The third foundation stone is that our ultimate destiny is God's Kingdom. Living as we do amidst the kingdom of this world there inevitably comes a time when we believers in Christ have to say, 'I'm sorry but I cannot do that.' Here again we must resist: our Lord has told us in his Word what is right and wrong and it is those values that set our standards. One of the problems with earthly kingdoms, whether republics, monarchies or multinational organisations, is that they set their own rules and demand that they be followed. The second foundation stone is that our ultimate morality comes from God's Kingdom. To call Jesus 'Lord' means that there can be no other lords and no other loyalties. We may be mocked or persecuted for standing against the kingdom of this world but we have no alternative. We will inevitably be involved in the kingdom of this world we may earn a salary from it, we may even hold power within it but, when it comes to any conflict between kingdoms, we are God's men and women. The first foundation stone is that as Christians our ultimate loyalty is to God's Kingdom. Given this idea of two warring kingdoms, let me lay down three foundation stones for how we are to think about how we live in the world, whether tumultuous or not. That final victory (guaranteed by the victory of the cross) will only occur at the coming of Christ when, as Revelation 11:15 (NIV) tells us, the 'Kingdoms of the World' will become 'the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah'. It's a long, tough battle and it isn't over yet. The responsibility of those in the Kingdom of God has always been to resist the direct and indirect attacks of the kingdom of this world. Perhaps more frequently – and more dangerously – it may disguise itself in the language of God's kingdom and, by doing so, seduce God's followers into supporting it. Sometimes, the kingdom of this world may openly and visibly oppose God's Kingdom through abuse and persecution. It is a countercultural movement across all nations made up of those men and women whose allegiance is not to any power system but to Jesus Christ who has redeemed them. The Kingdom of God is, in contrast, very different. Sometimes the kingdom of this world appears in apparently competing forms, such as left- or right-wing politics, yet, deep down, there is but a single system: a kingdom of the world that seeks to control all in every way. The kingdom of the world is proud: delighting in its authority, and displaying it in its buildings, mass media and grand events. They set their own agenda and goals and seek to gain them with the aid of political persuasion, finance, the media and even, if necessary, with force. In summary, the kingdom of this world represents those systems, structures and organisations of politics, economics and power that owe no allegiance to God. It's a division clearly expressed by Jesus himself (Matthew 22:15–22). Our starting point must be to recognise the fact that we all find ourselves between two opposing power systems: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Yet what I can offer is some suggestion about how we begin to find answers to these issues. But how are we to approach these matters? I don't want to offer specific answers here they require longer treatment and there are other people who are much better qualified. We Christians must be involved in some way. Given that, it's tempting to say nothing, but I think this is neither wise nor right. I'm also aware that these 'statue wars' issues of culture, race and history are complex and deeply felt. So I'm sure I have many British readers who believe that Boris is doing 'a good job under the circumstances' as well as those who consider that he and his colleagues should be immediately charged with at least criminal negligence. I am also conscious that I have readers from across the political spectrum. I am aware, too, that I have readers in many other countries where they are going through their own particular troubles. These are tricky matters to comment on: profound, sensitive and complex. 2020 is certainly going down as the year to remember that we would like to forget. There is also concern that the orderly departure from Europe we were promised has been replaced by the prospect of a chaotic and damaging exit. There is the way the appalling killing of George Floyd in the USA has ignited a bonfire to do with how we treat Britain's past acts of history and its present mixture of cultures and races. There is the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing issues of how the government should have responded. Confined for three months within the United Kingdom I'm finding it hard to avoid a sense of national turmoil.