I hang around with Jason DeZurik a lot, both in person and online via Facebook and Twitter. So naturally, what came to my mind first when I started thinking about a blog on “kingdom of God”? His favorite saying lately: “We are not building an institution or a program. We are building the Kingdom of God. It is a mindset. It is a spiritual awakening. It is a lifestyle!"
I’ve been hearing him say that a lot (and post it on social networks), and it got me thinking... what Scriptures are there to back that up? What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?
John 18:36 says, “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’”
Luke 17:20 says, “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed.’”
Mark 1:15 says, “‘The time has come,’ [Jesus] said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”
All of these words are quoted as coming from Jesus himself. In John 18:36, which is part of the narrative about Jesus on trial in front of Pontius Pilate, Jesus tells us that His kingdom is “from another place” (NIV). In the original Greek, the wording there means more like “not from this place.” Meaning it’s not from this place (earth), but it does exist here. If we are building the kingdom of God, then it does exist here on earth.
In Luke 17:20, Jesus explains that it can’t be easily seen, like an earthly king’s reign. An institution or program can be seen as a thing; a mindset or a spiritual awakening cannot be as easily seen.
In Mark 1:15, we see that the kingdom of God has come near. Some people believe that Jesus Himself is the kingdom; but nowhere in Scripture do we ever see that the kingdom left, such as when Jesus ascended into heaven. The kingdom goes on, even while Jesus is not bodily present with us.
So what is the kingdom of God? The concept is sort of elusive to many people today. I believe that it is a way of looking at the world, that everyone in the world has the opportunity to be a part of God’s kingdom by putting their faith in Jesus Christ. We show our faith to others by the fact that it is a lifestyle that Christians must live. In order to bring more people into the kingdom there needs to be a spiritual awakening in which people see our mindset through our lifestyle.
Are you living your lifestyle with the mindset that everyone can be a part of God’s kingdom?
9 comments:
"We show our faith to others by the fact that it is a lifestyle that Christians must live"
So is Christianity more of "how we must live" or about what God has done and is doing through Jesus Christ?
If piety is a neccessity of faith, I would ask, "How's that working for ya?"
I understand where you are coming from dean. It is a real serious theological predicament in my opinion. The Bible, on the one hand, highly advocates the notion that "works" are an important part of our faith. To which extent I completely agree with katie. On the other hand, if being a christian is a state of being, opposed to something that we earn through works, then our works are not a prerequisite. In fact, your statement is completely correct (100%) in fact, that it is about what God is doing. But how do we realize what God is doing? Through the fruit that we bear, manifest through works of faith. So its more about God's work, but his work is manifest in us and through us. And just to be clear, I'm not arguing for or against anyone here, I'm just stating my understanding of Scripture but am more than open to other people's thoughts on the subject (not to say I'm always going to agree :) )
Dean, I actually left a response shortly after you did this morning, and apparently it never got posted.
You bring up a good point about the tension between faith and works. The Bible explains this further in James 2. I am not saved by good deeds, rather by faith; but the way my faith is evidenced is through good deeds.
Christianity is all about God and what He has done, but how would we show that to others except by the things we do? We don't receive faith or salvation because of what we do, but as I said in the blog, we show our faith through what we do.
How would you show others the Kingdom of God, if not through the way you live your life?
Katie,
Now that is an interesting question!
The "Kingdom of God" in terms of Jesus' parables can be viewed as Himself (Mark 1:15). [Also look at Matthew Chp 13 ... Kingdom of Heaven is better understood as Jesus i.e the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.]
However, (as you have suggested) there appears to be another aspect to it as well (Luke 17:20).
Would it make sense to view the "Kingdom of God" as both Jesus AND anywhere the Spirit works faith in the world?
Thoughts?
Personally, I don't think I would say that the kingdom of God is Jesus. If it were, why wouldn't Jesus say "I am the kingdom of God"? Instead, he told multiple parables about it - such as in Matthew 13 that you referenced. The kingdom of God is one of those things we can't easily nail down and comprehend with our human minds.
The kingdom of God is like having wheat planted with weeds. It's like a mustard seed, which is tiny but grows into a huge tree. It's like yeast that makes dough rise. It's like treasure found hidden in a field, or fine pearls that have been discovered. It's like a net that catches all sorts of fish. (All those from Matthew 13.)
I can't boil all of those down into one succinct little idea, but rather I believe they need to be taken as a whole concept. Yes, Jesus is an essential part of the Kingdom, as is the Spirit; but I wouldn't say that's all there is to it. It's a much more complex concept, that I think we only can get a glimpse of this side of heaven.
So Katie,
What do you think Jesus was saying (or communicating) in His parables of Matthew 13?
He certainly had a purpose. Are you suggesting that He intentionally spoke in vague terms about the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God in the other Gospels)just to confuse those who heard the message?
Than what purpose would that serve?
In Matthew 13 Jesus speaks (13:24) a parable that the Kingdom of Heaven "may be compared to" (ESV translation)... is pretty straight forward.
Please refer to Matt 13:37 ... Jesus indeed explain that "The man who sows" (refering to the Parable of the Weeds) "is the Son of Man". Doesn't seem ambiguous to me? Seems pretty clear, doesn't it?
Dean, I think Jesus' parables in Matthew 13 are an attempt to explain something in human terms that cannot be fully explained in human terms. There are some things of God that our feeble human brains can't fully comprehend, and I believe the Kingdom of God is one of those things - we can't nail it down to just a few short words, hence why Jesus told multiple parables about it.
When Jesus says that the Kingdom "may be compared to" or "is like", he's not saying "it is." He's saying it's in some way like this example, but it's like that other example too. Saying "this object may be compared to an apple" is not saying "this is an apple." The word used in the Greek there is a form of the verb "to make like," not the verb for "it is."
Yep, that is pretty clear in Matthew 13:37 that the man who sows is Jesus. I agree with that statement. But, the parable is not saying the Kingdom is the man; it's saying the Kingdom is like what happens in that parable, how the man goes out and sows his seeds etc.
Hmmm ... I'm not sure I agree.
Matt 13:37 "He [Jesus] answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man."
You said ... "Dean, I think Jesus' parables in Matthew 13 are an attempt to explain something in human terms that cannot be fully explained in human terms."
I would suggest that was how teachers (the Rabbi)of Jesus' day often taught ... by parable.
You continue ..."There are some things of God that our feeble human brains can't fully comprehend, and I believe the Kingdom of God is one of those things - we can't nail it down to just a few short words, hence why Jesus told multiple parables about it.
I would suggest to you that Jesus spoke repeatedly about the Kingdom of Heaven [God] because it was important, not because it was difficult to explain.
Katie continues ..."When Jesus says that the Kingdom "may be compared to" or "is like", he's not saying "it is." He's saying it's in some way like this example, but it's like that other example too."
I agree ... however, that does not preclude that Jesus was speaking of Himself.
Katie said ..."Saying "this object may be compared to an apple" is not saying "this is an apple." The word used in the Greek there is a form of the verb "to make like," not the verb for "it is."
True, but then why does Jesus explain this parable in terms of Himself?
Because Jesus is NOT explaining the Kingdom of God in terms of a "thing" but rather Himself.
Again, I will ask the question ...
Why would Jesus use many parables to talk of the Kingdom of God [Heaven] in ways that confuse the hearer, rather than to teach.
The purpose of a parable is to illuminate that which is the teacher wants to express. Not to confuse ...
Put Jesus in the text in place of the Kingdom of Heaven, see how it now reads ... does that make more sense, or not?
Please don't get me wrong, Katie ... I think you make a good point about trying to explain the mysteries of God to us feeble minded creatures...
But I think we can at least consider that this Kingdom of God [Heaven] is what I mentioned earlier ... "that which (or where) the Spirit works faith into the world."
I really appreciate your perspective ... and the discussion!
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