The Kingdom Over All

Living as a Christian Anarchist in a World of Power

“My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told Pilate (John 18:36).

When I first started following politics and having my identity formed I would have never guessed that these words of Jesus would have influenced me as much as they have.

By wrestling with Scripture, learning from thinkers like N.T. Wright, Scot McKnight, and Matthew Bates, and even grappling with libertarian ideas from Ron Paul and Tom Woods, I’ve started to wear the label of Christian Anarchist. It certainly wasn’t a label I sought, but it captures the conviction I have that the Kingdom of God stands above every human political system. A Christian Anarchist trusts love and discipleship—not coercion—to change the world. 

Here’s what that looks like for me, and why it matters.

The Kingdom Beyond Politics

As Wright, McKnight, and Bates remind us, Jesus’ Kingdom isn’t about seizing power or reforming governments. It’s about proclaiming a new way of being human, rooted in allegiance to King Jesus. In Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Bates calls us to pledge loyalty to Jesus as King—not to nations, parties, or ideologies. This thought resonates deeply with the way I was raised, where free will and personal devotion to Jesus were foundational ideas of living a life of faith.

It is crucial to remember that the Kingdom is not an earthly political program; it is a spiritual reality breaking into the world through the transformed lives of those who have given their allegiance to Jesus.

We need to be aware that the world tempts us to use God’s Kingdom to energize these human systems. This is where I believe movements like Christian Reconstructionism miss the point. Imposing biblical law on society simply replaces one form of coercion with another. Earthly political systems are unable to do two very important things. First, they are unable to show mercy, because they are built and rules and regulations.  Second, they are unable to change the human heart, that is one of the critiques the New Testament offers of the Old Testament Law. God’s Law is able to teach us what is right and wrong, but it is unable to transform people for the Kingdom, only the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do that. Therefore, the Kingdom of God stands apart, inviting us to live differently, not to rule over others (Matthew 20:25–26).

Discipleship and Love as the Way Forward

So how do we influence the world? Jesus’ answer is simple but radical: make disciples and love others (Matthew 28:19–20; John 13:34–35).

This isn’t about passing laws or winning culture wars. It’s about living the Sermon on the Mount—loving enemies, serving the least, and embodying a countercultural community like the early church. Rodney Stark’s The Rise of Christianity paints a compelling picture of a movement that changed the world through care, generosity, and forgiveness.

That doesn’t mean I embrace communalism. Versions of Christian communalism often downplay individual agency, which I believe is God-given blessing. Influenced by thinkers like Tom Woods, I think free markets—when guided by Christian ethics—as one way to honor freedom and stewardship. Voluntary exchange, personal responsibility, and private charity can reflect Kingdom values without coercion.

In this world I still live pragmatically—paying taxes, sometimes voting—but my true allegiance is to King Jesus. One of the ways this allegiance shows up in my life is trusting the Biblical call to love, make disciples, and pray as the way for the Kingdom to expand in the world.

Freedom Without Coercion

For me, Christian Anarchism means rejecting coercion in all its forms. All Governments use coercion, and that is true for theocratic versions of government as well. These are seen in the type of government  that the likes of Joel Webbon or Doug Wilson advocate. These guys imagine a society shaped by biblical laws and punishments and top-down reform. That feels more like the kingdoms of this world dressed in Scripture, and far removed from Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17).

On the other side, I appreciate Shane Claiborne’s call to radical community, but I’m wary of the suspicion toward property and markets. Along with that, I sympathize with his call to non-viol and pacifism, I believe following the Non-Aggression Principle offers us the best way to love both our enemies and friends. 

In my mind both extremes—statist control or enforced communalism—undervalue the freedom God entrusts to individuals.

Instead, I envision disciples as representatives of King Jesus, living in freedom: running businesses with integrity, serving neighbors without bureaucracy, and proclaiming the Gospel through love. We don’t need to dismantle systems overnight—we need to build communities that show there’s a better way. As McKnight reminds us, the Gospel is about King Jesus reigning now. Our task is to invite others into that reign, not to force it.

A Call to Live the Kingdom Now

Right now, with political division and cultural noise louder than ever, the temptation to grab power—through laws, votes, or ideology—is strong. But Jesus calls us to a different way: to make disciples, to love even our enemies,  to pray for everyone, and to live freely under His lordship.

For me, Christian Anarchism means saying no to every system that demands my allegiance (we can’t serve two masters), and saying yes to a Kingdom that transforms through grace, forgiveness, and love. Let’s build communities where love is our law, freedom is our gift, and Jesus is our King.

That’s the revolution worth living for.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.