Changing the World

There are two ways to change the world: from the top down or the bottom up. Modern efforts usually attempt to improve the world work from the top down, using political power in its various forms. However, people do not like be controlled, so they resist change imposed from the top. Jesus changes the world by transforming lives, one person at a time. The world will be improved from the bottom up.

In the world, authority is imposed from the top using coercion and force when necessary. There is no escape from imposed authority, except death or becoming an outlaw.

Democracy does not remove this imposed authority. It can change the person who controls it from the top, but it gives them greater authority, because they appear to have greater legitimacy. People cannot escape the authority of democratic powers.

The world system uses hierarchy, because it is great way to extend the power and control of those at the top of the system.

Many Christians just accept the world model of authority. They want to put Christians at the top of the power mountain and impose God’s authority from the top.

The puritans in America tried this approach. They built a society that they controlled, but the ended up with a half way covenant and all sorts of problems. Unfortunately there are still many Christians who wish to advance that project in America today. The English puritans beheaded King Charles and put Oliver Cromwell in his place. He did not handle power any better.

The Kingdom of God is totally different from the world. Authority is never imposed from above in the Kingdom. All authority comes from below, through free submission. The only way that authority can be obtained is through voluntary submission. Until a person submits, no authority exists. This submission is voluntary, so people are free to withdraw their submission from those with authority. Those who freely submit can walk away at any time. When submission is withheld, authority disappears.

People will only submit to people they know and trust. This means that submission will not go very far up a hierarchy, because it can only go as far relationships of love and trust extend. Authority structures will be very flat in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus does not accumulate authority; he chops it up and spread it around. The Kingdom of God is held together by love and trust. He trusts the Holy Spirit to guide those to whom he has given authority.