(But glad you, my imaginary interlocutor, asked. That way, we can set some misconceptions cleared up.)
I am actually pointing to the church's mandate, especially in the famous Great Commission:
Matt 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He].
18 Jesus came up and said to them,
Titus 2 gives focus to how such discipleship works out:“All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” [AMP]
Tit 2:11 For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that [a]brings salvation has appeared to all men.Moral transformation and purity rooted in salvation, sensible upright godly living, looking to the eschatological hope have exactly nothing to do with the sort of tyranny, oppression and demonic, blasphemously demonic political messianism typified by the National Socialist German Worker's Party ( -- the actual meaning of "Nazi"):
12 It teaches us
-- to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and-- to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age,--13 awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,--14 who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good. [AMP]
The contrast with Jesus' baptism should be quite obvious, starting with the contrast between the twisted, broken cross, the suicidal army of the deluded following a mad dictator and the peaceful dove of the Holy Spirit opposed to Hitler's demonic bomber bird:
(Besides, Fascism -- as "socialist" above suggests, is actually a movement of the political, statist, politically messianistic left. It is right of Stalin, yes, but that does not say a lot.)
But, but, but, you speak of the Lordship of Jesus as king reigning over a kingdom. Doesn't that mean you want to impose some sort of theocratic right-wing dictatorship ruled by some Magisterium backed by an Inquisition?
No.
Funny, how so many of our academics and pundits are so quick to accuse Christians of dictatorship, while many of them try to edit out the Christian contribution to the rise of modern liberty and democracy. Scapegoating, setting up and knocking over strawman caricatures, anyone?
A more balanced view would be that Christendom did indeed struggle with the rise of modern liberty and democracy, but it is no accident that it is in just that part of the world that such rose. The biblical context in the first foundation of a modern republic based on representative, democratic principles should be clear:
1776, US DoI: When . . . it becomes necessary for one people . . . to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, [cf Rom 1:18 - 21, 2:14 - 15], that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security . .
1787, Preamble & "grand statement" structure, US Const: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America . . . . [Main Body, Arts I - VII] . . . . Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names. . . . . [AMENDMENTS].
"Blessings of Liberty" is a telling clue, as this phrase is specifically theological, pointing to the reformation era, Biblically rooted conception of the double covenant of nationhood under God and just government under God leading to blessing by God. This becomes particularly clear, given two calls to national prayer by the US Continental Congress, in 1776 and 1777:
May
1776 [over the name of John Hancock, first
signer of the US Declaration of Indpependence] : In times of
impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America are
imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults
of an insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the
indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy colonies, with
true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publickly
to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God; to confess and
deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his
interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering
our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and
posterity.. . . Desirous, at the same time, to have people of all
ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God's
superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely, in
all their lawful enterprizes, on his aid and direction, Do
earnestly recommend, that Friday, the Seventeenth day of May next,
be observed by the said colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting,
and prayer; that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail
our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere repentance
and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and,
through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his
pardon and forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to
frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies; . . .
that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to
animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to
guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the
continental arms, by sea and land, with victory and success:
Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulers, and the
representatives of the people, in their several assemblies and
conventions; to preserve and strengthen their union, to inspire
them with an ardent, disinterested love of their country; to give
wisdom and stability to their counsels; and direct them to the
most efficacious measures for establishing the rights of America
on the most honourable and permanent basis—That he would
be graciously pleased to bless all his people in these colonies
with health and plenty, and grant that a spirit of incorruptible
patriotism, and of pure undefiled religion, may universally
prevail; and this continent be speedily restored to the
blessings of peace and liberty, and enabled to transmit
them inviolate to the latest posterity.
And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations, to
assemble for public worship, and abstain from servile labour on
the said day.
December
1777: FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to
adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to
acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits
received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in
Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not only
to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common
Providence, but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just
and necessary War, for the Defence and Establishment of our
unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath
been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for
the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal
success: It is therefore recommended to the legislative or
executive powers of these United States, to set apart THURSDAY,
the eighteenth Day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and
Praise; That with one Heart and one Voice the good People may
express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate
themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that
together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they
may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby
they had forfeited every Favour, and their humble and earnest
Supplication that it may please GOD, through the Merits of Jesus
Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance;
That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the
Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public
Council of the whole; to inspire our Commanders both by Land
and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which
may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty
GOD, to secure for these United States the greatest of all
human blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE;
That it may please him to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of
the People and the Labour of the Husbandman, that our Land may yet
yield its Increase; To take Schools and Seminaries of Education,
so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty,
Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand, and to prosper the
Means of Religion for the promotion and enlargement of that
Kingdom which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in
the Holy Ghost.”[i.e. Cites Rom 14:9] [Source: Journals of
the American Congress From 1774 to 1788 (Washington: Way and
Gideon, 1823), Vol. I, pp. 286-287 & II, pp. 309 - 310.]
Of course, Bible-based Christian eschatology is quite clear about what it means for Jesus to be Lord, with "all authority in heaven and on earth":Phil 2: 5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], 6 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; 7 but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].God is our creator and Lord. We owe him loyalty and responsible, reasonable service. our sinful, willful rebellion is suicidally destructive. In love, Jesus came as the fulfillment of the long-prophesied messiah, as Saviour. (NB: This already implies that the very concept of Christ is eschatological. And indeed the very first Christian sermon, at Pentecost, speaks of how in these last days, through Messiah, God is pouring out his spirit on all flesh. Thus the going out of the gospel to the nations in the power of the Spirit, bringing forth repentance, renewal and revival as seasons of refreshing come as showers of blessing from God is already a decisive sign that we are in "the last days." For at least 2000 years now.)
8 After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus [b]every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father. [AMP]
He was rejected and despised, slandered, judicially murdered, crucified, buried, guarded in a sealed tomb. The demonic riot seemed to have won.
He rose, broke the chains of death and hell, opened the way to redemption. He is risen, exalted Lord. With the Father, he has poured out his Spirit, leading to the gift of repentance unto eternal life going out in God's grace to the nations.
Either we willingly bow the knee now, setting out on a life of sober, godly service, or we will bow before him later as Lord and Judge. That's our choice.
But, it is a choice.
We are free to do what is suicidally ill-advised.
Many do.
But that does not change the force and power of the 4R's agenda in a community:
Yes, if a community insists on resistance, it can block critical mass and reformation. It can even make things so harsh that those who come under the gospel are a tiny, despised, scapegoated minority. It can also pick and choose, seeking a fatal compromise between light and darkness that seduces many into a corrupt, despoiled form of the Christian faith. Indeed, some may fall into such error that churches become counterfeit, locking Jesus out [cf. Rev 3:20]:
BREAK IN TRANSMISSION: Looks like this remark is highly relevant, given a current US Grand Jury report. We must note, however, that such is reflective of a much wider civilisation level problem of pedophilia, porn-perversion and sexual immorality that has gone utterly out of control, now reaching the level of sex toy robots.
So, there is a clear call to repentance and renewal.
Not, at the point of a sword, at the point of a pricked conscience as the Spirit of God invites us to repentance:
2 Cor 4: 2 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. [AMP]And in that context, the seven mountains analysis is an analysis presented by way of a useful model and an invitation to reasoned discussion and change:
For, change through recognising the signs of our times is always hard:
Will we act before it is too late? The choice is ours. END
