More Kingdom Thoughts

Reading a Michael Horton article this afternoon I ran across an interesting reference to the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. One of the earliest examples of Christian apologetics, the Epistle to Diognetus provides a fascinating description of early Christians; well worth the full read. A snippet from chapter 5 describing Christians:

For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or in speech or in customs. For they dwell not somewhere in cities of their own, neither do they use some different language, nor practise an extraordinary kind of life. Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by any intelligence or study of ingenious men, nor are they masters of any human dogma as some are. But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvellous, and confessedly contradicts expectation. They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every fatherland is foreign. They marry like all other men and they beget children; but they do not cast away their offspring. They have their meals in common, but not their wives. They find themselves in the flesh, and yet they live not after the flesh. Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, and they surpass the laws in their own lives. They love all men, and they are persecuted by all. They are ignored, and yet they are condemned. They are put to death, and yet they are endued with life. They are in beggary, and yet they make many rich. They are in want of all things, and yet they abound in all things. They are dishonoured, and yet they are glorified in their dishonour. They are evil spoken of, and yet they are vindicated. They are reviled, and they bless; they are insulted, and they respect. Doing good they are punished as evil-doers; being punished they rejoice, as if they were thereby quickened by life. War is waged against them as aliens by the Jews, and persecution is carried on against them by the Greeks, and yet those that hate them cannot tell the reason of their hostility.

In his articled titled "How the Kingdom Comes", Horton distinguishes the church from Christian culture. Using the above description of the early Christian community Horton writes:

So Christians are not called to make holy apparel, speak an odd dialect of spiritual jargon, or transform their workplace, neighborhood, or nation into the kingdom of Christ. Rather, they are called to belong to a holy commonwealth that is distinct from the regimes of this age (Phil. 3:20-21) and to contribute as citizens and neighbors in temporal affairs. "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Heb. 13:14)

Overall, the Horton article shared many commonalities with Ray VanderLaan's understanding of community, Kingdom, and the counter-cultural Christian. Excellent read!

Kingdom of God Defined

Question 212 of Luther's Small Catechism (with Explanation) defines the KOG as having three parts. For me this made perfect sense - and correctly categorized / demarcated the various Kingdom components. In Luther's definition, the church is rightfully put at the center of the earthly Kingdom - but there's more to God's Kingdom than what we can see or comprehend:

What is the Kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God is His ruling as king over the whole universe (kingdom of power), the church on earth (kingdom of grace), and the church and angels in heaven (kingdom of glory). Ref. Ps. 103.19, Jn. 3:5, 2 Tim. 4:18

In my previous post I wrote that I believed the visible church and the Kingdom of God to be roughly equated (see quote on right from Westminster Confession Ch. 25) - but I felt that there was more to it than "just" the church. Luther's definition has expanded my thoughts on the matter...

Ecclesiology & the Kingdom of God

A recent discussion with a group of Christian friends prompted my posting of a presentation I first gave in December of '06 and then again in May of '07. My friends and I were discussing the early church and the examples - both good and bad - that the historical church provides Christians today. Was Constantine good for the church - or bad (new poll to follow)? Additionally, I argued my position that the Kingdom of God (on Earth) is found through the Church; in my view - outlined in the presentation - the two are related and roughly equated. I say "roughly equated" because this is still an idea in progress for me and I'm not yet bold enough to state the KOG is the Church...

In any case, the presentation is available online either as an HTML presentation (IE recommended) or for download (.ppt | ~= 2MB). My notes explain the talking points for each slide. Feedback welcome!