So, what part of “my kingdom is not of this world” don’t you get?
“They’re spiritual misfits. Rabble-rousers. They packed the shell of the old Baptist church on Negley Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to hear author, Christian activist and fellow misfit Shane Claiborne stump on the campaign for a third party candidate, Jesus.
The dreadlocked Christian activist from Philadelphia and his team parked a black school bus around the back. The hand-painted gold letters on the side read “Jesus for President.”
The bus runs on vegetable oil and, yes, it’s a political statement.
“It’ll be a long time before we fight a war over used veggie oil,” says Claiborne with a sly smile.”
Why would he want a demotion?
The Christian left is making the exact same mistake that the right did: looking to the government to usher in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not of this world but we continually look to government to institute a political version of it. We want America to look like what we think the kingdom should look like.
Look, it’s well within reason that Christians would want to live in a society that reflects Christian values of morality and love for our fellow man but the government can’t make that happen. The government can feed the poor, give shelter to the homeless, aid the sick and infirm but having done so they don’t fulfill the biblical mandate to do so. Sorry but the state is not the church. Wanting our nation to fulfill it’s obligation to its citizens is one thing, thinking it has anything to do with the church’s duty to the poor is another.
The only way the kingdom is realized here on earth is through sharing the gospel and transformed lives and that’s the role of the church. If we really want to see a transformed America, the only way it will happen is though the gospel. The right hasn’t learned that lesson yet and the left appears to be following their lead which is really ironic given the fact that they are so vehemently opposed to how closely the right has associated themselves with Republicans.
(via)
posted June 30, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Well said. There are so many things that the christian left decries in the christian right that they are just as guilty of. The left accuses the right of speaking “Christianese” but they have their own dialect, and they speak it with equal if not surpassing fervor. They have their own dress code too, and the list could go on and on…
posted June 30, 2008 at 12:36 pm
As a long-time fan of the “Animaniacs”, I have a bumpersticker that I may yet put on my car – “Put a Brain in the White House”.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Pinky?”
posted June 30, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Have you read the book? It doesn’t sound like it from your post. If you read it I think you will find that the message is exactly what you say at then end of your post: “The only way the kingdom is realized here on earth is through sharing the gospel and transformed lives and that’s the role of the church. If we really want to see a transformed America, the only way it will happen is though the gospel.” You should read the book. It’s good.
posted June 30, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Definitely read the book. I’ve voted Republican and Democrat depending on the candidate and the issues. This is a book to make you think – about politics and Christians and ultimately about the power of Jesus (not the government) to transform lives. I was very excited when I saw the title of this blog post, but disappointed when I actually read it. I’ve had more positive conversations because of this book than any other I can think of (excluding the Bible, of course). The message is very similar to what you say at the end of this post. And that isn’t to say that I agreed with everything in the book – but this book challenges and provokes, in a healthy, spiritual way.
posted June 30, 2008 at 2:31 pm
“Have you read the book?”
This post wasn’t based on a book, if you had followed the link you would have discovered that.
posted June 30, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I realize that the post wasn’t based on the book Michelle. Don’t be so defensive. I was merely asking if you had read the book because it is somewhat relevant to the post (i.e. same title and written by the person that the post is about). It also gives a better idea of what the writer means by “Jesus for President”. I am not a moron. I can follow links and I can read. Please don’t take every question as a personal attack. It was merely a questions and a comment. Please forgive me for attempting to interact and offer an opinion.
posted June 30, 2008 at 4:01 pm
KM, why are you attacking our host, Michelle? Do you hate all Reformed Christians? There is no forgiveness for your ultimate rudeness here.
posted June 30, 2008 at 4:14 pm
KM, why are you attacking our host, Michelle? Do you hate all Reformed Christians? There is no forgiveness for your ultimate rudeness here.
Is this a joke? I am thinking yes but can’t be 100% sure.
If you are serious….ummm….I don’t see any attack and BTW I am a Reformed Christian.
posted June 30, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world, so we should not try to create a theocracy. Calvin didn’t do so well with that in Geneva. I don’t see that it is a problem to hold government accountable when they fail to uphold spiritual ideals as stated by the founding fathers. God is not a Republican or a Democrat.
posted June 30, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I am currently leading a reader’s circle on the book, and I can tell you that Michelle’s post seems very unfair.
Using this article on Claiborne and Haw’s work as a pretext for taking a jab at the ‘Christian Left’ is to totally miss what these particular guys are up to.
Michele, this post makes you sound very prejudiced and reactive. I don’t know if that was the intent.
posted July 1, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I would beg to differ that Calvin did not do well in Geneva. One can argue that Calvin’s Geneva gave the Pilgrims and Puritans the motivation to come to America and also gave common people the courage to stand against the divine right of kings and be governed by a Parliament, the same Parliament that wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith in the 1640′s.
posted July 1, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Hmm, Claiborne is a monastic, pacifist, Robin Hood. A former PTS grad student who spent time working with Bl. Teresa of Calcutta.
Yeah, I don’t see michele diggin’ his message.
posted July 2, 2008 at 12:36 am
Moonshadow, it is Michelle McGinty who imparts God’s truth to us all. Ours is only to appreciate her message, not to suppose how she might regard a monastic, a pacifist, a Robin Hood, a former PTS grad student who spent time with Bl. Teresa of Calcutta. Michelle is elect of God to tell us how we all must think. If nothing else is clear from this most wonderful blog, surely this point is.
posted July 2, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Michelle,
From your words, it appears you might have checked out the CNN article or video but not read the book. A suggestion might be to dig a little deeper than a two minute clip from the mainstream media. If money’s an issue, I’d bet you could write The Simple Way and they’d give you a book for free.
posted July 2, 2008 at 3:48 pm
“This post wasn’t based on a book, if you had followed the link you would have discovered that.”
I read this wrong the first time. I thought you said the post wasn’t about THE book not A book. Now I realize that you didn’t even know that there was a book called “Jesus for President” written by Claiborne and Haw. Did you think they were driving around in a bus actually promoting the idea that Jesus be elected president? I realize that research takes a little time but you should make some effort to know something about your blog post topics.