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What is a Noble Subject?
Why do we call our Tribe, “Noble Subjects?”
I use the term "Subject" to differentiate our Christian experience from the cultural grid of a republic.
In a republic, we have citizens. Citizens have a whole lot of real and imaginary rights. Most people think that Lincoln's phrase "government of the people, by the people and for the people" is actually part of the Constitution when it is not. It is an excerpt from the Gettysburg Address.
In a monarchy, we have subjects of the king, and they have a high degree of responsibilities, and fewer rights.
The Kingdom of God is not a republic, and does not exist primarily to serve us. We are to serve the King of Kings and to advance the cause of the Kingdom, at the expense of our own lives if necessary.
Now, within the Kingdom, you have commoners and nobility. Those who are nobles have earned some rights because they have demonstrated loyalty to their King.
So we hold the two concepts in tension. First of all, we are subjects. We are devoted to the King and to His Kingdom and everything in our life is at His disposal to use as He sees fit, with no complaining about the pain.
However, we are not servile, or victims or carrying a poverty spirit. We are keenly aware of the immense privilege of serving THE Almighty, and know He is an extravagant God, who resources us with much for His kingdom. We claim no rights. We are subjects. But we walk in immense dignity. We serve the most bountiful King.
Copyright by Arthur Burk
August 2020
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Noble Subjects
By : Carol Trago On September 3rd 2020Thank you for the encouragement. I don't always comment on what I am learning through SLG because I still have a hard time expressing myself by writing. Thank you for who you are in the Kingdom of God. You are appreciated and loved!
Blessings,
Carol Trago
Wonderful reframing
By : Cynthia Harris On September 3rd 2020So - in a Republic, the citizens are horizontally oriented - peers governing peers. Personal interests. Entitlement. Injustice.
And, as subjects of the King, we are vertically oriented - subjects who want only to express the design and worth of the King within the kingdom. Dignity. Abundance. Sonship.
This is wonderful to ponder on. Thanks for this post.
And for the tagline at the bottom of the page - I think "Noble Subjects" masterfully summarizes all these ideas.
....and it is quite the priviledge and quite the honor
By : Charmine (Chayil) Carpenter On August 29th 2020Well said, Sir Arthur! Reading this has made me to realize that GOD is the Great KING and there's nobody and nothing such as His KINGship!! Very Encouraging!! May GOD continue to do exceedingly, abundantly, all you can ask or think...in Jesus name.
Your mail on noble subjects
By : Frieda On August 29th 2020Everything i read in your stuff helps me to give words, to see better or in a new way.....i loooove the word here..." extravagant God"....makes Him bigger than we can possbly think of, in all directions, from creativity, to " how much ", new ways we can not think of....
Thank you
Rights
By : Sandy Stetz On August 27th 2020It is a privilege to be a subject.
Subjects are granted the right to suffer.
As Christians, we think suffering is to be avoided at all costs.
Too often our American view of “rights” extends into the Church as a whole.
We have rights. We have access to the Father at all times. We have an eternal “hope of glory” and much more.
We do not have the right to direct our own paths or choose how we might like to suffer “for Christ”.
We are seated with Him in heavenly places and we do have authority on the earth.
But we must be inclined to ask ourselves, whose will, am I doing today?
Although we are sons as well as subjects, our thoughts should center on Him.
I have a friend who was a missionary for 50 years. He told me that he starts each day, asking, Holy Spirit, what do you want to do today and how can I help?
Yes and Amen!
By : Sharron On August 27th 2020I love this! I am proud to be a 'subject ' of our Most High King!
Thanks!
By : Renée On August 27th 2020Put so well, as always, especially mentioning the privilege we have. Thanks!