“You’re trying to build your own kingdom.” The accusation stung as my husband and I sat in yet another meeting trying to work out conflict with some of the key people in our church. It stung because maybe there was some truth to it. It stung because even if there was truth to it, we didn’t feel the decisions we were making were about us, but about casting vision in order to have a greater impact on our community for Christ. Weren’t they?
Everyone in ministry has had their motives questioned at one point or another, usually more than once. That kind of relentless attack can get wearying, especially when it comes from the people God has called you to shepherd. But sometimes we need those checks to examine our own motives because the subtle desire to build our own kingdom is incredibly tempting.
It can be so tempting that we can get pretty passionate, almost militant, in our stand on particular issues, whether moral, doctrinal, or political.
But what does Jesus say? What did he say when his disciples got caught in the same trap?
I’ve forever struggled with Jesus’ harsh words to Peter when Jesus was making it clear to the disciples that He’d be going to Jerusalem to suffer many things, including being killed. I can just picture Peter in all his passion and misguided condescension, taking Jesus aside privately so that he can tell Jesus how the plan is really going to go, how Jesus is totally misdirected.
What arrogance! What presumption!
But oh, the irony, when Jesus’ stern rebuke comes out: ““Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23).
Ouch! That hurts! And it should because Peter had missed it. He’d forgotten about how Jesus had arrived on this earth, not with fanfare from men, but trumpeted by angels to the shepherds on the countryside. Not born in a gilded palace sparkling with gold and laying on a clean bed with fresh sheets, but in the place where animals were kept and placed in a feeding trough.
It’s far too easy for us to miss it, too. As His followers we get caught up in passions and purposes which seem to be of Christ, and may even be good, in and of themselves, but are seriously misdirected or out of proportion to truth and to God’s kingdom purposes.
A.W. Tozer, a pastor and author who lived in the early twentieth century spoke with prophetic clarity when he published in 1950 The Divine Conquest. His words speak into our present time with a poignancy and relevance that he could be living in our day when I see what we have digressed into in evangelical society.
Hear his prophetic voice shout out to us in the twenty-first century:
“How shamefully do we exploit the converted celebrity. Anyone who will take away the reproach of obscurity from our publicity-hungry leaders: famous athletes, congressman, world travelers, rich industrialists; before such we bow with obsequious smiles and honor them in our public meetings and in the religious press. Thus we glorify men to enhance the standing of the church of God, and the glory of the Prince of Life is made to hang upon the transient fame of a man who shall die” (The Divine Conquest, chapter IV).
Like Peter, we become as Satan in our mindset and approach when we exalt men or ourselves or any other system or political party or “evangelical cause” above Christ and His example of complete submission to the will of the Father.
In the kingdom of God, we are to make Jesus great, not any country or leader–church, political, or otherwise. When we exalt a political or doctrinal position or even a supposedly sound and godly leader, to the exclusion of glorying Christ, we deserve as harsh a rebuke as Peter received from our Lord.
Like many of the disciples who wanted to see Jesus triumphantly usher in a kingdom with power and fanfare, it’s too easy for us, in our eagerness to affect those around us to get mixed up in thinking that death to self and service to others is not going to be as effective as pushing our moralistic views into places of power and influence.
Is that what Jesus came to do, though?
One of my favorite songs sung at Christmas is “Joy to the World”. Written by Isaac Watts as an adaptation of Psalm 98, it is well-known that it was never meant to be sung as a Christmas carol. There is no question that the joy in celebrating the King in this psalm can be applied to His first coming to save the world. We now, with Peter, have the hindsight to see that the joy of His coming was wrapped up in the sacrifice He would make. We also know that His reign as King of Kings and LORD of Lords is yet to come, and not before we all share in His suffering as His servants in this world.
For us to get this right, we need to follow the example of our Savior. Tara Sun, in her book Surrender Your Story: Ditch the Myth of Control and Discover Freedom in Trusting God, expresses it this way:
“Contrary to what the world would expect of a powerful King, Jesus did not keep company with the most noble and powerful people. His core group consisted of twelve misfits—fishermen, a frowned-upon tax collector, extremists, and so on. Although thousands of people flocked to listen to Him, you would not find Jesus up on a stage in a sold-out arena for hundreds of thousands. In fact, you could often find Jesus sitting cross-legged on the grass among the poor or sitting on a rock by the sea” (p. 25).
When are we going to get this?! I guess it took quite a bit for Peter to get it, too; his own denial of Christ was a great starting point. With those repeated denials, he was humbled into recognizing that without Christ’s Spirit he was totally unable to live for His Kingdom in a way that fit with the Lord’s thinking and actions instead of Peter’s fleshly ambitions.
Jesus came to build the kingdom in our hearts; they must be transformed. How does this happen? By us laying down our lives, our own aspirations, political positions, pet issues, and favorite doctrines for the greater law of love and self-sacrifice. That is where our influence lies.
Laying down our lives was what we’ve sought to do in all our ministry years. In my husband’s case, these charges of building his own kingdom were unfounded. Many affirmed him in this, but sadly there were some who never understood. We eventually parted ways with that church, but did so having examined our hearts. Our consciences were clear as we moved forward to serve. We pray that it stays the same. Because as we faithfully sacrifice for others, that is how we can sing with joy for the Lord to come one day when every heart prepares room for him, rather than trying to build our own thrones to sit on before others.
When we get that message, then, and only then, can we say with true joy, He has come.
God help us to build Your kingdom, not our own. Amen
Taking It Further:
Where might you have missed the true kingdom in your life or ministry currently? In what ways can you be prepared to lay down your life for others this Christmas season rather than seek influence or attention?