Put Away Your Sword

By Jennifer Dunkley

In a time when the Western church is feeling rejection and scorn from the world, it is important for us to have the right response to the situations we encounter as we live out the Christlike life. For many years, the church in various parts of the world has suffered patiently for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time for the Western church to take up the cross of Jesus and joyfully join in the fellowship of His sufferings.

As I look at Christian media, the response of the church seems to be one of anger and bitterness toward the world. I believe the Holy Spirit is asking the bride of Jesus Christ to put away the sword.

The inclination to fight for the rights of the church is derived from a misunderstanding of Scriptures concerning the church and its identity, functions and purposes in the world. In the Scriptures, we see references to the kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God, kingdom of Israel and kingdoms of this world. It is important for the church to discern the kingdom to which it belongs in order to fulfill its God-given function and purpose.

Seed by the Wayside

We can understand the purpose of the church as we look at the life of Jesus, and examine the expectations of His followers and suspicions of His accusers. Scripture states, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside” (Matthew 13:19).

“It is important for the church to discern the kingdom to which it belongs in order to fulfill its God-given function and purpose.”

Many today (as in Jesus’ day) receive seed by the wayside because they do not understand the function of the kingdom of God.

As in Jesus’ day (and still today), some believe the church’s purpose is to fight for the restoration and preservation of the kingdom of Israel. Scripture states, “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority’” (Acts 1:6–7).

Jesus did not obligate His assignment to the restoration of Israel at that point in time. At His trial, Pilate questioned Jesus as to His purpose and mission. Scripture states, “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are you a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king’” (John 18:36–37).

Jesus had the opportunity to speak for the cause of the Jewish nation, but instead He spoke of another kingdom, which was not of this world.

As in Jesus’ day (and still today), some believe the church’s purpose is to wrestle for power, prosperity and influence in the kingdoms of this world. We can see that the devil also misunderstood the mission of Jesus as we observe his method of temptation during Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness. Scripture states, “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish’” (Luke 4:5–6).

The devil thought Jesus was interested in power and influence in the kingdoms of this world. This was not Jesus’ mission and should not be the mission, purpose or focus of His bride. Jesus declared His mission as He began His ministry, and this should be the focus of the church today. Scripture states, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:16–18).

Doing the Father’s Will

Even though many misunderstood Jesus’ mission, He wanted His disciples to understand His mission, because He was counting on them to continue the work of His ministry. Jesus came to establish the kingdom of heaven on this earth. This is His church, and we belong to the kingdom of heaven now, not to the kingdoms of this world. We have a promise of inheritance in the kingdom of God. Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9–10)

“This is His church, and we belong to the kingdom of heaven now, not to the kingdoms of this world.”

This prayer is answered every day as believers in Jesus Christ follow His example in doing the will of the Father on earth.

The Hidden Kingdom

Jesus used parables to teach His disciples concerning the characteristics of the kingdom of heaven to which they belonged. Scripture states, “Another parable He spoke to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened’” (Matthew 13:33).

The kingdom of heaven is hidden within the kingdoms of the world, and has an effect on the world. There is inherent conflict in this relationship, but Jesus taught us how to thrive in this conundrum in His Sermon on the Mount. This is the constitution for those belonging to the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:3–12)

The mission and purpose of the kingdom of heaven lies within Jesus’ mission. Jesus said:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
(Luke 4:18–19)

The church has been given a ministry of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven to the kingdoms of the world. Scripture states, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).

Keys to the Kingdom

We have been given power and authority to operate in the gifting of the kingdom of God while in the kingdom of heaven on earth. Scripture states, “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1–2).

This is the focus, purpose and mission of those who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it, And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18–19).

Jesus has given His church the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He has not given us the keys to the kingdoms of this world.

Those who are a part of the kingdom of heaven will inherit the kingdom of God. Scripture states, “Giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12–14).

We can be at peace in this evil world because we have the assurance of our inheritance in the kingdom of God. Scripture states, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

“Jesus has given His church the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He has not given us the keys to the kingdoms of this world.”

There is a time when all evil in the kingdoms of the world will cease, and righteousness will reign. Scripture states, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever’” (Revelation 11:15).

The kingdom of God is our inheritance — not the kingdoms of the world; hence we do not need to fight.

Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath” (John 18:11). Jesus is speaking to His church today to focus on the work of the ministry entrusted to it by its founder, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jennifer Dunkley is an ordained minister, missionary, and humanitarian whose life’s work has been devoted to sharing the love of Christ and bringing hope to vulnerable communities around the world. After faithfully serving as a pastor for 10 years in the Free Methodist Church, she expanded her ministry through international missions, leading and participating in outreach efforts in both Malawi and Pakistan. She is the co-founder of Agape House, a ministry home in Malawi that provides shelter, care, discipleship, and renewed hope for orphans and street-connected children. She is also the founder of Agape Youth Clubs, a growing international ministry serving children and teens across Malawi, Guinea, Zambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Pakistan. In recognition of her compassion and global humanitarian service, Rev. Dunkley was honored with the Kaskaskia College Humanitarian Award in 2011.