Second American Revolution: Jeff Ziegler (4 of 9)

http://www.forerunner.com/law/law.html

Question:-- How did Christian philosophy influence our form of civil government?

Jeff Ziegler: There is great consternation and controversy about what Christ's Lordship actually means in the real world. Most Christians will not argue with the fact that He does rule our lives. He is the ruler, the Lord, the King of their families and their church. But much beyond that, the idea of Christ's Lordship begins to fall on deaf ears. The retort you often hear revolves around the time period when Christ is before Pilate's inquisition and says, "My kingdom is not of this world." Let's put this in context however. Christ was not saying that His kingdom was not manifest in the world. What he was saying to Pilate "My kingdom does not gain it's authority from Rome or the Sanhedrin. My authority comes from on high." Pilate understood this. The irony is that the pagan tyrant understood, but Christians don't today. So the authority of Christ's kingdom is not of this world, but nonetheless, the kingdom has invaded this civil realm, the family realm, "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Every aspect of society is touched by the kingdom of God.

Now how does this work practically? If every time we'll confess, "Every knee will bow" before Christ, that He is the Lord, that monarchs, kings, state representatives, congressmen, and presidents must bow their knee before God. By what standard will they bow the knee? Yes, it gets back to God's Law. The kingdom has no place in terms of seeking approval or legitimacy here in the earth. It doesn't need the president's approval to exist. It's authority comes from the other world. And therefore it is superior and higher. But the kingdom is manifest in the world and Christ's Lordship is manifest in the world in the civil realm, in the family, in every aspect of society, economics, science etc. Christ's Lordship has the claim.

We talk about the crown rights of Jesus Christ. By virtue of the finished work of Jesus Christ, He has the right to rule. He has the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He has reconciled all things in heaven and in earth, the visible and the invisible, the living and the dead. He rules over all. Christ's kingdom is comprehensive in scope and absolute in its authority.

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