limited government, and even … federalism. I can hear my dad in my head yelling, “States’ Rights!” as I’m typing this.
So, don’t get me wrong here. I served in the military for several years. My grandfather was a war hero. I even teach United States History. But, I want to ask something a bit controversial: wouldn’t your life be better under a monarchy? Seriously! Think about it.
If you could pick one king who was perfect in every way, who never made a single bad decision, who always remembered the poor and downtrodden, who expected everyone to work with the talents they were given and was perfectly justified and correct every single time — would you surrender everything to serve that king?
If you totally trusted the king, you wouldn’t need all of the principles the USA was founded on. I wish I could sarcasticly say, “Good luck with that!” and then keep on living the American Dream. However, the king exists — and his name is Jesus!!! And guess what! His nation is NOT the United States of America — or even Israel for that matter. Listen to Jesus’ own words before Pilate hands Him over to be crucified.
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””
John 18:33-37 NIV
So, the kingdom belonging to Jesus DOES exist, but not in the world as we know it. His kingdom is from Heaven. Now the question is this, which nation has priority in your life? The nation of the USA with all of its political upheaval? The country we live in that declares our freedom gives us the excuse to freely sin? The nation that says we are free to express ourselves by retaliating against those who either hurl insults at us or make us suffer because of our faith? Do we pick THIS kingdom …
… or the kingdom of Heaven with its eternally perfect king? What if the USA turned into a dictatorship that abolished the constitution? What if it decided following Jesus should be illegal? What if it passed laws that declared bad – good; and declared good – bad. Would you rebel?
Choose my friends. Which one do you consider “home” and “country” most often? Are you a slave in God’s kingdom, or a slave to the “religious freedom” and riches of the USA? I sometimes need to be reminded that “I’m just passing through” and “this world is not my home.” Maybe we need to read what the apostle Peter wrote more often.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul … Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God … But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:11-25 NIV (edited for length)
Choose wisely my friends. Either the eternal monarchy of Jesus — or the temporary democratic republic of the USA.