For some years now I’ve been publishing blog pieces three times a week under the heading of “Kingdom Notes.” I also publish two weekly columns under the heading of “Ask RC.” Feel free to send any questions you’d like me to take a crack at, either in the comments here or via email at hellorcjr@gmail.com. Also I publish a weekly thesis, under the headline “New Theses, New Reformation.” Why? Because I believe Christians have at best a shallow, thin, emaciated view of the kingdom of God and at worst have no view at all. Rightly remembering that Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world, we have wrongly concluded that it lives in the invisible realm of our hearts. We divide our lives between the sacred and the secular, the sacred staying within the bounds of the ethereal amorphous, the secular taking up the whole of the natural realm.
No Bounds
No. When Jesus told Pilate His kingdom is not of this world He told him as well, how His kingdom was not of this world- “or else my servants would fight.” The difference between the kingdom of Jesus and the kingdoms of this world isn’t found in geography but in weaponry. His kingdom is here and now, as He, as He has been since His ascension, about the business of bringing all things under subjection (I Corinthians 15:27). He is breaking the knees of every earthly leader that will not acknowledge Him (Psalm 2). He is tearing down strongholds and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:5). Jesus, in short, changes everything.
Betraying Our King
When, however, we miss this, when we are blind to the battle between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, we move through this world as if it were somehow neutral territory, spiritual Switzerland. Which all too often makes of us unknowing soldiers on the wrong side of the battle. We fail to press the crown rights of King Jesus, betraying Him, betraying our own double-mindedness. We become worldly ourselves, our salt losing its savor. When we hide our light under a bushel we do not protect the flame, but protect the darkness.
Bruised Toes
I write not to scold, but to document my ongoing battle, my own journey out. These weaknesses, this refusal to live in light of the antithesis, is part of the worldliness in me that I am, by His grace, seeking to put to death. That may mean, from time to time, stepping on toes. When I do so, rest assured my own toes are bruised as well. Joshua, after the conquest of Canaan, asked God’s people to choose this day whom they would serve. So we all choose, every day. Let’s choose together.
Forever
The King reigns. The King is victorious. The King commands us to rejoice, knowing that He has already overcome the world. The King demands our absolute and total fealty. The King is semper fi, ever faithful. And His kingdom is forever.