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We are called to be ambassadors of Christ. An ambassador represents another country while sojourning in a foreign land. The Kingdom culture resides in every born again believer because the King of the culture resides in our hearts, but that does not mean it is being expressed in the world. In my opinion, the Kingdom culture is only partially displayed to the world . My interest in posting this thread is to stimulate discussion to help clarify what this really means.
When I say that the Kingdom culture is only partially displayed, I mean that two factors inhibit its display.
First is the long process of renewing our minds so that we may be transformed. The influence of the world, sin and Satan upon us interferes with a clear display of the Kingdom culture in believers.
Second is the world system imposed upon the body of Christ through the clergy system. I suppose many will disagree with this point, but making money off the Gospel, while allowed, is not the Kingdom way, in my opinion.
Two definitions should be considered.
First is "kingdom", which means the dominion of the King. The word, "king", in English has its root in the word cane, which was used as a yardstick. In other words, the King sets the standard for the kingdom by which one measures ones behavior.
Second is "culture", which has a mixed etymology. It refers to farming and the rotating of the ground to grow crops. Its root comes from the Latin "colere" which means "to tend, guard; to till, cultivate". In the 16th century it was used in the sense "to cultivate through education" and in the 19th century it was used to mean "collective customs and achievements of a people". When we think of religious cults it is rooted in the same history.
In a practical sense all congregations are "cults", not in the evil sense the word connotes today, but in the sense every people group determine what is acceptable Christian behavior. However, that does not mean it matches the culture of the Kingdom of God. Every church organization has a hierarchical structure, which is justified by proof texting.
When I consider how the King has related to me, I don't see the hierarchy. And, I am sure most will disagree with me on this, but I view the Kingdom culture a as Monarchical anarchy, which sounds like a contradiction. What I mean by that phrase is that God our king is the only being that can communicate directly to His children simultaneously and all at once. I don't mean rebellion as the word anarchy connotes today, but simply without hierarchy. Hierarchy is necessary for limited beings who need a chain of command to control others to accomplish tasks. Not so with God.
Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He said the greatest in the kingdom will be least of all and servant to all. The hierarchy of church organizations are the opposite of what he said. Jesus said call no man master, for there is only one, our Father in heaven who is our master. The church system exalts men with degrees which is the world system, and an artificial separation between "clergy" and "laity" has been created, when Peter says we are a royal priesthood.
Let me repeat. The kingdom culture is in every church organization that has born again believers because the King is in every born again believer, but these elements of the world mask that culture and I am asking for help in teasing it out. If you understand my request, please let me know what you think, too.
We are called to be ambassadors of Christ. An ambassador represents another country while sojourning in a foreign land. The Kingdom culture resides in every born again believer because the King of the culture resides in our hearts, but that does not mean it is being expressed in the world. In my opinion, the Kingdom culture is only partially displayed to the world . My interest in posting this thread is to stimulate discussion to help clarify what this really means.
When I say that the Kingdom culture is only partially displayed, I mean that two factors inhibit its display.
First is the long process of renewing our minds so that we may be transformed. The influence of the world, sin and Satan upon us interferes with a clear display of the Kingdom culture in believers.
Second is the world system imposed upon the body of Christ through the clergy system. I suppose many will disagree with this point, but making money off the Gospel, while allowed, is not the Kingdom way, in my opinion.
Two definitions should be considered.
First is "kingdom", which means the dominion of the King. The word, "king", in English has its root in the word cane, which was used as a yardstick. In other words, the King sets the standard for the kingdom by which one measures ones behavior.
Second is "culture", which has a mixed etymology. It refers to farming and the rotating of the ground to grow crops. Its root comes from the Latin "colere" which means "to tend, guard; to till, cultivate". In the 16th century it was used in the sense "to cultivate through education" and in the 19th century it was used to mean "collective customs and achievements of a people". When we think of religious cults it is rooted in the same history.
In a practical sense all congregations are "cults", not in the evil sense the word connotes today, but in the sense every people group determine what is acceptable Christian behavior. However, that does not mean it matches the culture of the Kingdom of God. Every church organization has a hierarchical structure, which is justified by proof texting.
When I consider how the King has related to me, I don't see the hierarchy. And, I am sure most will disagree with me on this, but I view the Kingdom culture a as Monarchical anarchy, which sounds like a contradiction. What I mean by that phrase is that God our king is the only being that can communicate directly to His children simultaneously and all at once. I don't mean rebellion as the word anarchy connotes today, but simply without hierarchy. Hierarchy is necessary for limited beings who need a chain of command to control others to accomplish tasks. Not so with God.
Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He said the greatest in the kingdom will be least of all and servant to all. The hierarchy of church organizations are the opposite of what he said. Jesus said call no man master, for there is only one, our Father in heaven who is our master. The church system exalts men with degrees which is the world system, and an artificial separation between "clergy" and "laity" has been created, when Peter says we are a royal priesthood.
Let me repeat. The kingdom culture is in every church organization that has born again believers because the King is in every born again believer, but these elements of the world mask that culture and I am asking for help in teasing it out. If you understand my request, please let me know what you think, too.
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