Christianity, Judaism and Islam: How they differ on religion and the state

Thought iMonk in his weekend file hit it pretty well again - especially the final paragraphs where he states:

Christians aren’t trying to turn an earthly Kingdom into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is already here, and it’s power to transform isn’t political or military, but the power of love and grace. This Kingdom doesn’t coerce, but wins the heart. It doesn’t even triumph. It loses at the cross and the resurrection isn’t seen by the world. Only the transformed disciples.

So here are his thoughts - and I will ask with the same question he does at the end: Are we on the same page??


A few thoughts about Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and how they differ on religion and the state. This huge outline is in my head, and I may never get it out, but that is what this space is for.

Judaism was always about an earthly Kingdom, and a literal physical Kingdom of God on earth. Israel really stunk at being God’s Kingdom people, but that doesn’t stop us from seeing that it was never out of line to combine religion and government. Immoral and illegal were the same thing. The King was God’s vice-regent. Historically, most Jews gave up on this arrangement, but it was always where Israel was going. A real Kingdom, with God ruling his people so that a blessing could come on the whole world.

Islam is clear on this as well. Mohammed saw faith and state as unified. In fact, it is the state that is the instrument of Allah’s justice, judgement and command. There are some secular Islamic states, but they stand in tension with Islam itself, which is always about Allah working through the state, and the state being the hand and arm of God.

Christianity is puzzling. Jesus is a Jew, but he subverts the entire notion of the Kingdom. It is here. Really. You just can’t see it. You can experience it. It can transform you and will transform the world, but right now it’s a seed. There is no king, and yet there is. There is no Kingdom of this world, though Jesus is Lord. The Kingdom doesn’t come as other kingdoms do. And so on.

When you start looking at Christianity and the state, this deeply affects everything. Christians aren’t trying to turn an earthly Kingdom into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is already here, and it’s power to transform isn’t political or military, but the power of love and grace. This Kingdom doesn’t coerce, but wins the heart. It doesn’t even triumph. It loses at the cross and the resurrection isn’t seen by the world. Only the transformed disciples.

How can this Kingdom interact with Caesar? How can this Kingdom become entangled with Caesar? Since we know that the Kingdoms of this world crucified Jesus and persecute the church, why are we surprised that these kingdoms have agendas that are far from the Kingdom?

Christians believe that the Kingdom of God will come on earth, but what will ultimately move the Kingdom from secret and unseen to powerful and universal is the triumph of Jesus, not political reform.

Jesus could have been King. He walked away from it. He was ever confident that the Kingdom of God was never threatened by history or tyrants. Are we on the same page?

Interesting subject.