Revolution

<<uprising, mutiny>>

From the human perspective, this is generally considered an activity of radical extremists who through rebellion, violence and even acts of terrorism attempt to replace one political order with another, often with armed conflict. It is intended to bring about a radical change in the established order, yet it can be considered as ‘evil fighting evil’ with one deficient sinful system being exchanged for another. Yet fuelled by anger, hatred, and the spirit of competition and aggression in self-centred passionate carnality such behaviour can easy escalate and get out of control.

From a Christian worldview, Jesus came into our world to launch God’s revolution – a revolution of the Spirit, a world-changing movement that would overcome evil with good and hatred with love. Jesus Himself was the most radical revolutionary leader who ever lived – not defined by a sinful and destructive agenda but a life-enriching and transforming way. Jesus loved and served people who were in rebellion against Him and ultimately killed Him. Even though Satan and his sinister accomplices considered they had gained the victory when Jesus was crucified, this was not the case from God’s perspective. It was part of God’s master plan to provide salvation to those who would choose to mutiny against the deception of the devil, and instead live by the Spirit, not the flesh (Rom 8:4-6; Gal 5:17, 6:8).

The focus of Jesus ministry was the overthrow of Satan, and bringing people back into fellowship with God after His decisively important death on the cross and resurrection (Jn 10:10; Rom 5:8; 1 Jn 3:8, 5:19). Jesus claimed that, the promised revolution of God

Satan, not man is the real enemy

had come in His ministry and through His person, stating “The enemy has no power over me…I have overcome the world” (Jn 14:30, 16:33). However, this did not signal the immediate end of the old order with complete victory over the forces of evil in the world. This will only become literal reality at the Second Coming when the enemy will be finally and forever vanquished (Mt 13:41,42; Jn 16:33; Act 14:22; 1 Cor 15:24-28). We live in the tension between its inauguration and its coming fulfilment. Until then, as believers who have given our allegiance to God, we are given authority to enforce His Kingdom rule and to “Resist the devil” as we engage in a spiritual battle in which there will be intense resistance and opposition from Satan, the ‘ruler of this world’ (Mk 16:17; Jas 4:7,8).

As followers of Jesus, we too should be change agents (for the better). This comes about not through violence against people and human authority structures but we are to war against the invisible spiritual forces of evil that control the events of humanity (Eph 6:11,12). Jesus began this revolution, using the expression ‘kingdom of God’ that represented a vastly superior approach or terms of engagement. God had promised through the prophets a time when His rule over His world would be total, with evil and sickness eliminated, when God, man and the world would be in harmony, and when His blessing and peace would be universal (Isa 61:1-11; Jer 31:1-40; Mic 4:1-13; Zech 14:1-21). It is then “The Lord will be king over all the earth” (Zech 14:9; Rev 11:5).

The heart attitude that qualifies people for a place in this revolutionary kingdom is a recognition of need, an openness to Jesus and a willingness to commit oneself to His revolution. Repentance and giving allegiance to Him as our new master is termed

Do I acknowledge Him as Lord?

conversion/salvation and brings us into His family and therefore part of this godly yet radical new reform (Mk 1:15; Lk 18:13; Jn 1:12). This requires us to give up whatever would compete for our devotion to Jesus and His revolution for He says, “Why call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I say?” (Mt 13:44-46; Lk 6:46, 9:23, 14:26,27). We should be actively seeking to bring others into the revolutionary experience of God’s love (Mt 28:19,20; Lk 12:32-34, 14:12-14). Unfortunately, increasingly Jesus’ revolutionary message is being distorted into social reforming without emphasizing reconciliation with God as Father through the death of Christ.

How should believers respond to corrupt governments and the injustices in the world? As individual Christians we should not take revenge against evildoers – God’s punishment will be delivered against those who perpetrate evil (Rom 12:17–21). God’s vehicle is through the actions of civil government, to which we are to submit (Rom 13:1-5; 1 Pet 2:13,14). The institution of government has been established by God and is therefore worthy of our respect; however, not all governing authorities are morally acceptable in His eyes. A government that is abusive or tyrannical, an evildoer itself at the expense of its own law-abiding citizens is no more exempt from divine justice for violating that principle than an individual who acts in the same way. We are instructed to respect and pray for all in authority besides knowing they can’t affect our eternal inheritance in Christ (Mt 10:28; 1 Tim 2:2; 1 Pet 2:17).

The Bible says, living for Jesus would bring persecution as this stands in contrast to the world’s values (Act 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12). During the time of the writing of the NT various cruel anti-God evil rulers governed yet there is no record of the believers retaliating against their tormentors, but rather the call was to live out the Bible’s teaching (Lk 6:28; 1 Pet 2:20,21,23, 3:9, 4:16,19). By Christ’s followers living by a ‘different spirit’, this may make their persecutors ashamed of their actions (Rom 12:20). As believers we are to be loyal to, and obey God in preference to human authorities if there is a conflict of orders (Act 5:29). This requires disobeying any ungodly command, but not aggressively seeking to overthrow the administration for any rebellion against a government is an action that must be considered very carefully and deployed only in a morally defensible way, even amid the most extreme and repressive circumstances. The command to be obedient to God’s moral law is to supersede the directive to submit to an immoral governmental authority.

There is a big distinction between expressing dissatisfaction with a democratic governmental authority by voicing dissent through peaceful civil protest (such as voting, public meetings, or even marches), and active rebellion with actual armed conflict that is associated with the term ‘revolution’.

The emphasis of the Christian ‘revolution’ is not on revolting against the bad government authority ‘out there’ in society rather it is dealing with the unrighteousness ‘in here’, in the inner recesses of our heart, overthrowing sin in our lives and living an exemplary life of Christian virtues. The Bible expresses this control of our inner self of greater significance

My first responsibility is to deal with me, not them

than conquering a city (Prov 16:32). Even though we live in the world, we do not fight our battles in the same way the world does (2 Cor 10:3,4). We are to live by the values of the divine Kingdom that in many instances are diametrically contrary to those of this corrupt world. Sometimes this is referred to as responding in the ‘opposite spirit’. The world’s way is to demand our rights, but Jesus left us an example – to surrender our rights and “entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:21-23). He gives us the privilege to express the same character He has as we also look beyond the present to what lies ahead (Heb 12:2,3). This enables us to “Rejoice always” (Phil 4:4).