by Steve Halbrook
Should the church work to end the vaccine holocaust, such as through Christian organizations, local congregations, denominational coalitions, and literature? While “yes” should be a given, many Christians hold that reforming society is not the role of the church. Perhaps the Scripture that is most-used in support of this view is John 18:36, which says,
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
And so, some believe that Christ’s statement “My kingdom is not of this world” means that Christ’s kingdom is narrowly confined to such things as heaven, the individual, and/or the church; as such Christ’s kingdom has nothing to do with “earthly” matters. But this view has several problems.
First, there is no reason to insist “of this world” means “nothing to do with the world.” Christ’s disciples are in the world but “are not of the world” (John 15:19b). Thus “of the world” in John 15 does not exclude Christ’s disciples from being involved with the world. Neither does it mean they are not to work, by God’s grace, to transform the world—and in fact, the Great Commission requires that Christ’s disciples attempt to do this very thing (Matthew 28:18-20).
Second, while Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, it is over it: “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” (Psalm 103:19) (emphasis mine). Christ thus is King over the world (1 Timothy 6:15; cf. Ephesians 1:20-22).
While Christ told Pilate “My kingdom is not of this world,” He also told Pilate “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above …” (Jn. 19:11b). And so, the kingdom of men is subordinate to God:
“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17).
The Great Commission acknowledges that Christ rules over the world: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18).
Third, “of this world” has to do with a source of power. Daniel F.N. Ritchie writes, “Christ’s kingdom does not derive its origin from the world”[1]—so Christ’s kingdom is not of the world in the sense that it is not from the world. In fact the very verse that says “My kingdom is not of this world” goes on to say that very thing—“but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36d).
Fourth, let us not forget the Lord’s Prayer, which mentions “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9b-10). Note how God’s will (“Thy will be done”)– His commands – should be obeyed throughout the earth – and this is not in opposition to “Thy kingdom come.”
Thus we cannot say that Christ’s kingdom has nothing to do with the world. Christians are thus to desire to see sin minimized throughout the earth, which has implications for societal reform (since societies exist within the earth). Yes, evangelism is still a priority, but it is not either/or, but both/and.
Remember the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)? He didn’t neglect helping the man who was beaten out of a misguided notion that we should only evangelize and attend church. Had he did, he would have been no better than the others who passed that man by.
And so, to return to the idea of the church reforming society as it relates to vaccines; John 18:36 clearly cannot be used to oppose this. Indeed, as has been shown, Christ’s kingdom rules over this world: Christ is “the King of kings” (1 Timothy 6:15b) – Lord of the earth and everything in it, including everything from souls, to kingdoms, to the medical industry. Or,
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church … (Ephesians 1:22)
And so, let us never think that there is any segment of the universe where Christ is not supreme: the dangerous “no king but Caesar” (John 19:15b) mentality. Christ must be obeyed in all circumstances, not just “spiritual” matters. As such, let us not pass by those in need in any circumstance, but rather, like the Good Samaritan, work to reform society by helping the oppressed.
The church, then, as Christ’s representative, should work peacefully to end the genocidal vaccine holocaust – an attack on God manifested as an attack on God’s image-bearers. Given the accelerated push for mandatory vaccines, this should be a high priority.
[Note: For a thorough treatment of the doctrine of God’s kingdom, see The Kingdom of God by Pastor Brian Schwertley]
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[1] Daniel F. N. Ritchie, A Conquered Kingdom: Biblical Civil Government (Saintfield, Northern Ireland: Reformed Worldview Books, 2008), 92.
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