Kingdom Governance - Understanding the Christian's responsibility in Government and Politics
I want to say something that I believe will change the perspective to Kingdom Governance and kingdom Governance principles and our responsibility in earthly governance and politics:
Over many years - we as Christians were taught that 'church' and 'politics' does not mix. "You NEVER preach politics from the pulpit." I used to believe this for many years, UNTIL I made a very powerful discovery in 2013...
God Himself has led me to discover this truth that will change the entire perspective of HOW Christians will see politics. When my perspective of 'God's Kingdom' and my responsibility to RULE and REIGN on this earth IN THIS LIFE time, changed, I realized what my responsibility was in politics and in governance in my own country.
Dominion given to Mankind
When God created MANKIND He had a very specific purpose and responsibility in mind for them. As a matter of fact, God delegated this responsibility down to mankind.
When God made man He said: "Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. (Gen 1:26-28 AMP)
God gave mankind AUTHORITY to subdue and have dominion on the earth over all these creatures. I have always known this, but NEVER realized what this DOMINION which God gave mankind, really implied?
David understood this authority that was given to mankind and asked a very interesting question: "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psa 8:4-6 AMP)
David said that mankind was given authority or responsibility to have dominion and to subdue ALL things under his, mankind's, feet.
Later, the writer of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul the apostle, further explains this authority, which God has given mankind, saying:
"It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him? 7 For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands, [Psa 8:4-6] 8 For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside [of man's] control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man]. (Heb 2:6 -8 AMP)
Now it becomes very clear that God has placed the full responsibility of subjection of ALL things on mankind. Since, God has SET/DELEGATED this responsibility to mankind, He CANNOT take back this responsibility on Himself as God the Spirit. This was why God had to become a MAN!
Governance would be Given to Jesus Christ
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the RANK of authority this MAN - Jesus Christ, who was the son of MAN, but later was appointed as the SON OF GOD, would receive, saying:
"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6-7 AMP)
AFTER He was appointed THE SON OF GOD, He was NOW able to RESTORE His original purpose to mankind to RULE and REIGN as sons of God and as heirs of the kingdom of God. This was WHY the writer of Hebrews declared: "But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. 10 For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering. 11 For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; 12 For He says, I will declare Your [the Father's] name to My brethren; in the midst of the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You. 13 And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me. [Isa 8:17-18] (Heb 2:9-13 AMP)
Authority Restored to the sons of God
Jesus Christ, became perfect MAN so as to FREE mankind from sin and the consequence sin had on the dominion MANKIND was given to RULE and REIGN as sons who was made in the image of God. NOW, through Jesus Christ, our glory and honour has been RESTORED and we are CROWNED to be sons of the KING of Kings and be re-appointed as kings and priests of God before the Father in heaven, TO RULE once again over our enemy.
This is WHY David said: "A Psalm of David. THE LORD (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, UNTIL I make Your adversaries Your footstool. 2 The Lord will send forth from Zion the scepter of Your strength; RULE, then, in the midst of Your foes.
3 Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your power, in the beauty of holiness and in holy array out of the womb of the morning; to You [will spring forth] Your young men, who are as the dew." (Psa 110:1-3 AMP)
Jesus Christ came to take back the septre of rulership for mankind's sake so that His people, who believe in Him, could offer themselves willingly in the day of His AUTHORITY and POWER! NOW mankind can and SHOULD subdue God's enemies under their feet again!
Politics and the Christian
So many Christians have made this statement that ‘church’ and ‘politics’ does not mix. And in saying this, many Christians have abstained from their responsibility to vote and partake in politics, allowing ungodly political parties and governance to rule them in a harsh and unrighteous way.
I made a very interesting discovery when I tried to find out what the word politics actually means. The definition of the word politics according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is:
A: the art or science of government
B: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
C: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics
By definition then, the meaning of policy is:
1a: prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs
b: management or procedure based primarily on material interest
2a: a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions
b: a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/policy
Thus the meaning of politics is the art or science of guiding and managing with wisdom and prudence high-level overall plans, embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures, with which a country or a nation can be governed. Thus, politics ARE NOT dirty! People who manage and undermine one another for control of power in deceitful and corrupt ways are the dirty ones. Thus only politicians who are ungodly can be dirty politicians. I say it again! We are so used to the fact that the words ‘politician’ and ‘dirty’ synonymous with one another that we even thought that this was the definition of the word: ‘politics’ We are also so used to this association that we begun to use the term: “Politics are dirty!”
BUT when righteous people makes righteous laws to govern a country and also implement this in a godly and righteous way, they are RIGHTEOUS POLITICIANS, operating in righteous politics, for the sake of God-fearing governance, implemented through the principles of the kingdom of the God.
All Christians should therefore take up their responsibility to rule and reign in their country, on both the spiritual and physical levels to see Godly governance implemented with wisdom and prudence in their country. More and more believers will begin to take up responsibility in governance in their country, preventing corrupt and deceitful politicians from gaining power in their countries. Indirectly, it was the believer’s and the church’s fault, due to ignorance and lack of knowledge of their authority in Christ that their countries were taken over by corrupt and ungodly leaders. It is now time for believers and the church of Jesus Christ to awake and take up their responsibility and become part of the process of ‘politics’ and policy making in governance and democratic elections so that they can be ruled by righteous politicians and leaders, in government.
When the church is taught and becomes aware of the great privilege they have been given to take part of ruling and reigning in their countries, through a godly government, creating a Godly and God-fearing political party that will rule through righteous principals, peace and true justice will return to their nations.
IT IS TIME that righteous church leaders start mobilizing and encouraging kingdom governance, by teaching and preparing their people to take up their responsibility in government and godly politics.
Glory to God, who, ONLY in Christ Jesus, has restored the great privilege and right to the church to subdue the works of the evil one in their community, local district, province and country as sons of God.
Help restoring the truth to Jesus’ church (Act 3:21-23)
http://hvwitness.wix.com/cojc/blog/
email: info.cojc@gmail.com
“Restoration to the original is always the best. Radical return to the way the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated and gave it to His disciples.”
