Here’s a radical, yet familiar proposition for how we should live in 2026 | Opinion

During the holidays I happened across several newspaper essays that said better than I can the very things I’ve been trying to write and preach about forever. I want to kick off 2026 by sharing, not my New Year’s resolutions, because I don’t have any, but instead a couple of these observations by better writers.

Peter Wehner, a Presbyterian, a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum and a contributing Opinion writer for the New York Times, wrote about the conversation between Jesus and Pontius Pilate shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion, in which Jesus contrasted the mighty kingdom of Rome with the kingdom of heaven, which he led and personified.

Jesus pointed out to Pilate that his followers weren’t forcefully resisting his arrest. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said.

In Wehner’s words, Jesus “was contrasting earthly kingdoms, which prize and monopolize power and control, with God’s kingdom, which esteems the opposite: humility, mercy, meekness and purity of heart. God’s kingdom is not advanced or maintained by the use of violence, intimidation or coercion. It is not a power paradigm. Nor is honor accorded on the basis of worldly status. For Jesus, true greatness was defined as radical servanthood.”

He continues: “This approach was not just surprising but revolutionary, in ways we cannot fully appreciate because we have lived with the influence of Christianity for more than 2,000 years.”

Sad to say, despite claiming Jesus as their Lord and example, Christians have too often — historically and presently — misunderstood his kingdom as completely as Pilate did. We keep trying to turn the kingdom of heaven into another earthly empire, with dire results for everyone, us and non-Christians alike.

In a separate essay, but in a nearly identical vein, the commentator David French talks about the “upside-down kingdom” of Jesus, a term he borrowed from a former pastor.

French is a political and theological conservative, but is publicly at odds with Christians who want to seize political power and impose their will on others.

“The core truth of Christ’s birth is that when God became man, he entered the world in a posture of extreme humility and extreme vulnerability, and that posture never changed,” French writes.

“And if we who call ourselves Christians are to truly imitate Christ, then shouldn’t we also place little regard on our own worldly status? Jesus told us to take up our own cross, not to nail others to that terrible tree.”

Some, including Gandhi, have implied that people would like Christians better if they simply started behaving more like Christ.

“That’s demonstrably wrong,” French argues. “It’s true that people want to receive love and compassion, and that when they encounter Christians who love them and serve them, they tend to like them.”

Yet this is a double-edged sword.

“Many (other) people do not, however, appreciate it when a Christian loves and serves their enemies. They absolutely do not like it when a Christian refuses to join their political crusade. That’s what happened to Jesus.”

When lived authentically, then, Christianity “is dangerous to Christians,” French says.

“It’s dangerous to people who refuse to hate those they are told to hate, to people who refuse to oppress, to conquer, to exploit — even when they’re told to conquer in the name of God. … To oppress others is to oppress Christ, to hate others is to hate Christ, and to love your enemies can be the most dangerous and revolutionary act of them all.”

I doubt Wehner or French would have a clue who I am, nor should they, but they’re both preaching a message I’ve been preaching a long time here.

I remember writing in the 1990s that it’s a big problem whenever we tie Jesus too closely to any earthly political party, movement or agenda, no matter how seemingly benevolent or worthwhile. If the New Testament Jesus were walking the streets of America or any other country today, he’d quickly alienate all political factions.

That’s what happened in his own day. In the First Century he was equally loathed by the Sadducees, their rivals, the Pharisees, and their common enemy, the Romans.

What he preached — as he plainly said — was a kingdom not of this world. French calls it an upside-down kingdom. I always say Jesus turned our sacred truths on their heads. Same idea.

Is somebody oppressing you? he asked. Don’t fight back. Instead, love him. Feed him if he’s hungry. Forgive him for the harm he’s caused. Pray for him. Go carry his heavy backpack a couple of miles simply out of kindness.

Do you want to achieve greatness in life? Want to be rich? Famous? Then become the lowliest of volunteers. Wash others’ smelly feet. Instead of investing in a hedge fund, give all your money to the poor. Choose to be the least. That’s where you’ll find true riches. You’ll be recognized and honored by God Almighty — although probably not by your neighbors.

OK, now, friends, let’s go make that our next platform for the Republican Party. Or the Democratic Party. Or for any party. See how many votes we get.

Do what Jesus said and at best we’ll be branded as naive; at worst, traitors. Fools. Enemies of the people. Pie-in-the-sky dreamers.

But we just might bring heaven to earth. Or at least into our own souls.

Paul Prather is pastor of Bethesda Church near Mount Sterling. You can email him at pratpd@yahoo.com.