John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
This passage of scripture contains a very solemn and relevant truth that all true followers of The Lord Jesus must of necessity take into consideration in all of their experiences and activities. God's kingdom is not built upon worldly principles and laws, neither does it operate on mere logic, money, and material concerns, as far as Christianity is concerned. There was a concerted effort made by the Jews in Christ's day to mix politics and religion, and even the disciples of Christ and His own family members tried repeatedly on various occasions to draw Him into the political arena, by encouraging Him to pander to the Jewish Sanhedrin, who were politically motivated by secular interests and agendas. Let's read:
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master" ...... 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
It is worthy of note that the Pharisees sent out their own disciples, who obviously had their own political biases, together with the Herodians who were of course representatives of the Roman government, under whose jurisdiction the Jews were now subjects. The Romans had their own secular agenda and cared not for spiritual things, and the Pharisees who carried about themselves with a semblance of righteousness, were also driven by the same motivations such as power, money, rank, and national greatness. But Christ steadfastly refused to mix politics and religion, and therefore His reasons for doing so should be thoroughly understood by all who comprise the true kingdom of God.
The principles upon which Christ's kingdom is founded are as far as the east is from the west when compared to the principles of this world. In order to be elected, political candidates often resort to character assassination, lies, fraud, competition, and saying only what is politically correct to soothe the ears of the multitudes with smooth things, and vain promises that are hardly ever kept. Rich individuals and corporations often pay large sums of money to have elections swing in their favor, and so the poorer classes are almost never properly represented by their duly elected leaders. And it is for this and other obvious reasons that the following texts were penned by the prophet Isaiah. Let's read:
Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth" ..... 13 "speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. ..... 15 "and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
God's kingdom however is founded upon principles of truth, righteousness, equity, honesty, integrity, humility, kindness, charity, and faith, principles that are all but foreign to the political climate in which we now live. Even though as Christians we are not to be slothful in business, and should at all times and in all places be found as faithful stewards in the temporal and material things of this life, yet one fundamental difference sets us apart from the ideals and aspirations of the world, in that we do not view this present world as our home, for like the faithful in ages past, we look for a city whose builder and maker is God, and because of this singular difference, our outlook and perspectives on this life are entirely different from those who see this present world as their permanent home.
Hence the reason why in the political arena where many nominal Christians are currently to be found, there is accusing, backbiting, quarreling, infighting, sabotage, lies, hypocrisy, and fraud, elements which lead us right back to the very reason why Christ said His kingdom is not of this world. Let's read it again:
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight".
In our day there is a subtle, but potent and dangerous mix of religion and politics now being paraded as a form of righteousness, in which the adherents and subscribers alike, vouch for certain aspects of truth such as traditional, biblical marriage between one woman and one man, while on the other hand some of them advocate for the institution of laws that would enforce certain traditions and practices that are entirely contrary to the truths of God's word and the principles for which it stands. For instance, the violation of the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week, is considered acceptable, whilst the effort to re-institute Sunday as a national day of rest is met with approbation in both religious and political circles. Hence the reason why we often hear on the most prominent media outlets, of the Jewish, or the Christian Sabbath, referring to Saturday and Sunday respectively.
But the word of God explicitly tells us that the people of God are not to be reckoned as one of the other nations, for God's kingdom is a theocracy where He is the Head, and we His servants, to love and obey Him in everything that He bids us do, including, but not limited to the keeping of all His commandments, of which the fourth forms an integral part, saying to us, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy", thus reminding us of who the Creator and rightful ruler of this world really is. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that was written for our benefit, so that we do not become entangled with the potent mix of religion and politics. Let's read:
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed" ..... 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country" ..... 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
May God enable us to keep our focus and gaze on Jesus Christ and on eternal realities, so that the things of this world will be held subject to the higher aspirations and calling of the kingdom of Christ. "Good night" and God bless!