Conflict With Society – Part One.
Our conflict with society is inevitable because of a clash between kingdoms. Mark compares the kingdoms of this world and of God in society.
On The Outside Looking In
“I don’t feel like I belong.”
Do you ever feel this way? Like you are on the outside looking into a group that doesn’t seem to see things the same way as you do? Swimming against the flow is hard. Adapting to the norm and not causing a stir may seem like the easiest thing to do, but when you have convictions that are so strong, what do you do?
History is not shy of revolutionaries; people who saw their surroundings different from the norm, taking a stand they paid a heavy price, yet not giving up on what they believed. Many have been imprisoned, made outcasts, or even martyred, not necessarily for breaking any law, but for simply being extremely different. Society has never taken kindly to those who talk and act contrary to the status quo.
Conflict Themes
This series is a contemplation of the various conflict themes used in creative storytelling. We are considering how they are a reality in the overwhelming opposition we face daily.
We first looked at the discord we have within ourselves; the sin that works against us and then pits us against God, but He made peace possible through the shed blood of His Son Jesus.
That lead into the second part of our external conflict against the supernatural; although it may appear God is our adversary, this is not true, but is a scheme of the devil. He is our true unseen opponent, who seeks the demise of all humanity. God has supplied to all those who trust in Him, the strength needed in this spiritual battle against our enemy.
Third we looked at the harm of sin and its effects against nature, which in turn, are curses against us. The life Adam and Eve had with God in the Garden of Eden was replaced with death. Thankfully, Jesus bore the curse of sin and died for us; all who believe in His sacrifice receives new life – “born again” by the Spirit of God; becoming His child through spiritual birth.
In our fourth session we saw the sad results of sin that causes contention between humankind. Our human nature to fight and hate is a result of our sinful pride. The only answer to true peace with others is to first find peace with God through Jesus. This reality helps us acknowledge that the real battle before us is not against each other but against the devil.
In our last session we considered our human advancement in technology, and how from early biblical history, it is obvious, that man’s pride of self-sufficiency caused him to become less dependent upon God. With humanity’s expansion, ingenuity grew, and the human ego saw God as passe.
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempted Adam and Eve with wisdom; a way to gain understanding apart from what God Himself supplied them. In actuality, the insight they received, mixed with sin, became foolishness; tainting their thinking. He also introduced them to the thought of “being like god.” There was already a “likeness and image” to God in their creation (Genesis 1:26,27), but Satan’s intention was for their hearts to compete against God.
Human accomplishments and progress turned, creating an inward “faith in self” that pushed away God.
We also looked at the aspiration in our world today for making “Artificial Intelligence,” and how the effects of sin that came out of the Garden of Eden was equally “artificial.” Thus, beginning the struggle of humanity seeking supremacy over God.
Character Versus Society
Continuing in our study of conflicts we will now look at “character versus society.” This antagonism is complicated, as it begins with God; the rejection of His precepts (the Bible), and anyone who trusts in God is brought into this contention by association. Therefore, the clash is “God and His followers versus society.”
Our world is divided on every front. It would be hard to even begin listing the many segregations planet earth deals with, so instead, let’s narrow our focus on the primary “spiritual division,” in the world; the Bible puts it this way: there is a “Kingdom of this World” and a “Kingdom of God.” A kingdom is defined as being a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen.
The Kingdom of this World
The “Kingdom of this World” is our human existence as we know it, into which we are all born, grow and die physically; mortal. It is material and we experience it through our given senses of touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. Our reality is confined by time. The scriptures tell us that Satan/Devil has been given reigning power, the unseen spiritual king, and everyone born into the world is unknowingly, subject to him. Along his side he commands demonic forces to fight against the opposing “kingdom of God.”
John states that,
…the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians we read,
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
2 Corinthians 4:4
Jesus’ response to those opposing Him gives us some insight about Satan’s character,
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
John 8:43-45
Satan’s rule is oppressive, described as “bondage” in scripture; his goal is to keep humanity in their sin and distant from the truth of God’s love for them. His future demise is set where he will be thrown into a lake of fire, for eternal torment, where his subjects will join him (Revelation 20:10,15).
The Kingdom of God
The “Kingdom of God” is of a spiritual nature, it is unseen by the “Kingdom of this World,” yet it is equally as real. It cannot be detected by our senses, and it is not confined to time. It interacts unseen by the world, and under the sovereign leading of its king; the Lord Jesus Christ. Angelic hosts bid to His commands and earthly subjects enter kingdom citizenship only through His sacrificial death on behalf of their sin, in His love for them. His will is to save all those under the bondage of the “Kingdom of this World.”
The task God had for the Apostle Paul is described in Acts,
…I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17,18
How the enemy was foiled is explained in Colossians 2:13-15,
…God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Colossians 2:13-15
Justification and Forgiveness
By faith in His death on the cross and then rising from death, those who believe are justified and forgiven. Regeneration occurs through spiritual birth, translating them into the kingdom realm, yet physically they are still in the world.
Paul wrote to the Galatian church,
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
Galatians 1:4
Conflict Between Kingdoms in Society
As you can see, with such a great difference there will be a conflict; two kingdoms contrasting, upside down one to the other. How does being a part of the Kingdom of God change ones’ view of life? That’s expressed in Colossians 3:1-4
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Jesus came into this world for only one reason: to save it; but His help was rejected.
John 1:10-13 says that,
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
John 1:10-13
The Great Plan of Salvation
What a great plan of salvation and expression of love, reaching out to a lost world! The problem was that not everyone saw it this way. Many times, when Jesus spoke the crowd was divided, that is because people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them, and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Therefore, instead of Jesus message being received with acceptance and joy, He was met with hatred. Eventually, those who were jealous of Him planned His death.
In His trial, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, questioned the accusations against Him of claiming Kingship, and we read that in John 18:33-37; Jesus was brought before Pilate;
“Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “you say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
John 18:33-37
The Enemy Disarmed
This gives us great insight into the spiritual realities of His Heavenly Kingdom. His willingness to die was not abdication of His throne and authority, but a means of empowering His Kingdom, making it stronger than ever! It was a strategy of attack that disarmed our enemy.
The writer to the Hebrews states that,
When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 2:8-10
Those who are a part of His Kingdom eagerly await the day when He will finally claim His throne on earth and rule over all kingdoms. He will be glorified, and they will share that with Him.
A “battle cry” is a word or phrase that soldiers yell as they go into battle, with the intent that it will deter the enemy. Anyone who trusts in Jesus knows with full assurance that their shout into the conflicts of life will be “victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Is that true of you?
We will continue looking at the war between these two Kingdoms in part 2 of this session.
What do you think is the reason for our conflict with others? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
The Complete Conquering Conflict Series Links
Mark lives in the small rural village of Fenwick, Ontario with his wife Michelle and three boys.
He joined the FBH International team in February 2022, coming from the business world with a design and art background.
Mark is particularly interested in seeing people come to Christ and grow in their faith. He recently produced the series entitled: Sow to Grow.
Mark serves as an elder at Brockview Bible Chapel in St.Catharines , Ontario.
Visit Mark’s contributor’s page here.
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