“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world'”
(John 18:36).
It’s the Most Wonderful Time
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, you are probably aware of the Snoflakeless Starbucks Scandal. In short, some Christians have gotten their stockings in a wad because Starbucks failed to design their holiday cups with snowflakes or other Christmastime flare.
Can I just point out that this is, by far, the least of my problems with Starbucks… Red cups should be the least of our worries when the company donates to Planned Parenthood and avidly supports gay marriage.
Nonetheless, it amazes me that so many people have gotten offended over this issue. If you are one of them, let me be the first to tell you something you may have never heard:
It isn’t Starbucks’ job to share the gospel… it’s yours!
The Illusion of a “Christian Nation”
This controversy has reminded me of the Scripture that is at the top of this post (John 18:36). I think the New Testament makes it crystal clear that there is no such thing as a Christian nation. Whatsoever. Constitution or no Constitution. America included. The Kingdom of God is not a worldly affair: God’s reign and rule are in the hearts of men not the congressional committees of men.
Some may object and say, “Well, America was founded upon Christian principles!” But outward, “Christian” morality does not equal Christianity. Folks, any person with any knowledge of history or the Bible knows that America has never been, is not, and will never be a “Christian nation”.
Not that America isn’t great, but Christian nations simply don’t exist. It’s impossible. You can’t legislate the New Birth! I think our mistaken views about the definition of Christian morals shows that we have beliefs that are so out of sync with Scripture that the cult of Political Christianity has now become another religion.
The Uniqueness of the Gospel
After writing this, I want to make sure that I am balanced where the Bible is balanced: We should most definitely pray and seek that God’s Kingdom would come, “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
First, this means that we should pray that God’s name would be hallowed in hearts like it is in heaven; however, Christians should indeed be praying and seeking that our culture, government, and everything would be shaped into conformity to God’s will. That is a good prayer…
But you can’t legislate and vote in God’s will. Biblical Christianity’s uniqueness is that we trust a sovereign God who uses the Gospel good news of all He has done for us and is for us in Jesus to shape hearts, homes, and humanity.
Every other religion in the world either sticks its head in the sand (Pie in the Sky), or forces conversions at the point of a sword (ISIS). But Christianity’s utter, compelling uniqueness is that the Gospel is a middle-ground: we aren’t Pie in the Sky people and we aren’t Head Choppers. We are Gospel-givers. The Gospel says, “Christ is everything, and you need a heart-change.”
Heaven’s Citizens
So as we drink our coffee and vote for a president, let us remember that our Gospel and our citizenship is of heaven, not America. Let us remember that Paul didn’t complain that Rome wouldn’t comply with “Christian principles and Christian values”. Let us remember that the First Amendment wasn’t Jesus’ idea. Let us remember that King Jesus isn’t offended by red cups.
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