The Coming of the Kingdom

Short Cuts Not an Option

Religion produces and conditions culture.  Culture produces law, government, and regulation.  It is important that Christians understand the interdependence and the causal relationship of these three.  When Christians think that a few law changes will make a substantial difference to the direction of our society they are gravely mistaken, unless New Zealand were a nation where Christians outnumber non-Christians and the prevailing culture has substantially reflects the Christian world and life view.   Clearly this is not the case.  

Consequently, our expectations for politics, political parties, and progress in the sphere of  government ought to be exceedingly low, albeit realistic.  That does not mean that we should not engage from time to time.  Rather, it implies that our hope and trust should not focus upon politics and political action.
  Moreover, since we are living in a post-Christian culture, which, in turn, has grown out of the religion of secular humanism most of our activity in politics and government will be of the negative kind--we will object to even more laws and rules and regulations which promote and protect godlessness and rebellion against God. 

It seems that we must guard against two errors.  The first is to believe the secular humanist lie that the government is our messiah and that by means of laws and governments we can create righteousness in the land.  If we fall into that trap we have already denied the Christian faith.  The second error is to drift off into an other-worldliness which denies politics, law, and government to the realm of God's Kingdom.  The first error denies the Gospel.  The second denies the Kingdom--and, therefore, the King. 

The Kingdom, said our Lord, is like a mustard seed--exceedingly small.  Yet it eventually grows to be exceedingly large.  It is our duty to discern what state and stage the mustard bush has in our generation and to act consistently with the state and strength of the Kingdom in our lifetimes.  If the mustard bush is a tiny sapling surrounded by large weeds of all kinds it would be inappropriate to act as if it were the largest bush of all. 

If the Almighty King extends His infinite power to bring forth His Kingdom in the earth slowly and gradually our duty as His faithful servants is to co-operate fully with this gradual, yet wonderful work.  Short cuts and hasty measures are not acceptable options.