Our first allegiance

our first allegiance must be to the kingdom of Christ. Furthermore, we must never make the mistake of thinking God has some kind of commitment to the well-being of our particular nation over the well-being of other nations. This type of ugly and arrogant nationalism is completely incompatible with the Christian faith, which confesses Jesus as Savior of the world and not merely some version of a national deity.

Really enjoying Beauty Will Save the World by Brian Zahnd.

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our first allegiance must be to the kingdom of Christ. Furthermore, we must never make the mistake of thinking God has some kind of commitment to the well-being of our particular nation over the well-being of other nations. This type of ugly and arrogant nationalism is completely incompatible with the Christian faith, which confesses Jesus as Savior of the world and not merely some version of a national deity.

What Jesus is committed to is the salvation of the world and the building up of his global church. So whereas Christians are free to participate in the civic and political process of their respective nations, Christians must do so as those who exhibit a primary allegiance to the Jesus way—the beautiful way of the cruciform. This means treating everyone (including political enemies) with kindness, love, and respect.

With an eye on the cruciform, we can ask ourselves, “Does this attitude, this approach, this action look like Jesus on the cross?” If our attitude, approach, and action cannot be reasonably compared to the image of the cruciform, we need to abandon it. Caesar may adopt it, it may be practical, it may even be “successful,” but if it’s not Christlike, then it’s not our pattern.

Feels like yesterday

Amy Elizabeth Blundell
My sister Amy, outside her apartment in college.

It still feels like yesterday.

I was sitting in my office, March 21, 2005, at The Belton Journal when I got a call that my sister wasn’t doing well.

She was in the hospital and expecting to have surgery the next day to have a tumor on her kidney removed.

Something had gone wrong and the doctors were calling “Code Blue.” At the time of the call I had no idea what that even meant.

I got up and went for a walk around the block, praying that whatever was happening would turn out OK.

By the time I was back at my desk the world had changed.

My sister was gone.

My friend, my partner in crime, my counselor, my confidant and more was gone.

It still feels like yesterday.

Maybe that’s why as I sat feeding my baby daughter yesterday, I half expected to look up and see my sister walk around the corner.

I half expected to hear my phone ring and see her name pop-up on the caller ID.

I still half expect to answer the doorbell’s ring and see her standing on my front porch with my boys running to greet her — just like they love to do with their Aunt K — as if she’s only been a way on a long trip.

Nine years ago seems like such a long time ago – and yet it still feels like yesterday.

We miss you Amy — always will.