The Return of Christendom

There is a lot of wailing right now about the coming crash, the mid-east spoiling for war, Israel at battle stations, and the general unwinding of the American system. There are a whole lot of my evangelical brethren who believe we are at the end of the age. Not just the end of politics as we know them but the end of the entire book of history. There is a sense of desperation on the nerve as of those without hope, or of men who believe their end is branded in time with prophetic surety. Churchmen grapple in political holds and throws attempting to slow what they have been assured by their fellows is the defeat of the church in this world and the relentless victory of the evil kingdoms. Not for eternity mind you, but in this world now, which is of course where we live and expend our souls from birth to the coffin. So, by the popular view we are to muster up some fight even though we are certain of the futility of our actions. It is generally unspoken that the logic for the fight is missing and the only rational thing to do is to hide out and wait for the end. We are not always logical so some are consumed heart and mind in the political fray while others do nothing. A goodly portion of the modern church is expending itself on busyness programs, programs, programs that have never, and never will, achieve their purported ends.

There is not much hope in the popular theology. Yet, as I read the words of Christ about His kingdom I see nothing but hope. And I do not mean just hope for the eternal arrangements beyond this life. I mean hope for every King’s child in this world and the next. Jesus never talks about His kingdom as a failing kingdom or one that will have to be rescued from its conquering enemies by a last moment miracle. Rather, He speaks of His kingdom as a mustard seed that grows steadily into a tree that fills the garden or as leaven that eventually fills the whole loaf. He prayed, ‘Thy kingdom come thy will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven’. Hence, we are not misled when we expect that His kingdom is maturing on this earth and advancing into heaven. We ought to expect to see the maturing of the mustard seed just as He said. The fig tree He cursed but the mustard tree is to fill the garden.

Another thought we have allowed to slip away is that the kingdom is a real, historical, kingdom not just a metaphor for some sort of spiritual rule. When Jesus talked about the kingdom as leaven He was not trying to communicate that when we reach heaven then the kingdom will slowly expand. No, He was speaking of a kingdom that expands on earth. The reference to kingdom is no mistake either. It is not a sloppy use of familiar language. What Jesus is talking about is an entire civilization that grows up within the existing civilizations and eventually over powers them and becomes the dominant civilization, or kingdom. The kingdom of Christ is to be the dominant kingdom. Christ the King will rule all other kings. His law will rule the nations. ‘Ask of Me and I will give the nations as thine inheritance’ (Psalm 2) promises the Father. All of the islands of the sea are His.

This Christian civilization, this advancing kingdom, is what our historical forefathers referred to as Christendom. Christendom was the civilization of the kingdom of Christ. It was understood to be an unstoppable culture growing in this earth. Christendom was the light that was shinning truth and liberty to a darkened but awakening world. God’s law was the law of the Christian nation. Every nation has its law and so did theirs. The shock troops of its army were its missionaries who went forth to preach the ‘gospel of the kingdom’ as Jesus ordained. Christendom was the kingdom of light and hope in a hopeless world. Yet, now, we have become the hopeless ones. We have abandoned our Biblical theology for literal doctrines of devils. We have quit the fight for the kingdom and await our supposedly inevitable demise at the hands of our enemies. We have become citizens without a country and soldiers without a cause. All of this is unnecessary but our retreat is impermanent.

The kingdom of Christ advances in ebbs and flows. The early church through the Middle Ages struggled its way across pagan Europe conquering as it marched through the centuries. The Renaissance marked a turning when Europeans were deceived into looking back to the Greeks and Romans for wisdom instead of Scripture. Martin Luther’s Reformation ignited the ancient light of the church and shone its brightness once again on what had become a dark continent indeed. As the strength of the Reformation faded sinful men once again ran to embrace humanistic philosophies in what humanist historians call the Enlightenment (meaning that humanism is the brightening light and Christendom is the darkness).

Now, it appears we are dwindling, perhaps racing, toward the end of the Enlightenment era. The secularist management of the world’s affairs has led to tyranny and bankruptcy on every front. Western civilization as it is presently being managed is simply not sustainable. We understand from the prophets that God uses pain and trouble to reignite faith and obedience in His church. This then is the season of opportunity for the church. I remember watching Mel Gibson as William Wallace pacing on horseback before his troops beseeching them ‘if only you will fight’. That is the emotion for the church at this hour. If only we will fight. If only we will return to the battlefield. We may need an increase in numbers but what we need more is an infusion of theologically sound hope. We must believe that the battle is ours in Christ. The Spirit and the sword of His word are sufficient weapons to conquer nations if we do not run from the field. This may be the end of an era but it is not the end of the age. Christendom will advance if we have the commitment and wisdom to carry the banner. This is our duty for the King and for future generations.

For Christian Culture,

Don Schanzenbach