Retired Bishop Brian Carrell reflects on the 'rise and fall of nations' and how the Christian vision of God's kingdom endures.

History suggests that over the passage of time individual nations or empires arise to dominate the world scene. But each has a limited lifetime as top dog. They reach a point where their influence declines and another succeeds them. Are we now witnessing the tipping point for the USA as a world power?

Canadian anthropologist Wade Davis writes:

‘No empire long endures, even if few anticipate their demise. Every kingdom is born to die. The 15th century belonged to the Portuguese, the 16th to Spain, 17th to the Dutch. France dominated the 18th and Britain the 19th. Bled white and left bankrupt by the Great War, the British maintained a pretense of domination as late as 1935, when the empire reached its greatest extent. By then, of course, the torch had long been passed into the hands of America.’

This raises questions. First, for us in Aotearoa, is China the next world power most likely to step into the shoes of the USA?

Then for us as Christians, where does the kingdom of God fit into all this? As ‘Christendom‘, for many centuries the Church’s political dominance ranked alongside kingdoms of this earth. Catholic or Protestant, its eminence often outshone secular kingdoms.

Today Christendom as such is no longer a reality. Within our own lifetimes, and without fanfare, its demise has occurred, even if no memorial service has yet marked its passing.

But if we see the kingdom of heaven in different terms, as lives lived in the spirit of Jesus and to the glory of God, a spiritual citizenship that transcends political, cultural and racial boundaries, then the best is to come. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.

For Wade Davis’ full article The Unravelling of America, click here.