The Kingdom Of God Vs. The Kingdom Of Man Series

Charlie Kirk

some would call him a man of God.

some would call him a political activist

some viewed him as a great example for society

others viewed him as a part of the problem for the division

Since his assassination a couple of weeks ago, some have asked me why I haven’t said much about Charlie. Frankly I haven’t said much about any of the killings or deaths that have happened. I haven’t anything about Charlie because I didn’t pay attention to him much. I heard the highlights from both sides, but did not follow him personally. Maybe I blinded myself to that. My mandate as a pastor is to teach the word and to help us to live according to the Kingdom of God amidst the kingdom of man.

There was a time a few years ago when his organization reached out to me with an invitation as they were rallying churches to get behind Trump. I declined the invitation because I did not want to conflate the message of the Gospel with Trump or the Republican party. Frankly I don’t think either party speaks fully, clearly, or compellingly in favor of biblical values and ethics. There are biblical and unbiblical elements of both parties. You may or may not agree with me, and that’s okay. I still love you and I hope you still love me.

From what I can see, he was a good man who was trying to do what he thought best for his family, his faith, and his nation - something we all should strive for.

But one of the things that Charlie’s death reveals is the ways that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man work differently. Charlie seemed to try to use his influence to foster change. His argument was one that sought to convince people to change their mind rather than to force them to. He invited conversation and welcomed a discussion. He sought to elevate both the Kingdom of God as he promoted biblical values and shared the gospel on college campuses and the Kingdom of Man as he rallied people to support the causes and candidates of one party.

Conflicts between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man have been around since the beginning of time. Jesus experienced this conflict in His day.

In first century, Israel was an environment where the political structure was one of Roman occupation. The emperor in Rome installed regional rulers and governors to keep the Pax Romana on his behalf. The religious leaders of that day worked to garner some favor with the Roman government and made provisions for the Jewish people to worship their way. As leaders, they controlled the way. Both groups seem to represent the Kingdom of Man - even though one was supposed to advocate for God’s Kingdom.

Jesus sought to model another way - the way of the Kingdom of God. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we find the Kingdom of God clashing with the Kingdom of Man. The passage we’re looking at today is one of those times.

It seems like Big Idea is: Real faith in the kingdom of God is not defined by rigid rule-following but by a loving relationship with Jesus that transforms how we interact with others.

Open your Bible to Luke 13. We will be considering verses 10-14:6.

Luke brackets the discussion with two healings that take place on Sabbath days - or the day of rest. While they both make similar points and reveal certain inconsistencies or points of hypocrisy in the religious leaders of his day. The first helps us to see that the Kingdom of God is about…

Prioritizing People Over Procedures (13:10-17)

Luke 13:10–17 ESV

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.