God is God - right?

Sally and I are heading back to Jerusalem soon.  Leaving is always difficult, but we look forward to the year ahead, and are anxious to see our many friends there.  We know from their emails that Bethlehem was rocking on Christmas Eve and we give thanks for that as we know that many of our Christian shopkeeper friends will have had some business, and therefore, may be feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time.

As you prepare for a New Year, with all the possibilities, and fears too, that lie before you, please remember Sally and me.  And when you remember Sally and me, please remember the people we live around and work with – Palestinian Christians primarily, but Muslims and Jewish folks too.  And when you remember them, please remember to pray for peace, and when you remember to pray for peace, please remember to ask God to give you courage to work for peace as well.

We need courage these days, as much as ever, I think.  I think you think so too.  At least that is what I heard from so many of you.  Nationalism is the god that rivals God, I think.  And again, I think you think so too.  We are Christian Americans, not American Christians – the order matters.  We belong to the body of Christ, and that body is big - big like a woman in her ninth month.  In fact, that body encircles the globe, like a pregnant woman encircles the baby she cradles in her womb.

We are citizens of the Kingdom of God - or Realm of God if you prefer.  At the same time, we are citizens of the United States of America, or Ireland, or the UK, or France, or New Zeeland, or Australia, or Israel, or Canada – depending on which of our friends is reading this posting.  The order of how we think of our citizenship matters, I think.  And I think you think so too.  Certainly the prophets thought so, including John the Baptist, and yes, including Jesus, the Christian Messiah as well.  “My Kingdom is not of this world.”  This comment by Jesus is a direct challenge to the nationalism that was so much a part of Jesus’ world – Roman and Zionist both.  Jesus acknowledged that Caesar deserved allegiance, but in so saying, Jesus also spit in the face of Caesar's claim to be God.  "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  Caesar may deserve something, but ultimate allegiance?  I think not!  And I think you think 'not' as well.  Caesar is not God!

Be a good citizen of whatever country you claim citizenship in, but first and foremost – and this to Christians only – be a good Christian.  And when the two kingdoms collide, as they will, then be strong and courageous.

I greatly admire soldiers, and I know that you do as well.  These men and women go where their country sends them and put their lives on the line doing what their country asks them to do.  As followers of Jesus, we need to be willing to do the same thing.  To speak about peace is one thing, but to willingly put our lives on the line to work for peace, well that takes the notion a step higher, doesn’t it?  And yet, this is what is needed most, and I think you know this as well as me.

Please join Sally and me in this movement meant to boldly proclaim the fundamental Christian belief that God sits on the throne, and that God does not, and would not, and should not, and could not move over to make room for anyone else. Challenge nationalism whenever and wherever it exists, and sadly, nationalism exists pretty much everywhere.  God is God and no other.  No one has toppled God from his place, and no one ever will.  In the United States, we will soon change presidents, but not gods, right?  God is God, right?  And God is God of the whole wide, “God so loved” world, right?

        The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
        he utters his voice, the earth melts.
        The LORD of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our refuge.    Selah
 
         ¶ Come, behold the works of the LORD;
        see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
        He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
        he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
        he burns the shields with fire.
        “Be still, and know that I am God!
        I am exalted among the nations,
        I am exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:6-10)