Laying hold of the kingdom of God
This week's verses are Matthew 11:11-15:
These verses take place as some of John the Baptist's disciples are reporting his predicament to Jesus. John had fallen into enemy hands, in a physical sense, by being thrown in prison. And now territory in his mind had fallen into the hands of a spiritual enemy as well. John, who was Jesus' first and biggest supporter, was now questioning whether he had it right after all.
It's easy for us to recognize physical attacks on Christians. The news is full of cases of persecution, discrimination, and genocide. The spiritual attacks are a bit more subtle, but oftentimes no less deadly.
This idea of being vulnerable to attack is in conflict with the popular view of the gospel that promises us an absurdly easy life. We're presented with a weak, tranquilized, bookish Jesus who acts as a kind of game show host to this fantasy Christian world. "All of your dreams will come true. You will never have to work again. Everything will be great. Just breathe deeply and tell yourself how at peace we all are." Maybe John the Baptist had hopes along these lines. But then suddenly he's thrown into a very nasty prison and no team of angels comes to his rescue. What now?
Throughout most of history, the Christian life has been fairly difficult. Life itself was difficult! There were famines, regional violence, and genocide everywhere. It even happens today! For the rest of us, we are so blessed to live in an artificial bubble of modern prosperity where we don't experience violence. Violence is something that is outsourced to police and soldiers so that we can exchange money for the illusion of paradise. In other times and places, people didn't have that option.
I'm of the opinion that anyone who utters empty platitudes like "violence is never the answer" needs to get punched hard in the face. If you walk in on someone getting raped, for instance, violence is a fantastic answer. To pretend that violence never has a place is to deny the reality we live in. And yet even if we're lucky enough to live in a place where there is no violence, we still suffer violence without knowing it.
Jesus says the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence. There is a battle for our hearts and souls. We live in a hostile reality where the battle lines are constantly moving. One day our faith is strong, the next we're under attack. Christians fall away from the church. Leaders fall into sin. Heresy springs up. And at the same time, people find salvation and are delivered of these attacks. There are hostile forces that don't want to see us enjoy a relationship with God. They don't want us to win. They don't want to stop feeding on us.
Jesus said that forceful people lay hold of the kingdom of heaven. (Some translations say "violent people" but that always makes me think of sociopaths.) But what does it mean to be a man of spiritual violence? How do forceful people lay hold of the kingdom of heaven?
Imagine your life as territory. On one side, God is gaining control of it, and it is fruitful and blessed. On the other side, there are spiritual forces of darkness (not necessarily the devil, as he's not all that powerful on his own). What would that territory look like if God controlled it all? And what does it look like when it is in other hands?
Either way, it's you who helps to decide the course of the battle for that territory. Do you give in to that temptation? Do you spend your time and money on doing God's work in the world? Do you pray when things happen to upset you or do you just "think thoughts?" (i.e worry.) Your actions make a difference, and even your thoughts are a kind of action. Do you defend that territory with the same ferocity you would if you were defending physical territory from a determined enemy?
Take stock of your life. Where are you vulnerable to spiritual attack? Do you have addictions? Are you vulnerable to sickness? Do certain things always cause you to lose your temper? Consider what you might be able to do to take back some of that territory and protect the rest from loss. And then consider what you might be able to do with God's help!
As John the Baptist discovered, the Christian walk can be a violent battle. Decide which force do you want to win the territory of your life, and fight valiantly for that side to win!
“I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is! From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. The one who has ears had better listen!
These verses take place as some of John the Baptist's disciples are reporting his predicament to Jesus. John had fallen into enemy hands, in a physical sense, by being thrown in prison. And now territory in his mind had fallen into the hands of a spiritual enemy as well. John, who was Jesus' first and biggest supporter, was now questioning whether he had it right after all.
It's easy for us to recognize physical attacks on Christians. The news is full of cases of persecution, discrimination, and genocide. The spiritual attacks are a bit more subtle, but oftentimes no less deadly.
This idea of being vulnerable to attack is in conflict with the popular view of the gospel that promises us an absurdly easy life. We're presented with a weak, tranquilized, bookish Jesus who acts as a kind of game show host to this fantasy Christian world. "All of your dreams will come true. You will never have to work again. Everything will be great. Just breathe deeply and tell yourself how at peace we all are." Maybe John the Baptist had hopes along these lines. But then suddenly he's thrown into a very nasty prison and no team of angels comes to his rescue. What now?
Throughout most of history, the Christian life has been fairly difficult. Life itself was difficult! There were famines, regional violence, and genocide everywhere. It even happens today! For the rest of us, we are so blessed to live in an artificial bubble of modern prosperity where we don't experience violence. Violence is something that is outsourced to police and soldiers so that we can exchange money for the illusion of paradise. In other times and places, people didn't have that option.
I'm of the opinion that anyone who utters empty platitudes like "violence is never the answer" needs to get punched hard in the face. If you walk in on someone getting raped, for instance, violence is a fantastic answer. To pretend that violence never has a place is to deny the reality we live in. And yet even if we're lucky enough to live in a place where there is no violence, we still suffer violence without knowing it.
Jesus says the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence. There is a battle for our hearts and souls. We live in a hostile reality where the battle lines are constantly moving. One day our faith is strong, the next we're under attack. Christians fall away from the church. Leaders fall into sin. Heresy springs up. And at the same time, people find salvation and are delivered of these attacks. There are hostile forces that don't want to see us enjoy a relationship with God. They don't want us to win. They don't want to stop feeding on us.
Jesus said that forceful people lay hold of the kingdom of heaven. (Some translations say "violent people" but that always makes me think of sociopaths.) But what does it mean to be a man of spiritual violence? How do forceful people lay hold of the kingdom of heaven?
Imagine your life as territory. On one side, God is gaining control of it, and it is fruitful and blessed. On the other side, there are spiritual forces of darkness (not necessarily the devil, as he's not all that powerful on his own). What would that territory look like if God controlled it all? And what does it look like when it is in other hands?
Either way, it's you who helps to decide the course of the battle for that territory. Do you give in to that temptation? Do you spend your time and money on doing God's work in the world? Do you pray when things happen to upset you or do you just "think thoughts?" (i.e worry.) Your actions make a difference, and even your thoughts are a kind of action. Do you defend that territory with the same ferocity you would if you were defending physical territory from a determined enemy?
Take stock of your life. Where are you vulnerable to spiritual attack? Do you have addictions? Are you vulnerable to sickness? Do certain things always cause you to lose your temper? Consider what you might be able to do to take back some of that territory and protect the rest from loss. And then consider what you might be able to do with God's help!
As John the Baptist discovered, the Christian walk can be a violent battle. Decide which force do you want to win the territory of your life, and fight valiantly for that side to win!
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