In preparing for lecturing on a Masters course I have been dipping into some theological tomes… which I actually enjoy… as long as they are readable! A theologian called Hunsberger has really helped me in my preparation, and my thinking, especially in regard to the way that we have been praying for people recently.
He talks a lot about the Kingdom of God being central to Christ’s message and mission and therefore the need for that to be central in our message and mission. However, I observe a tension that can emerge when people in church and/or missions talk about that Kingdom and its outworking in our lives. Some talk of the need to ‘get out there’ and ‘bring in the Kingdom – recruit more people for church!’ And those who talk of, we need to let God work in our lives. What have we got if he does not go deeper in us?’.
In my thinking, there is not a divide, though I am not sure that I would use the language of ‘recruit for church’! Hunsberger provides some helpful language for us to use in exploring this. He explains that the New Testament does not use imagery like ‘bringing in’ or ‘extending’ the Kingdom. It uses words like receiving and entering. So in terms of telling others about Jesus (often called evangelism) we are inviting others to receive the reign of God in their lives along with us. We are inviting them to become fellow-pilgrims like us and with us. He also points out that we cannot truly be involved in that inviting process unless we too are daily, allowing the reign of God to transform our attitudes, thoughts and actions. As the reign of God works out in our lives, so we become living testimonies that the Kingdom has already come! It’s here, in us, now! Come and see it in us, taste it among us, and become a fellow-enterer of that Kingdom. Let God’s reign come powerfully into your life. So, in essence, it is impossible for that reign of God to have been received amongst us fully unless we have both! It’s not either/or, but both/and.
There is no true Jesus ministry amongst us if it is not affecting others who are not yet in the community of those who are entering the Kingdom. Equally there is no true Jesus ministry amongst us if our lives are not being daily transformed from self-focus, pride, insignificance, independence, fear,unbelief… because we will not be able to speak of and show the transformational impact His reign has on lives submitted to him. We will merely have religion with no power.
Lord, Your Kingdom Come, your will be done, in my life and in others!