By Francis Frangipane
To obtain conformity to Christ means we are seeking to serve God with the very same character, purpose and empowerment (or "anointing") that was revealed in Jesus. Yet, Christlikeness is not something we mimic, but a life that flows to us from Christ Himself and is worked in us via the Holy Spirit (see Phil 3). This is why our primary focus is not upon the outer form or style of our worship, but upon the Person we worship. Yes, to be conformed to Jesus in all things is true worship perfected.
When we speak of conformity to God's Son, we mean that the very same anointing that rested upon Him, now rests upon us. In the Bible, when one was anointed, it denoted that an individual had been chosen and prepared by God to serve in a role of either priestly, prophetic or kingly authority. As Israel's Messiah, Christ was the perfect embodiment of these three functions of the anointing. This is not new teaching about Jesus Christ. If you are born again of the Holy Spirit, you have received a living power which is also working in you the manifest life - the anointed life - of Jesus Christ (see 2 Cor 4:7-11). God's goal is not just to bring us to Christ when we die, but to manifest Christ where we live.
Remember, the title Christ means "Anointed One." To truly know the Lord Jesus is to understand His Messianic identity as Israel's Anointed. To be conformed to Him, however, is to walk in His anointing (see 1 Jn 2:6). Thus, as we near the end of the age, the true church will be increasingly identified by Christ's three-fold anointing: we will be given to intercession as a priesthood of believers; we will be prophetic in our discernment and communication of God's word (whether the word comes to teach, comfort, evangelize or warn); and in all of life's spheres, we will walk in a holy, kingly anointing, as ambassadors of Christ and His kingship in heaven (see 2 Cor 5:20).
Christ's Fullness
Yet, this last arena, the transference of Christ's representative governmental authority to the church, has been resisted by many Christians. While most might accept the authority of Christ to help in their sphere of influence, even sincere believers question the legitimacy of godly leaders being called to serve in government. They ask for New Testament teaching to confirm this doctrine.
The very fact that Jesus Christ sits as king in heaven, and that His expressed will is that we be conformed to His image in all things (Rom 8:29), validates that He will have disciples who will manifest His governmental anointing on earth. For, "as He is, so also are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). You see, God has called His church to one goal: reveal the fullness of Christ.
We should learn from past mistakes, but not limit our potential because of them. Our birthright cannot be measured by the failures of our past, but against the stature of Christlikeness. Our confidence must abide in the Father's ability to fulfill what He has spoken concerning us. Therefore, let us forget for a moment our current limitations and consider with reverence our spiritual potential. And let us not be staggered by unbelief, but with faith pray, "be it done to me according to Your word" (Lk 1:38).
John writes,
"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16).
Paul states,
"The church . . . is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph 1:22-23).
Again, Paul says the height of our destiny is nothing less than "the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13).
God's will is not that our growth be stunted halfway to full maturity, but that we know and walk in the full anointing of Christ! Consider: the proof that Elisha had truly received Elijah's anointing was that Elisha did the works of Elijah (2 Kings 2:8-15). Likewise, the anointing that rests upon us should, in time, produce the very same life that we see in Christ, our heavenly King (see Jn 14:12). Thus, when someone questions the validity of Christians serving in government, we have only to point them to the prayer Christ taught: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Indeed, every time we pray those words, someone is receiving grace to represent the character and interests of Christ in our governmental settings.
The Kingly Anointing
Again, the question arises, "But the realm of kingly or governmental authority is fraught with the corrupting influence of power. Why would God send His servants into secular leadership?"
Hebrews 11 tells us that God specifically sends His servants into world systems to transform them and lead nations toward heaven. Consider: From verse 22 through verse 34, each person given as an example of faith was an individual raised up by God to lead their nation. Who would like to inform the righteous kings of Judah, from David to Josiah, that it was not God's will for them to be in power? Whisper this idea that God does not anoint and send people into world leadership to Daniel and see if he concurs. You see, God has always had it in His heart to raise up men and women who serve Him in wisdom and righteousness, whom He uses to bring multitudes to Himself.
Consider God's word to Abraham:
"As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you" (Gen 17:4-6).
For over two thousand years, from Abraham to Christ, God worked primarily with Israel and its line of kings. However, His promise to Abraham was that he would be a father of "a multitude of nations." He never has abandoned Israel, yet three times in the above promise the Lord mentions that many nations would look upon Abraham as their father. He then adds, "and kings will come forth from you" (vs 6).
It has always been in God's heart to bring nations to Himself, but it wasn't until Christ came that the grace of God could truly spread worldwide. The fact is, you cannot bring nations to God without turning the government of those nations to God as well. So the Lord tells Abraham, "kings will come . . . from you." Kings exercise authority over nations. Paul speaks of this, in principle, in the New Testament when he urged "that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority" (1 Tim 2:1-2).
In the Lord's promise to Abraham, the Hebrew word for kings referred to "officials of many levels." This word, kings (Melek in Hebrew), was a "very common term for virtually any magistrate" (Zodhiates Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible). In other words, among those who were to come forth from Abraham would be a generation of godly leaders whose sphere of influence would be felt in every strata of secular authority.
Isaiah 60 also speaks of "nations" that would come to our light and "kings" to the brightness of our rising (Isa 60:1-3). Again, kings here is the same word that encompassed all levels of secular authority. This promise of God is not only for the millennium, but also for now, during the time when "darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples" (vs 2). Just because the cultural atmosphere is charged with demonic darkness, it does not mean the Almighty has abandoned society. God desires to raise up warring priests who intercede for mercy; He has prophets who call His people to repentance and vision; and He is preparing leaders who will rule righteously with wisdom and meekness.
The Gift of Democracy
Only in recent times has mankind been given a wonderful gift from God: democracy. For approximately 5700 years the entire world order was ruled by kings and tribal chiefs (except briefly in Athens). Even today, nearly half the world does not elect their government leaders.
With democracy, we do not have to wait for a king or dictator to die to hope that his heir will be more righteous. In America, every four years we are given the opportunity to pray and decide who shall guide our nation. This means that we can choose godly leaders to guide us. Of course, no one is perfect. We will always struggle with the apparent imperfections of any candidate; we will never stop needing the priestly role of intercession to redeem our leaders' errors. But in democracies, we have the opportunity to realize the anointing of Christ in governmental systems. It is a tremendous gift from God!
Am I saying that democracy is the same as heaven? No, absolutely not! Not until Jesus returns will we realize the fullness of God's kingdom. Remember, we said that our goal is not to see the church become political, but the political realm become spiritual, where the integrity, wisdom and justice of Christ - the anointing of the Messiah Himself - manifests in godly leadership.
People say, "The Lord will decide who is elected. I'm not voting." Excuse me, but in democracies God chooses to work through the voting system. We will always have to trust the Lord no matter who is elected, and we should pray that He "stir up" the spirits of godly people to vote, but He will not override the mechanics of our democratic nation. Thus, we must choose our officials with prayer and principled wisdom. We must also encourage others and work to see godly leaders positioned in government; and where godliness does not exist, we must pray for leaders that they might come to Christ.
How do we discern among candidates which individual is capable of receiving Christ's anointing for government? First, we must look beyond an individual's debating skills and ask, does this man or woman bow to Christ as their ruler? You see, to that leader, Jesus must be revealed as the King of kings. Not until a person genuinely bows before Christ, is he fit to rise and lead the people.
One last thing: No matter who is elected, God calls us to pray for our leaders with faith and mercy, trusting in God's goodness. I am not telling you for whom you should vote, but urging you to vote with vision and prayer. Which candidate do you feel can be most influenced by Christ to lead our nation? Vote for the individual who, as best as you can tell, is most open to the anointing of Christ the King.
