Pentecost 20 Heb

There is a debate that has been going on for several years now regarding the language the Church uses for God. Is it politically correct to use male pronouns in referring to God? Are we encouraging or exhibiting antisemitism if we don’t change the words of Scripture that refer to Jesus’ enemies as the "Jews"? Will modern day Americans be able to relate to "King" language?

Being an old fuddy-duddy, I tend to use traditional language from Scripture and resist feminizing or relativizing in order to please modern day tastes. I particularly find it amusing when people claim that King language should be avoided because people have no experience of living in a monarchy, as though that means they don’t know what a king is. And, of course, I learned all the way back in seminary that the Eleventh Commandment is: "Thou shalt not be politically incorrect."

Well, I’m sorry, but people hearing me preach will just have to make the effort to understand my politically incorrect speech. They’ll have to make the effort anyway because Jesus was supremely politically incorrect.

First, a clarification: We think of the scene depicted in our Gospel lesson for today as a trial. In reality though, no such thing is taking place. In the rigidly hierarchal societies of the ancient world, social inferiors were not allowed trials. If we look at this story with this in mind, we see that there are no witnesses, no jury, no prosecutor and definitely no defense attorney. Pilate is prosecutor, judge and jury, and his decision will be final...and fatal.

The politically correct behavior then would be for Jesus to do all He can to appease Pilate and convince him that the charges against Him are untrue. And above all, if He’s to have any hope of saving His life, Jesus needs to assure Pilate that He is not a king and has no designs on any throne.

But, Jesus doesn’t worry about being politically incorrect or being condemned to death. Therefore, He is very in your face with Pilate. He uses that very politically incorrect term, "kingdom", and even refers to the possibility of his followers fighting to save Him. What was a petty official in an out of the way province of the Roman empire going to do? What could we expect of a man who desperately wanted to move up in Caesar’s government?

God isn’t limited to our human ideas of political correctness or even instinct for survival though. His Son is a King like none the world has ever seen or will ever see again.

Not only were Jesus’ origins and birth the reverse of kingly expectation, He made no effort to claim an earthly throne. In fact, when people tried to make Him king He resisted their efforts.

For Jesus an earthly throne of gold, conquest by force and rule by oppression were not just politically incorrect, they were divinely incorrect.

Furthermore, kings and other earthly officials are out to get all they can. They fight for power, wealth and fame. They demand respect and obedience, even groveling. They strive to leave a legacy that will ensure a reputation of power and strength.

King Jesus, on the other hand, seeks only to give. In the end, as we know, He will even give His life. King Jesus doesn’t fight for anything. We see, even as He stands before Pilate, that Jesus kingliness is to be found in His quiet dignity, His integrity and most of all, His obedience to God.

While He doesn’t grovel as a peasant should when faced with the power of Rome, He also doesn’t use His real power to force belief on Pilate.

King Jesus will leave a legacy and be remembered, but not for earthly power. King Jesus will be remembered for being the Sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. How very politically incorrect, but what more could we want in our King?

Our text for today points to the truth that there is a King greater than any worldly king who reigns in a Kingdom greater than any earthly kingdom. Jesus reigns in people’s hearts, but only if they are open to His coming. He is gentle and woos His subjects, giving them the freedom to reject His rule. His rule includes righteousness, justice, mercy and grace.

His Kingdom is beautifully depicted in a series of paintings entitled the "Peaceable Kingdom". The artist, Edward Hicks, depicts the Kingdom of Christ as a place and time where the lion and lamb can lie down together. It will be a time when the Muslim and the Christian, the Israeli and the Palestinian, the corporate executive and the welfare mother, even the Democrat and the Republican will co-exist in peace.

While this Kingdom will not be fully realized until Christ returns in glory, it can begin now. Every year - every day even - God offers us the opportunity to receive His kingdom in our hearts. It is especially appropriate as Christ The King Sunday prepares us for the coming of Advent a time when we look to the future Divine Kingdom even as we prepare to welcome Christ the newborn King.

God leaves the decision to us. He will love us and give us salvation by His grace whatever our decision about living in His Kingdom now. Surely the politically correct act would be to claim our freedom and be like the rest of the world - looking out for #1, insisting on our rights, grabbing all the power and wealth we can, clawing our way to the top.

But, Jesus offers us peace, love, fulfillment, joy and contentment if we accept His rule over our lives.

To help prepare ourselves for the decision and for the Advent of our King, I’ve included a small insert in your bulletin. Let us consider these questions carefully over the next days and weeks. Meditate on them and on the picture of what God offers us if we will be politically incorrect by allowing Him to rule in our hearts and lives. Amen