#### **Introduction**
Video Ill.: Kingdom Minded — The Skit Guys
If there is any one thing that brings drama and division to our world, it is politics. It feels like unprecedented times — such division and discord over political views and opinions today. There is so much tension in our world.
Tips to Avoid Family Holiday Drama
Source: Catherine Pearson, “How to Avoid Family Drama This Holiday Season,” The New York Times (11-20-23)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/december/tips-to-avoid-family-holiday-drama.html
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That’s probably why New York Times columnist Catherine Pearson decided to gather tips for navigating family holiday gatherings.
Pearson's advice aims to help individuals maintain composure and connection during challenging times. These tips were curated from hundreds of tips submitted by readers who were asked to contribute their own best practices in avoiding family drama.
“Control the setting,” suggested one reader in Georgia. “We host, every year, every holiday … It has been easier to be where we can control the environment and where we have a safe space.”
“Find a connection,” suggested another reader in Arizona, who cited a mutual love of music that draws two brothers together during the holidays, despite very different political views. “We brought our guitars to the gathering … when we’re singing, we can’t fight.”
“When in doubt, talk sports,” says a reader from Florida, whose family has an unofficial list of topics to avoid in order to keep the peace. “When issues arise, we enjoy the old fallback: ‘How about those Mets?’”
There were even helpful responses in the comment section. One commenter suggests putting out markers and construction paper and having everyone decorate their own placemat. Apparently giving everyone a project can help cut down on arguments.
As we gather as the church family, we have to not allow our differences to keep us from loving one another and treating each other with respect.
We are beginning a study that I’ve called Faith Beyond the Ballot Box. I chose that title because no matter what happens at the polls, one thing remains constant—our faith in God. Leading up to the election on November 5, we are going to explore what it means to put our trust in God, no matter what the outcome is at the ballot box.
This morning, we can have hope in the knowledge that the Kingdom of God is unshakable and eternal.
As they quoted from David’s Psalm, Psalm 145, in the opening video:
13 Your kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom,
And your dominion
endures through all generations…. (Psalm 145, NIV1984)
You see, Jesus is Lord over all, and His kingdom transcends any political leader or system.
Let’s take a few minutes to explore what that means in our lives today.
### **I. As we begin, Jesus is Lord Over All Earthly Powers.**
Kingdom Citizenship
Source: John Hess-Yoder, Portland, Oregon. Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 3.
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1996/june/1498.html
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While serving as a missionary in Laos, John Hess-Yoder discovered an illustration of the kingdom of God.
Before the colonialists imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas. Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese. The exact location of a person's home was not what determined his or her nationality. Instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited.
So it is with us: we live in the world, but as part of God's kingdom, we are to live according to his kingdom's standards and values.
Why? Because Jesus is Lord over all earthly powers.
When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you king of the Jews?”
Follow along with what Jesus said in John 18:34:
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18, NIV1984)
Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. Jesus was clear that His reign is eternal and unthreatened, even when He was facing death. Nothing can shake His kingdom, because He is Lord over all.
**Key Point**: Jesus’ lordship extends far beyond earthly rulers. No matter who governs in our country or in our world, Jesus remains King of Kings.
Because of His unending reign, because of His eternal power, because He is the King of Kings, because we have someone who is steadfast, in Him we can ground our faith and trust.
That’s certainly a much better place to put our faith, trust, and hope.
Our Hope Is Not in Politics
Charles (Chuck) Colson, advisor to President Nixon, writer, and founder of Prison Fellowship
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2007/december/4123107.html
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Chuck Colson wrote: Many Christians, like most of the populace, believe the political structures can cure all our ills. The fact is, however, that government, by its very nature, is limited in what it can accomplish. What it does best is perpetuate its own power and bolster its own bureaucracies.
Instead of earthly political leaders, parties, or governments, we must put our trust in Jesus' eternal reign.
### **II. Second, this morning, we see that God’s Kingdom Operates on Different Values**
In Matthew 18, the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ answer flips the worldly concepts of power and greatness on their head—using a child as the example of humility.
Follow along as we see what Jesus said in Matthew 18:
2 [Jesus] called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whosoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18, NIV1984)
Three Men Suffer from Messianic Complex
Source: John Ortberg, "Leader's Insight: Curing Grandiosity (Part Two)," LeadershipJournal.net (1-29-07)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2007/may/2050707.html
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Psychologist Milton Rokeach wrote a book called The Three Christs of Ypsilanti (Yip — see — lan — tee). He described his attempts to treat three patients at a psychiatric hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan, who suffered from delusions of grandeur. Each believed he was unique among humankind; he had been called to save the world; he was the messiah. They displayed full-blown cases of grandiosity, in its pure form.
Rokeach found it difficult to break through, to help the patients accept the truth about their identity. So he decided to put the three into a little community to see if rubbing against people who also claimed to be the messiah might dent their delusion—a kind of messianic, 12-step recovery group.
This led to some interesting conversations. One would claim, "I'm the messiah, the Son of God. I was sent here to save the earth."
"How do you know?" Rokeach would ask.
"God told me."
One of the other patients would counter, "I never told you any such thing."
Every once in a while, one got a glimmer of reality—never deep or for long, so deeply ingrained was the messiah complex. But what progress Rokeach made was pretty much made by putting them together.
It's a crazy idea, taking a group of deluded, would-be messiahs and putting them into a community to see if they could be cured. But it has been done before. "A reasoning arose among them as to who should be the greatest," Matthew tells us about Jesus' followers.
**Key Point**: What Jesus said was that greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by humility and servanthood, not by status, power, or political influence. This contrasts with the world's obsession with control and leadership.
And Speaking of Humility … Humble Pie for the CEO
Source: Joann S. Lublin, “The Case for Humble Executives,” The Wall Street Journal (10-20-15)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2015/november/and-speaking-of-humility-humble-pie-for-ceo.html
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According to The Wall Street Journal, there's a new fad among top-level business executives—it's called humility. The article titled "The Case for Humble Executives" explores the business benefits of this once-unpopular leadership virtue. The article notes: "Among executives, humility 'is the flavor du jour,' says Fred Hassan, a former CEO of Schering-Plough Corp. and author of a book on leadership. Companies increasingly prize humble leaders because they listen well, admit mistakes and share the limelight, recruiters and coaches say. 'The servant leadership model promotes collaboration,' says Dale E. Jones, chief executive of recruiters Diversified Search Inc."
Of course there's one major problem with humble pie for the CEO—you have to actually become humble. Apparently fakes abound—like the former CEO of Krispy Kreme (as in donuts). According to one observer, "He took the limelight. He didn't understand the humility part [of acting humble]." After everyone discovered he was merely faking humility, Krispy Kreme dumped him.
While the world looks for power and dominance, Christians should be humble servants. Our role in the world is to reflect the values of God’s kingdom, which are counter-cultural.
### **III. Finally, this morning, our Ultimate Allegiance is to God**
In Matthew 22, Jesus is questioned about paying taxes to Caesar. It was really a trap the Pharisees were trying to use. Listen to what they said to Him:
16 … “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap Me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and He asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away. (Matthew 22, NIV1984)
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees shows that while we participate in society, our ultimate allegiance is to God.
**Key Point**: As Americans, we stand and salute the flag. We say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, pledging our allegiance to our great country. We have a responsibility as citizens, but our first allegiance is to God and His kingdom. Politics are temporary, but God’s reign is eternal.
Ambassador's Test
Source: Dr. Wallace Alcorn. From the files of Leadership.
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1997/april/4514.html
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While he was Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, "You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country." They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which they had been sent — Without error or fail.
When Shultz's old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test. This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: "That's my country."
On June 27, 1993, Shultz related this story to Brian Lamb on C-Span's "Booknotes." Secretary Shultz said: "I've told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. 'Never forget you're over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You're there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you're representing the best country in the world.' "
In all of the chaos of our world today, we must never forget to Whose kingdom we belong.
We absolutely should engage in our civic duties, but we must never lose sight of our ultimate loyalty to Christ. Our identity in Christ transcends any political party or voting outcome.
#### **Conclusion:**
This morning, in the tumultuous political environment today, we can have peace and hope in knowing that Jesus is Lord above all, God's kingdom operates on different values than the world, and our ultimate allegiance is to God.
May our politics never become an idol in our lives, like Carrie Sheffield experienced.
Politics Had Become Her Idol
Source: Carrie Sheffield, “The 2016 Election Sent Me Searching for Answers,” CT magazine (Jan/Feb, 2024), pp. 102-104
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2024/july/politics-had-become-her-idol.html
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In an issue of Christianity Today magazine, Carrie shares how politics had become an idol to her and how she discovered a deeper source of purpose and meaning in Christ.
Carrie Sheffield was raised in extreme religious trauma in an offshoot Mormon cult. Her father believed that he was a Mormon prophet and was eventually excommunicated by the LDS church for heresy. She grew up with seven siblings in various motor homes, tents, houses, and sheds. Carrie attended 17 different public schools and when she took the ACT test, the family lived in a shed with no running water in the Ozarks.
All the children inherited trauma from their tumultuous family life. Two of her siblings have schizophrenia, including one brother who tried to rape her. Carrie has been hospitalized nine times for depression, fibromyalgia, suicidal ideation, and PTSD.
When she left home to attend Brigham Young University, her dad declared that she was satanic and therefore disowned her. As a student, she felt disillusioned by a growing list of unanswered questions about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the prospect of polygamy in the afterlife. After receiving her journalism degree, she stopped practicing Mormonism, formally renouncing it in 2010. For years she assumed she would never return to belief in God or organized religion. She writes:
To fill the void, I threw myself into work, schooling, dating, friends, and travel as ultimate sources of meaning. I worked as an analyst for major Wall Street firms, earning unthinkable sums [of money] for a girl from a motor home. I launched a career in political journalism at outlets like Politico, The Hill, and The Washington Times.
But ultimately her career goals left her unfilled. It was during the 2016 election that she felt an existential crisis. She realized that when she’d lost faith in God, she had allowed politics to become a substitute religion. She had built her career toward working on a Republican campaign or in the White House. She had appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and other networks, even sparring on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. She says:
During this crisis of meaning, I felt distraught and adrift. So, I turned to church, first to Redeemer Presbyterian, founded by the late Tim Keller, and later to Saint Thomas Episcopal. It was during a service that I encountered Scripture’s answer to career and political idolatry in passages like Mark 8:36–37, which asks, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Studying Christianity felt like uncovering buried treasure discarded by intellectuals who had discounted its scientific and philosophical heft.
I joined the Episcopal church, having been influenced by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the preacher from the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. My baptism day—December 3, 2017—was the happiest of my life. A group of about 30 family and friends watched me vow to “serve Christ in all persons, loving my neighbor as myself” and “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
More than six years since my baptism, I enjoy a healthier relationship to politics. I still have strong convictions, which I don’t hesitate to share in columns, speeches, or TV appearances, but I know God is far bigger than any puny manmade system. As I returned to a walk with God, I felt enveloped with a sense of peace that surpassed understanding.
This morning, it is perfectly fine for us to have strong political convictions. This is one way that we express ourselves in our world today. We have a civic right and duty to express our beliefs at the ballot box. I truly believe we must stand up for that which we believe. However, when politics supersedes our faith in God, we begin to have problem. We begin to worship politics rather than God.
May we focus on our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ during this highly contentious political season. May we seek our Lord’s eternal kingdom during this election cycle. I pray that we will reflect Christ’s values in how we engage with politics, never forgetting that our hope is in God's unchanging reign. Remember that the kingdom will be the kingdom no matter what happens at the ballot box.
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Inspiration for series: https://www.preachingtoday.com/skills/2024/how-to-preach-with-grace-and-truth-in-election-year.html
