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A Clash of Kingdoms
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matt. 11:12
The founding fathers of the United States waged a war for independence. They won and we live in the freedom that their blood and sacrifice wrought. This freedom was only made possible because two kingdoms went to war. The war on terrorism has just begun, but already we hear calls to retreat from this battle to live in peace. To do so would eventually mean tyranny under Islam for it is Islam’s desire to dedicate the world to their god.
Freedom, as we all know, isn’t free. It is the result of war, bloodshed, and sacrifice. Wars are necessary because people seek to take what belongs to another and make it their own. This is how things work in the world and it might come as a surprise but this is also how it works in the "kingdom of heaven," the Church. Jesus said, "the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it."
The LC-MS will meet in convention July 10th - 15th and while many will cry for peace the convention will be marked by conflict. Over the past four decades, the LC-MS has been moving to the theological left and has concentrated power in the synodical offices. Those who wish to remain faithful to Lutheranism and to the historical practice of the LC-MS are waging a war against those who seek to take the synod in a different direction.
A group of Lutherans in northern Arkansas desire membership in a faithful congregation that worships like real Lutherans. Yet, they had to fight against other members, two retired pastors, and the district president in order to make it possible.
Beware of those who promise peace when that peace is built on a false foundation. True peace is wrought in the doctrines, person, and blood of Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in 6:14 "And they have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace."
When the Church is attacked by people who wish to take it by force, we tend to think that of the church as passive and the people who seize it as the aggressors. But in Matthew 11:12 Jesus teaches that the Church is the intruder, that it forces the fight, and that wherever the Church goes there is violence. So what are we to make of this surprising revelation? Is the Church really the aggressor? What do we make of the teaching that Christianity is the religion of peace?
Of peace Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) The peace of Christ is the peace we have with God in Christ and as baptized children we are no longer estranged from our Creator. In Christ Jesus we have been made sons of God. So God lives at peace with us and we are to be at peace with Him. This peace is a different kind of peace from the kind the world offers. The peace we have with God is to be mirrored in our relationship to one another. When we agree on the doctrines of Holy Scripture and act accordingly, we find that we are at peace with one another. Division arises when one group departs from the doctrines of Scripture. But the peace we have with God and with faithful Christians, is not the peace we have with the rest of the world.
As a result of Christ’s coming into the world and our coming into Christ, we are now at odds with the world. As children of Light, we are piercing the darkness. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword . . . and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD." (Matt. 10:33-36)
When two opposing forces meet, there is always violence. When a cold and warm front meet, there is violence, a storm. When light comes into a room, it drives back the darkness. So also when the Light came into the world, the darkness tried to overcome it. When Life came into the world, death tried to destroy Him. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of hell are in a constant state of war. The Lord Jesus has invaded this dark sinful world. He made His Church an occupying force. The Church’s mission is to create Christians, to take from the world and to give to Christ. The synod will continue at war with itself, divided between those who remain faithful and those who would rather go another way. Congregations, and perhaps the synod, will split. Yet, in the midst of all this when congregations (such as ours) lives in peace, it is a sign that we live bound together in the Word (the doctrines) of Christ Jesus. Come what may, Immanuel will continue steadfast and will, when confronted by choices, will endeavor to do the right thing.
Pastor Craig Stanford
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