WATC…And We Are a Kingdom Outpost
Posted by pastor on January 15, 2009
The Church of Jesus Christ is to be an outpost of the Kingdom of Christ on this earth.
That was the main point of the message last Sunday. I think what we see in the establishment of the Church is essentially the beginning of the redemption and recreation of all of creation. We know that God will one day redeem and restore creation with the return and reign of the true King, Jesus. But Paul speaks of Christians as a new creation. We are people who have been redeemed out of the world, out of our sinful nature. So, in the Church, we see a representation of the kingdom of Christ on earth.
Jesus told Pilate, in John 18, that His kingdom is not of this world. He told him that his servants even act in a way that distinguishes them from the world, and illustrates the fact that they belong to another kingdom. Jesus is King and we belong to Him.
Being a Kingdom Outpost should also sound militaristic. An outpost is a part of an army that has set up camp in enemy territory. That is the reality of life as the Church. We must learn to live with a wartime mentality because we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers that are far more dangerous. A Christian wartime mentality says that everything I do, everything I own, every gift or ability I have must be used for the main purpose of advancing the Kingdom of Christ.
We are not in a holding pattern waiting for Jesus to return. We are not to barricade the doors and hide until the war is over. Rather, we must engage! We must engage the world with the Gospel of Christ, using everything God has given us for that purpose.
The Christian life is not part-time. It’s all the time. Think about your material possessions, your gifts and abilities, your regular schedule. Are you using those things for the Kingdom or for yourself? Are you doing things that will last or things that are temporary? Are you actively pursuing Kingdom advancement or are you just hiding in the bunker?
songspirit said
Excuse me for butting in here, but don’t you think that this idea of an “outpost” sounds a tad oppressive? Its all about power, control and conversion. Who says your way is the best way?
With respect.
S.
justin said
Well, I guess that all depends how we think about the world. Do we believe that there is indeed truth out there to be found, or not? I think there is.
Grass is green whether I want it to be or not. An orange seed planted in the ground produces an orange tree, no matter what kind of tree I would prefer to grow.
In the same way, if there is a God, then he is what he is without consulting me. So if he is the King of the universe, then he’s the King of the universe. Whether you or I believe that doesn’t change it’s truth or untruth.
So, I don’t think the right question is whether it sounds oppressive, or if I think it’s how it should be done, but whether or not it’s true.
“Who says your way is the best way?” – that’s exactly the kind of question that doesn’t make sense if you believe that there is any kind of actual reality that exists. What I believe is that there is one God and that he has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ and in his word to us, the Bible. So “my way” is not my way, but God’s way as he has revealed himself. Whether I think it’s a good idea or not is silly to even ask as a matter of judging it’s worth. Whether it’s true or not is what we must ask.
songspirit said
I am not dismissing your beliefs – far from it. I respect everyones need for a faith, and hope it brings them the comfort they need.
What puzzles me though, is that every religion thinks that their way is the best way, and that their “God” is the One and Only God. Where do your beliefs come from? How do you practice your religion? Do you acknowledge and respect other faiths? How do you KNOW its true?
Thanks for taking the time to bear with me on this topic. Its purely curiosity on my part, since I don’t follow any religion. I just try and be a good person.
S.
pastor said
Thanks for commenting, and I love that you’re thinking about and exploring these issues – so am I.
You are certainly right – there are many religions and they all say different things. And a good question does seem to be, simply, why? Why so many? Why the difference? Why is everyone so dogmatic? Well, I can’t answer for anyone in any other religion, but I would say that I “acknowledge” and “respect” other faiths. Yet, I will still say that I think they are wrong.
My beliefs come from the fact that as I read the Bible, it seems to make perfect sense. It corresponds to the world that I see. It explains people and evil and history and so many other things so well, that on that evidence alone, I must say that there’s something to it. But appreciating the Bible isn’t the end. My faith in Jesus Christ as King, Lord, Creator, and God, which is how the Bible presents him, is why I think the way I do.
You raised an interesting question when you said that you “just try and be a good person.” What does “good” look like? What standard do you measure against? And why even try to be good? What’s the point of that? I think it makes more sense, if I don’t believe in a God, to try and be as happy as possible, which may be called “good” sometimes, but may be something else at other times.
My faith is not about bringing me comfort. I don’t have faith in faith. I have faith in Jesus. I have faith that it is true. If it’s not true, then I certainly don’t want to have faith in it. If tomorrow it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus’ bones were in a tomb in the Middle East, I would not hold on to the faith that I have now. In fact, that’s what the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, said. Simply having faith in something isn’t the point – the point is the object of that faith.
I hope I clarified a few things (though I’m sure I’ve raised more questions as well). Hope to hear from you more in the future.
songspirit said
I really do appreciate the time being taken to explain things to me. Everytime I have tried to discuss this with people of religion, it has always turned into a tiresome negative debate about why I should conform to their way of thinking, and I have to justify myself, instead of getting down to the nitty gritty of religion and faith in general.
Ok. So….I will try and define how I live my life as a good person. Being “good” for me is being gentle, open, honest, not judging people, not hurting anyone, helping where I can. Being respectful and polite. I have no standards with which to measure myself against, just a need to treat people how I would wish to be treated. If I am hurt, I won’t make others hurt so I feel better kind of thing. Sorry, I’m not explaining it well – I have never had to explain something like this before, lol.
Regarding what the Apostle Paul said about the point being the object of faith, not faith itself….I still find it hard to understand how people can believe in something that isn’t there. I mean, if I needed help I would turn to a physical person who could do something about it. I wouldn’t pray to “something/someone” and then hope for the best, thinking of an explanation/lessons to be learned, if nothing happened. Another thing too, if someone dies….why do people say “Only the good die young” or “God took them for a reason” The person died because of a physical reason. Even the way people talk about Heaven…its like, whats the point of us all living here on earth if Heaven is such a fantastic place? Is it only the ’sin’ of suicide that stops us? What is sin anyway? Who says so? And why do some religious people commit sins every day of the week, then go to church on a Sunday to be forgiven?? Can forgiveness be that easy to obtain?
Gosh, I’m sorry…its sounding like a cheeky rant and I don’t mean it to be that way. I just get carried away sometimes!
Thank you once again for your attention.
S.
pastor said
Well, I can’t address what others (whether they are of a different religion or claim to be Christian) say or how they live their lives. I can just tell you what I believe and why.
You would say that I believe in something that’s not there, but I would say that I believe in something that is there – I just can’t see it. You believe in gravity ( I assume), but you can’t see it. You see the effects of gravity, but it’s an invisible force. Same here. I believe in God (who I can’t see), but I see the effects of God everywhere.
As far as forgiveness and Christians sinning all week then going to church to be forgiven, that’s not exactly what I believe is happening. The church building is not magic, and forgiveness doesn’t come through going to church. A more extended explanation of what I belive about this is on the page titled, “Who is Jesus” at the top of this page.
It’s not just some Christians who sin all week – all Christians sin all week. We all stand in need of forgiveness for rebelling against the one who created us and is worthy of our worship. See, I think if there is a God, then he deserves to be worshipped…simply because he’s God. That’s where I begin.
I would ask you this question: Why does it even matter if you are “good?” Wouldn’t it make more sense to just get what you want by whatever means necessary? Since there is no higher power and no one you must ultimately answer to, how is there even a category of “good?” It seems like “good” would be purely individualistic – meaning that “good” for me means whatever is to my benefit, and “good” for you is whatever is to your benefit.
songspirit said
Hmmm. I agree that “good” is a purely individualistic thing, in that “being a good person” matters to us both, for different reasons. For example, you would be a good person, and do good things, in order that the God you believe in thinks you are worthy of Him and entry into Heaven. You are being “good” out of respect for your God.
I try and “be a good person” and “do good things” so that I feel a worthy person in society, who contributes towards a more positive world. I also hope that anything I do or say will have a positive impact on someone, so that they in turn will do or say a positive thing to someone else.
Now I’m not saying that either of us is any better than the other, or indeed, anyone else for that matter. I just feel the need to be answerable to myself, and to rise or fall by my own actions, rather than live in the shadow of a higher being.
I think we will simply agree to disagree on this one.
Thank you for your time.