Liberation

... you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor ...

We can hear words like these from Isaiah chapter 9 perhaps in a Christmas carol service, with everything orderly, good singing, nice atmosphere and so on. And yet hearing it in this way might miss the raw exuberance and jubilation that is felt when a yoke is truly shattered, the weighty bar at last removed, and the harsh rod of an oppressor is finally broken leaving the people free after years of struggle.

The recent scenes in Syria have been of mass jubilation among a diverse population celebrating a freedom after decades of cruel oppression. The leaders behind the liberation even made a proclamation, calling for a special time of celebration for all, to declare the newly achieved liberty.

Perhaps it is those kind of scenes, the overflow of emotion, the visceral mix of both tears and joy, that we would do well to have in mind when reading the classic Christmas readings such as Isaiah 9.

With the birth of a new King - with Jesus - years of oppression, struggle, and harsh regime will come to an end truly setting people free. The future will be theirs, to reform and rebuild a new life with the possibility of flourishing for all. So get out and celebrate - let all the emotion come out, take to the streets!!

Jesus sets us free from a tyrannical regime that keeps each person enslaved, locked in patterns that de-humanise both themselves and those around them. A regime that you cannot negotiate or buy your way out of. One that will strike no bargain, and will demand total allegiance. From this you are now set free!

Watch the recent scenes in Syria, and then listen to the Christmas readings again ...!

Don't take the King out of Kingdom

Nowadays many Christians have a healthy 'Kingdom mentality'. This is good news: typically leading to better to better practices. For example greater respect and cooperation between churches and their leaders (we are all working together for His Kingdom); and also seeing positive community work by other organisations (perhaps secular or not Christian faith-based) as contributing to a healthy community rather than somehow a kind of enemy. The outcomes of the work by another organisation can be understood as positive or 'Kingdom-esque' when they resonate with the Kingdom outcomes we would hope for in an area or community.

There is still a tension however, that we need to keep in mind. Jesus is Lord of the areas and ultimately over all people groups, therefore including those we work alongside - the resurrection puts that beyond doubt. Yet that Lordship yearns for and invites a response from each and every individual - that they may recognise Christ as King. In the Christmas story the learned travellers present their gifts and worship Jesus whilst he is still a baby ... how much more a response is due now he is risen Lord!

The bottom line is that a Kingdom needs a King (there is a clue in the word!), and that King rightly should be recognised as such deep in each and every heart. The great rebellion depicted in Genesis 3 is about people choosing to be self-kings, which trends in the opposite direction to God's loving order for creation.

So whilst we can definitely affirm friends and colleagues working positively for the community - each helping to outcomes that we would recognise as being Jesus Kingdom attributes - we still want to work out how best we can point individuals to Jesus as The King who has a Kingdom that will always transform these good outcomes to even greater levels, not resting until transformation into God's original desire is complete. For sure we can affirm people and the good work being done, but that cannot mean surrendering our belief that Jesus is Lord and thus taking the 'King' out of 'Kingdom'.

It is up to us to maintain our witness to Jesus as King even as we work together and collaborate ... all the while in the hope that others discover Him too and make Him their Lord and King.