Adult Bible Study Online

Declaring Allegiance

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Lesson text: Matthew 16:13-27
By: Ken Seitz
Email: kenseitz@hotmail.com

Gregory Boyd (The Myth of a Christian Nation, Zondervan, 2005), was the featured presenter at Eastern Mennonite University’s annual School for Leadership recently. He addressed a capacity crowd at Park View Mennonite Church.

The mega-church pastor from St. Paul, Minnesota, expounded the scriptural and theological understandings that informed his sermon series several years ago, "The Cross and the Sword." The results are widely known; some 1,000 members (5% of the membership) withdrew, offended by his biblical critique of civil religion.

He spoke passionately about his spiritual pilgrimage, how he found a theological home in Anabaptist understandings of following Jesus in life. He referred to all governments as "Caesar" while lamenting that so much of Christendom, particularly in the United States, thinks that society can be reformed by trying to "Christianize" government. Of course, Emperor Constantine’s ecclesiology—the church as guardian of the state’s power, even its military might—has been a temptation for the church ever since the fourth century.

Although Boyd’s message strikes at the heart of concerns held by many Anabaptist-oriented Christians in the United States, I think his message applies broadly to the global church. While he did not specifically criticize Christians for holding government office, he warned against the dangers of losing our way by espousing Caesar’s agenda rather than God’s kingdom agenda. Where does this leave us?

While working in Lebanon with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in recent years, I was always relieved to tell the Lebanese that the money resources originated with caring, Christian people without United States government funds. Personally, I would have preferred to say that we operated with no government money whatsoever, but can accept that Canadian Mennonites are in a different position. MCC’s Lebanon program does receive some funding from the Canadian International Development Agency.

In the question-answer session, Boyd admitted that taking up the way of Jesus offers no easy answers. With the newest crisis in Haiti, we see governments going in with military aid. Given our allegiance to God’s upside-down kingdom, what are our priorities and options for assisting our Haitian brothers and sisters as they rebuild their lives?

This message relates to the Adult Bible Study. For additional information on Adult Bible Study or Adult Bible Study Teacher, send email to info@mpn.net. To order either publication call Mennonite Publishing Network at 1 800 245-7894.

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Answers to Common Questions
Sonia Weaver offers a basic introduction to the complex world of Palestine-Israel by answering questions on the geography, history, religion, and sources of conflict as well as sources of hope for this troubled area. Many photographs and a list of resources for further study are also included. Read the introduction.

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