The Kingdom Suffers Violence? |
| Posted by Mike (mike) on Nov 20 2007 |
Consider that Jesus is making reference to John the Baptist a forerunner of Jesus, in verse 16, Jesus refers to John as the Elijah that would proceed Him. In essence Jesus is saying that John the Baptist was the culmination of the Old Testament prophets declaring the coming of the Messiah – the King of Kings. Consider that throughout history the prophets suffered terribly at the hands of the rulers and religious leaders – many met with gruesome and untimely deaths and soon John the Baptist would be imprisoned and beheaded. Consider also that Jesus too would soon be crucified at the hands of the religious leaders. Many of the apostles would later be matyred for the Kingdom. Indeed, the Kingdom suffers violence! As I reflect, I see how the religious leaders of the day (form and tradition without intimate relationship) indeed had a form of godliness and no power. Trying to take the Kingdom of God by force – trying to possess the Kingdom by their own righteousness, their own religiousness, their own works attempting to bypass the Narrow Gate (Jesus) Mt 7:13-14. We see a group of people who are trying to force and manipulate, lie and cheat, slander and even murder to possess the Kingdom of God on their own terms. And perhaps worse, impose the religion of man through the ways of the world. An abuse of power.
Consider that Jesus did not come and organize a rebellion, set up protests, strategize politically, build a dream team or power broker through money and politics. He did just the opposite! He came as a servant and a lamb for sacrifice. To laydown His life and in doing so defeated sin and death once and for all. What makes us think that the church to wield power as the world does in the name of Jesus has anything to do with Kingdom? The misuse of power in the name of Christ has led to many abominations including the crusades, the inquisition to the abuses in first nation in residential schools! How can Jesus' words in this text possibly be so misunderstood?
I am convicted that often the western church is guilty of the same tactics. I believe that the church in many ways has lost its way having lost sight of the Kingdom of God. The result is we do not see the promises of God made manifest. We see a form of godliness with no power and a discernable deficiency of righteousness and spiritual authority. In our desire to be relevant to a fickle and ever-changing culture (which is nothing new) the church has adopted a number of strategies and postures to make themselves more appealing to the world. Many have forsaken the message of the Kingdom because it is not popular to our culture, many have rejected the power and intimacy of God and are resorting to humanistic tactics (man centre) tickling of ears and ministering to the excesses of the world. In the name of Relevance, the church has forsaken it’s prophetic voice and apostolic call, to impact the culture through the lives of those who are in pursuit of a life lived for Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit not the spirit of the age. As such, have lost our spiritual authority?
Has secular humanism permeated the church? Secular Humanism is a religion that says humankind is the beginning and the end, the purpose of life and God (Jesus) is for mans happiness and gratification. Where the final judge of what is right and wrong, good and bad is the individual. This is the antithesis of Biblical Christianity! (Christianity is not concerned with morality but truth and truth by it's nature is absolute, truth is a person - Jesus). It is a pious form of idolotry that some cover with the name of Jesus. We have seen a proliferation of ‘self’ in the preaching and teaching of the church which focus’ us on us. Our purpose, our fulfillment, our destiny, our prosperity, etc. In efforts to be relevant, people centred we have resorted to gimmicks and ministering to peoples idols and the spirit of the age. We have propagated a culture of entering through a wide gate. Yes, we use the name of Jesus – we get them to say a prayer but we as a church have not been effective at building true disciples! In our efforts to be relevant to the culture we speak little of the cross, sin, repentance, the Lordship of Jesus, intimacy and the supernatural of God. Instead we have sold Jesus like a used car – making promises from self-centered prosperity to a life of problem free living, with 7 steps to this and 10 steps to that. A self-help organization! The church has brought people into relationship with the ‘institution’ not with Jesus – the Living Lord!
Have we mistaken building the Kingdom of God as building our own local congregation when in fact Jesus said He builds the Church and we are to seek first the Kingdom. As we proclaim the Kingdom of God – we get the Church! We are naive to think that God is impressed with our big churches or our small churches – God is impressed when we obey Him, when we are lovesick for Jesus, and when we help others fall head over heels in love with Jesus and live their lives for Him. This is the expansion of the Kingdom! It is not about growing a big church or a little church, it is about being faithful to the call of God on your life – not the call of our ego’s, our prosperity or prestige. The Lord spoke to me some time – the great in heaven are those who are simply faithful to love God and do what He has asked them to do. These great people can be a person living in a nowhere place, pulling the drunks out of the dumpsters and feeding them. The Lord said to me – the world will never know their names but they are great in the Kingdom of God.
The fruit speaks for itself. Divorce rates, pornography / sex addictions, abuse, addictions, all the issues that challenge our society. They are just as prevalent inside the church as out. Barna and other trend researchers who have studied the church suggest little difference in the real values and morals of those inside and those outside the church. Perhaps the challenges our nation faces with abortion, euthanasia, decriminalization of marijuana, the same sex issue, corruption in government and business, the breakdown of the family are consequences of a lack of righteousness and true spiritual authority in the land.
The good news is Jesus has been and is on the move! Devoted lovers of Jesus exist and are popping up across the western Church. With a simple desire to love and live Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. The sound in the spirit is one of reformation, one of returning to our first love! It is not revival the Lord is doing – no, something much better. He is building His Church! A victorious, pure spotless bride! One which the gates of Hell will not prevail against! Jesus declares that we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and what we need will follow. We are encouraged to take up our cross to follow him, to lay down our life and we will find it! It is a call to end our self-government for the willful surrender to the purposes of the Kingdom of Jesus.The Church is the manifestation of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to be sign posts of the Kingdom. To see it manifest one heart at a time and in turn, equip and release these lovesick hearts for Jesus to live the Kingdom!
Make no mistake – the Gospel is not just a prayer, a philosophy or a self-help program but a growing lifestyle of surrendered, intimate love with the BrideGroom – Jesus. It is the revelation of the Apostles, of who Jesus really is – the Christ, the King of Kings, the promised son of David, who sits on David’s throne and reigns on high! (Mt 16). The understanding of the Apostles revelation of the Church – the restored house of David, a Holy people – intimately in love with Jesus, filled with heavenly authority, possessing the keys of the Kingdom and the power of the Holy Spirit! This is what a lost and dying world needs- an intimate, life transforming experience with the Living God and His Kingdom.
Last changed: Nov 20 2007 at 11:04 AM
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