The Kingdom of God
I am currently reading "The Politics of Jesus" by Mennonite theologian, John Howard Yoder. This book was written in 1972, but it is as relevant now as ever.
In an age where varying political parties attempt to co-opt Jesus for their own ends, the church is left to decide what side of the culture war it will be on. Or, the church beats a hasty retreat and creates a parallel culture where we can feel safe and secure and our kids will grow up believing that Adam and Eve played with dinosaurs.
Enter Yoder.
"The Kingdom of God is a social order and not a hidden one. It is not a universal catastrophe independent of the will of human beings; it is that concrete jubilitary obedience in pardon and repentance, the possibility of which is proclaimed beginning right now, opening up the real accessibility of a new order in which grace and justice are linked, which people have only to accept." - p.105
Christianity needs to get beyond a "free ticket to heaven when you die" thinking. If that is all the gospel is, then we don't need churches. Rather, we need to be engaged in a disciplined manner in bringing about God's Kingdom here on earth through serving the poor, raising environmental concerns and working for justice wherever we are.
Comments
I'm Louisa from OZ.
found yr site while looking up dreams, but wz very interested in the book that yr reading & will try to source it here.
Frankly, Nth American Christainity has got a little scary it seems to us here looking up from the church down under, so, whilst yr not from Alaska, its encouraging to find that there might be some of like mind left in in the broader church.
keep the faith bro.
cheers,
L.
ps: only 7 more sleeps, til we know if the world will change or if it will be more of the same. Praying for God's grace.