“Scripture does not advocate for a theocracy, which is a form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders, but it does advocate for the culture of Christ’s Kingdom to be worked into every sphere in every nation in accordance with the Genesis Mandate.”
Dr. Patti Amsden
After the Crucifixion, Passover, and Resurrection of Christ, the disciples were commanded to wait in Jerusalem(“the city of peace”) for the promise of the Father; The Holy Spirit.
Seven weeks full of confusion, questions, and fears, found them hunkering down in unity and hoping that things were going to change really soon.
So, they asked Jesus every time they gathered with Him, “When are You going to take over Rome and become King of Israel?”
Is it now?
How about today?
They wanted to understand when everything would get back to normal. They wanted the old order restored and they wanted the Lord to work it out with politics.
Politic= Greek “politika”= affairs of the cities. Root= “polis”= city-state
But Jesus said,
“It’s not for you to know the times and seasons that only the Father knows. What The Father has for you is the gift of the Holy Spirit… THEN you will tell everyone about Me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
Acts 1:7-8
Spirit= Greek “pneuma”= character, work, power, and Person of God.
WAIT...
So God’s Spirit work was made for city-state affairs? Because, He just told them that they were going to take His pneuma… into the polis. And He didn’t divide up sections of influence or forbid them from any certain areas.
Jesus’ last words sent his disciples into city-state and national affairs.
It must have taken them seven weeks to fully understand and to make the shift from “earthly politika” to “pneuma politika”
When the Holy Spirit came as a roaring wind and tongues of fire, and Peter preached before the nations, three thousand souls (from many different poleis) received life and were added to the church.
This “pneuma politika” outpouring was a very obvious and direct picture of a shift and restoration from at least two other badly mistaken “earthly politika” situations in Scriptures past:
- The Tower of Babel- a city (polis) built by man, for man, toward heaven, with a sin culture, and a unified cultural language. (Genesis 11)
Through the Blood of the Lamb, the Pentecost movement re-established God’s original commission- the ruling and reigning of the one new man, for God, where the culture of God’s city(Heavenly Jerusalem) is reflected and multiplied through our management and reshaping of relationships, creations, and institutions, until God’s glory covers the whole earth. This commission is now unlimited and to the Jew, Gentile, male, female, slave, and free(Galatians 3:28). This is possible through the power of a new unified language and the movement of the Spirit.
It was as if God said, “Now, come build your state affairs in unity with Me, toward heaven.”
2. The 3,000 men who died in the wilderness for breaking the letter of God’s law by worshiping a golden bull for blessing, called Apis, from the city (polis) and culture of Memphis, Egypt. (Exodus 32) They had given themselves to the wrong political culture.
Through the Blood of the Lamb the Pentecost movement re-established the Gospel of God’s grace and reconciliation as His provision for the whole earth…”For the letter kills(3,000 dead), but the Spirit gives life(3,000 saved).”(2 Cor. 3:6)
It was as if God said, “Now, take true worship and the fullness of My culture of provision and bring the earth back to life, one city at a time.”
What are my motives?
So, in this season of repentance, expectation, and fervent prayer, are we moving into a “politika” or “pneuma” expression of the Gospel?
Based on the commission of Jesus, I believe we have to move into a greater understanding of the marriage of the two, without controlling attitudes. The two have became one. We are His king-priests who rule by pre-serving.
The danger of “pneuma-politika” only lies in questions of the heart:
- We are supposed to be manifesting the works of God on earth, in every place of influence and government, as it is in heaven. But, what is my motive? Is it about my city or God’s will for my city? My nation or God’s will for my nation? My work or God’s work? Do I want God to take over or will I yield for His will to be established in each of my assignments?
- We are supposed to be prosperous as God’s people, as we have been given the power to create wealth. But, what is my motive? Who do I trust for my provision? My skills, gifts, and abilities, or the Lord’s? My boss or My Lord? How will I steward what grows?
- We are supposed to be salt and light in the earth. But, what is my motive? Do I want to destroy lives who choose opposite of me, tear down people of position, or preserve as much as I can and make what I’ve been given better? Is my goal for people to get saved or to demonstrate the grace and truth of the Lord so they can choose for themselves?
These are all questions I have been asking myself these days, in the midst of the culture wars.
May the Spirit of God be poured out again in my life(and yours) to purify our motives, remove the fear of speaking into our city-state affairs as the Lord directs, and renew in our hearts the commission of Christ to boldly manifest the works of the Spirit in every place.
Jamie
JSMinistries 