We must never mistake relative congeniality between the claims of the kingdom of God and the manifestations of a particular state or society for essential congeniality between them. In principle, the claims of the kingdom must always be distinguished from and valued above the manifestations of any state or society. In certain instances this principled distinction and valuation may be characterized by less tension and by relative congeniality. Here the danger is to be lulled by this comparative peace into the seductive identification of essential congeniality. Allegiance to and identity in the kingdom are compromised or lost, wittingly or not, in a "sacralizing" nationalism or acculturation. In other instances this principled distinction and valuation may be fraught with tension and risk, even to the point of actual loss and death. Here the dangers are at least two. One is to succumb to fear - to mute, hide, and perhaps even repudiate kingdom claims on our identity and life - in order to save our self, our family, and our fellow kingdom residents. The other is to refuse the illicit allegiance of a particular state only to go, not to the kingdom, but to some other set of claims on identity and life, such as ethnicity, gender, or alien philosophy or ideology. Amid all of this we do well to remember and obey the New Testament admonitions to seek first the kingdom of God, to lose our self for the sake of Jesus, and to live as citizens of heaven, from whence comes our savior, our lord.
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