Christ the King is the ultimate in monarchs. In fact, his is probably the only kingdom that truly works. He is the King of kings. No king in history can compare to Him, nor would anybody expect them too. For how could one expect a man to compete with God. As Christians, we say these words. We know the truth behind them. Yet, as Americans, we live our lives as if these words weren't true.
You see, in America, we focus our energy on rights and freedoms. Ever since the Declaration of Independence was penned over 200 years ago, the United States has had a large focus on government outside of kingship. Our forefathers threw off the shackles of monarchy and firmly implanted the shackles of democracy. Because of this, I feel, we fail to see the truth behind the idea of Jesus as King. We fail to understand what a kingdom is. We don't know, fully, what it is like to live under the rule of a king. With history riddled with such poor examples of kings, why would we want to go "back" to the times of oppressive rule under a monarch? A monarchy appears to be old fashioned, despotic, and filled with inefficiency. No. We as Americans are in love with the idea of democracy; of freedom. We want to pick and choose. We can see an example of this when driving through our neighborhoods. Each block carries with it the hope of a new Christian church. Each comes with its own pastor and a new set of rules. Each close enough to the previous one that we can't see the fundamental difference until we get deep. If we don't like that church, we can always go to another church closer to home and one our friends attend. We usually don't change churches because of bad theology. It most often comes as a clash with personalities. Maybe the power has shifted at the church and the new pastor isn't as wonderful as the one we love. Maybe he is out to make a name for himself. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
Sometimes it is theology. A pastor says something that you know to be wrong (though who is to say, really?) and that drives people out of the church and into the hands of another. Church attendance waxes, then wanes, then waxes. It is the dance of the Protestant (always searching for a new church), from one plain to another. The grass eternally greener.
But don't get me wrong. I don't blame these people. I can see the beauty in the choice. I can see the temptation of the ego, to say that it knows better than the church, the pastor, or any scriptural authority. It is inherent in our American culture. We don't want to be told what to believe, we want to choose it. And I can't blame only Protestants in this, for we Catholics are to blame as well. We Cafeteria Catholics choose the doctrines we want to adhere to, like a child chooses their meal in the school cafeteria. Our worldview jives with this doctrine, so we accept it; our paradigm doesn't agree with this one, so we deny its authority or its truth. Such is the dance of the Cafeteria Catholic, forever searching (not for a church, but) for a doctrine to believe in.
That said, therein lies the major issue with American Christianity. Christ's kingdom comes down from Heaven in such a manner that we should at once be in awe and excitement. We are given the law and are expected to be great subjects in this kingdom. So where does that leave us? Americans don't remember what it is like to be subjects. The last time we were subjects was over 200 years ago. If we want to get back to authentic Christianity, we have to remember that our theology doesn't come from us. It comes from Christ. Until we are willing to see that and give Him the authority that only he truly has, we won't be fully Christian. Because being part of the body of Christ means more than just accepting Jesus. It means accepting his rule despite what we think. That is the truest test of faith, I feel. It means submitting even when you think you shouldn't.
You see, in America, we focus our energy on rights and freedoms. Ever since the Declaration of Independence was penned over 200 years ago, the United States has had a large focus on government outside of kingship. Our forefathers threw off the shackles of monarchy and firmly implanted the shackles of democracy. Because of this, I feel, we fail to see the truth behind the idea of Jesus as King. We fail to understand what a kingdom is. We don't know, fully, what it is like to live under the rule of a king. With history riddled with such poor examples of kings, why would we want to go "back" to the times of oppressive rule under a monarch? A monarchy appears to be old fashioned, despotic, and filled with inefficiency. No. We as Americans are in love with the idea of democracy; of freedom. We want to pick and choose. We can see an example of this when driving through our neighborhoods. Each block carries with it the hope of a new Christian church. Each comes with its own pastor and a new set of rules. Each close enough to the previous one that we can't see the fundamental difference until we get deep. If we don't like that church, we can always go to another church closer to home and one our friends attend. We usually don't change churches because of bad theology. It most often comes as a clash with personalities. Maybe the power has shifted at the church and the new pastor isn't as wonderful as the one we love. Maybe he is out to make a name for himself. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
Sometimes it is theology. A pastor says something that you know to be wrong (though who is to say, really?) and that drives people out of the church and into the hands of another. Church attendance waxes, then wanes, then waxes. It is the dance of the Protestant (always searching for a new church), from one plain to another. The grass eternally greener.
But don't get me wrong. I don't blame these people. I can see the beauty in the choice. I can see the temptation of the ego, to say that it knows better than the church, the pastor, or any scriptural authority. It is inherent in our American culture. We don't want to be told what to believe, we want to choose it. And I can't blame only Protestants in this, for we Catholics are to blame as well. We Cafeteria Catholics choose the doctrines we want to adhere to, like a child chooses their meal in the school cafeteria. Our worldview jives with this doctrine, so we accept it; our paradigm doesn't agree with this one, so we deny its authority or its truth. Such is the dance of the Cafeteria Catholic, forever searching (not for a church, but) for a doctrine to believe in.
That said, therein lies the major issue with American Christianity. Christ's kingdom comes down from Heaven in such a manner that we should at once be in awe and excitement. We are given the law and are expected to be great subjects in this kingdom. So where does that leave us? Americans don't remember what it is like to be subjects. The last time we were subjects was over 200 years ago. If we want to get back to authentic Christianity, we have to remember that our theology doesn't come from us. It comes from Christ. Until we are willing to see that and give Him the authority that only he truly has, we won't be fully Christian. Because being part of the body of Christ means more than just accepting Jesus. It means accepting his rule despite what we think. That is the truest test of faith, I feel. It means submitting even when you think you shouldn't.