Proper 4 C
The Two Kingdoms
St. Luke 7:1-10
2 June 2013 – Redeemer
Have you ever desired that our government be more Christian? Has someone told you the church should not be involved in politics? Has anyone ever questioned why you are pro-life and yet you support the military or the death penalty? Are you worried that the increasing secularism of our nation will soon mean that churches may be forced to muzzle their confession?
Today’s text provides us with the opportunity to compare and contrast life in the United States and life in the Holy Christian Church. Traditionally these two kingdoms have been called the Kingdom of the Left (the State) and the Kingdom of the Right (the Church). Today’s reading from Saint Luke teaches us of a soldier, a soldier who knew his place, who knew the kingdom in which he served, but also knew his need for a different kingdom, the kingdom that is Jesus Christ.
The Roman Centurion knew the extent of his kingdom. He was a Roman. His Kingdom existed to bear the sword, to keep the peace. And it sounds like he served that kingdom well. He even built a synagogue for the people over which he ruled. It doesn’t appear that he was antagonistic or coercive with the Jews. Rather he practiced good “public relations” and “community outreach” before Rome ever thought to establish offices with such titles and staff them with overpaid bureaucrats. And remember this soldier was an enemy to the Jews – a Roman ruling in Israel.
What this Centurion believed before the text we do not know. He may have worshiped Caesar as Lord. After all he was the leader of a detachment of 100 men, and you probably don’t rise to that level of trust without worshiping Caesar. But God used him anyway to serve, to preserve order, to grant to the Jewish people in Capernaum peace and quietness that they might worship.
The example of that Centurion serving as the keeper of law and order in Capernaum calls us to repent. To repent of lamenting the sad state of our government and the godless acts they perpetrate, while not giving God thanks for the peace and quietness that we enjoy in this country. That peace and quietness has been purchased by the blood, life, and limbs of many soldiers. Think of the ease with which you came here today – on paved roads maintained by the Department of Transportation, governed by laws about speed limits and stop signs enacted by Congress and enforced by Minnesota’s finest. Consider how peaceful it is to gather in this sanctuary. You have no fear of reprisal, arrest, or persecution. This peace is a slice of our daily bread, one of God’s created gifts to be received with thanksgiving, a thanksgiving we rarely and reluctantly voice.
Now let’s also be clear on our role as Christians in relation to the state and the left hand kingdom. Weekly we include our president, governor, and legislators in our prayers – that they govern honestly, justly, and for the sake of all citizens, especially the weakest. That is their task. But our respect for the government does not mean we cannot call on them to change their ways. President Obama said following the Sandy Hook school shooting that we should be willing to enact any law on gun control that would save a single life. Following the tornadoes in Oklahoma the government decided to spend tax dollars to build safe rooms in schools to protect children, as near as Paynesville. As Christians living in this nation we are well within our rights and freedoms and responsibilities to say to him, “Mr. President – if you defund Planned Parenthood and advocate even a reduction in abortions you will save hundreds and thousands of American children every day. You will save more in a day than die in all the gun violence and storms in a year. And it will cost the taxpayer less money.”
The Centurion knew his place in the left hand kingdom as we call it and he knew of the Kingdom of God. How did he know? Someone, somewhere, a butcher or a baker or a chariot maker simply confessed the news, “ Wherever this Jesus of Nazareth went, life came to the dying, and health to the sick, and healing to lame and crippled. And this Jesus didn’t run His Kingdom like the Roman Kingdom – it wasn’t about stature and office and power and bribery and rewards. It was a Kingdom of gifts to the least, the last, and the lost.
Jesus of Nazareth carried out works which the Centurion’s kingdom could not fathom. Rome couldn’t give peace to a demon possessed man, but Jesus could. Rome could bear the sword, but they couldn’t raise the dead. Jesus did. Rome could not restore sight to the blind, but Jesus did. And Rome certainly had no interest or ability to forgive sins. It wasn’t their calling. But Jesus forgave sins all over the place.
And that knowledge too calls us to repent – we often think that if the government became more Christian it would be better for the church, that somehow the state should do our work for us. Our work is to confess Christ to the world, even if it becomes illegal. Our work is to hold our marriages together even if the state allows for divorce. Our work is to call sin sin even if the state makes sinning legal. Our work is to forgive sins even of the abortionist and sexual predator because Christ has forgiven us. We don’t want the state to forgive criminals. We want the state to imprison such criminals for their crimes to protect others. The left hand Kingdom (the state) is to maintain outward righteousness, good order, safety. The church (the right kingdom) is to impart heavenly righteousness – the forgiveness of sins that comes through faith in Christ alone.
The Centurion knew the difference between the two Kingdoms. The state punishes evildoers and rewards those who do good, but the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ works by grace, gift and mercy. And so he confesses to Jesus through friends, “I am not worthy that you come under my roof.” Not power, not prestige, not coercion or wages, but faith, humility, trust in Jesus. “Say the word [Jesus] and let my servant be healed.” That’s all it takes – the Word of Jesus. It is interesting that Luke never records that Jesus says anything. The servant is made well at that hour. St. Matthew tells us that Jesus did speak, “Go; let it be done for you as you believe.”
The Kingdom of God is where Jesus is present. The Kingdom of God is where Jesus’ Word is spoken. And so today His Word comes to you, His bodily presence comes to you and does for you what the government cannot do. The Word and presence of Jesus bring you gifts from His cross. Your sin is forgiven (the worst, the first, and the favorite). Your enemies are in retreat. The devil cannot accuse you. Death cannot stomach you. And hell has no place for a righteous and holy child of God. You will live. Your body will rise.
The Kingdom of God won’t come to an end at the next election. Our King has never failed to keep His promises. He doesn’t change His mind with the latest poll. He needs no soldiers to protect Him. Your forgiveness, your life, and your resurrection are as sure and certain as His resurrection, ascension, and return on the last day. The Kingdom is yours in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
Saturday, Week of Trinity 2013 anno Domini