(From Chapter Ten of “The Irresistible Kingdom”.)

4 – Christian Misconceptions Concerning the TIMING of the Kingdom

The Christian perception of the timing of the Kingdom of God � when it will come – has a lot to do with their perception of what it is. Christians are generally divided among four schools of thought concerning the timing of the Kingdom of God. Those who see it only in terms of an earthly reign tend to put it off until some future time when Jesus will rule for one thousand years. Others who see it only in terms of “heaven” likewise put it off to a future time when they die; that is when they will “enter the Kingdom” and live happily ever after. Still others realize that “the Kingdom is within you,” and so they see it as having already been fulfilled in the past � they entered the Kingdom when they were born-again, so it is never given a second thought. Finally, advocates of the “Kingdom Now” movement seem intent on establishing something for God here on earth – with themselves as the duly appointed leaders.

The truth is that the Kingdom of God has arrived, it is arriving, and it will arrive. As we have seen, it is a progressive thing. To put all of it off into the future misses the point; the earthly reign of Christ is its culmination, not its beginning. Those who wait until then to enter the Kingdom will find themselves on the outside of it. Being ready is a consistent theme in the parables, as is the fate of those caught off-guard when the Son of Man returns.

Likewise, to put the Kingdom off into the past as having already come misses the point. What Jesus accomplished on the Cross set things in motion. The work of redemption was completed, but the work of the Kingdom was barely getting started. There are still “fields white unto harvest” that have yet to be brought in.[1] God’s Ultimate Purpose remains unfulfilled. The problem of Evil still remains. The Creation is still under a curse, waiting for its redemption.[2] And we are still waiting for His appearing and the gathering of all things to Himself.[3] It should be obvious that there is yet more to be done. To think of the Kingdom as having already come in its fullness is a serious error. Equally misguided is the idea that we can somehow usher in the Kingdom of God if only we can elect the right Christians into government. This is diametrically opposed to everything Jesus taught. It is the meek (not the ambitious) who will inherit the earth.[4]
5 – Christian Misconceptions Concerning the UNIVERSAL SCOPE of the Kingdom

If the Jews lacked a universal vision then Christians are even more lacking in this regard. God intends for us to be in the world, not of it. Some Christians seem to think they are not supposed to be in it, either. All too often the monastery, Christian school, traditional church, or house church becomes a fortress designed to keep the world outside and keep the Christian inside. But there is little difference between a fortress and a prison.

To the Jews there are only two kinds of people: the Jews and the non-Jews; the Hebrews and Everyone Else. To fundamentalist Christians there are only two kinds of people: the saved and the unsaved; the good and the bad; the Christian and the non-Christian; those who attend Church and those who do not. The end result is the same old self-righteousness of the Pharisee: “We are right and you are wrong; we are going to heaven and you are going to hell; stay away from me because I am holier than you, and you might contaminate me with your filth.”

Our King was accused by the religious of being a “friend of sinners.”[5] Could the same accusation be made against us? The religious are always careful to keep themselves at a safe distance from the worldly, but Jesus had no misgivings about rubbing shoulders with the dirtiest of them. How distressing to all religious sensibility is His pronouncement:

“The harlots and tax collectors go into the Kingdom before you…” (Mt. 21:31)

The Body of Christ, just like Israel of old, is blessed in order to be a blessing; that through us “all the nations of the world will be blessed.” But, just like Israel of old, the Church has utterly rejected this stewardship and has become a country club for the Select Few instead of Heaven’s Embassy to All Nations. The Church is clearly more in love with the ninety-nine “righteous” who pay tithes and need no repentance than the one sheep who remains lost…