Jesus & The Kingdom
Brian McLaren discusses the liberating yet disturbing message from Jesus about living in the Kingdom of God.
Labels: Emerging Church, Kingdom of God, Missional
posted by Douglas Molgaard at 12:29 PM
CGGC in an Emerging World
The world is changing rapidly. Postmodern thinking is increasing in the west and the East is becoming part of the Global community. Many in the Churches of God General Conference are interested in what church will look like as fresh expressions in the 21st century. This blog has been encouraged by the CGGC but in no way reflects the official thinking of the denomination. It is a place for free flow of thought and conversation.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
7 Comments:
Please forgive my ignorance but why is this a disturbing message? This is what I have been preaching for a long time. I quess it is if you think God is there for your personal benefit. But if I am bought for a price,and I am, then He owns me and all that I have. Jesus has the right to ask me to lay down my life or give up whatever I have. Whatever,for His glory.
Phil
Phil, You know that and I know that but there are many that don't know that. (Even in the church) Perhaps that is what he means when he says that it is disturbing.
I assume that the disurbing part is the fact that WE, the Christians in the world, are to bring God's Kingdom here to earth, by showing God's love in practical ways. We have preached to the sheep in the barn, will they follow us into the fields? TIM
Thanks for the link Doug. This IS the message of The Crossover (our church), and I've posted it at the top of our website.
I appreciate that McLaren says that going to heaven isn't the primary reason Jesus came. It is still a reason He came, but I do believe it isn't the primary reason.
I've realized recently that 99% of the people who live in our community believe in God and that Jesus died for their sins so they can go to heaven. But that's it. No more. It has no effect on how they live. They don't go to church because they can't get more than they already have. Nobody's perfect nor will they ever be. So rather than be a hypocrite, they simply don't try. Jesus will be back soon and the world will burn. Not much hope for the future.
And what saddens me most is that we are the one's who taught them that.
Thanks, Doug. I trash McLaren from time to time here, but on this point he's right on.
Brian said, "what saddens me most is that we are the one's who taught them that." With "THAT" being: "99% of the people who live in our community believe... Jesus died for their sins so they can go to heaven. But that's it... It has no effect on how they live..."
I'm glad you've finally taken responsibility for this, Brian. I wondered whose fault it was.
Actually, to me, this is what the emerging church is about. And I know it means a lot of things to a lot of different people - but this is exactly what it means TO ME. It's emerging from that mindset that being a Christian is all about going to heaven. As has already been stated, yes, there are many who know this. But I agree with Brian that most people don't. And even among those who do - many of us still don't LIVE like it.
Thanks for sharing, Doug. I have read it, I have even seen this clip before, but it's going to take hearing and seeing it many times more to replace as second nature what had been pounded into my head for so many years.
So where do we go from here. How do we get those who are in the barn to live practical lives for Jesus? At River City Church we are trying to model it by taking in homeless families and start a family shelter (Big Task). There are many other smaller things we do also, we have BBQ's for our neighborhood and other different things, but what do you all do.
Also when you "lead a person to follow christ" what does that look like. I've never been an advocate of the sinners prayer (it can't be found in the New Testament), so how do you all work in Denying Self, Picking up your cross daily, and Following Him?
What does you evangelism loo like? In the past it was " God loved you so much that he made his son die for you so that you could live for eternity in heaven with him, if you accept him into your heart," what does tha conversion message look like right now?
I think we have to preach a differnt message of enrolling people in a revolution of Peace, Forgiveness, Love, Restoration (both to God and each other), and Helping those in need. I believe we are the New Anarchists (Not Literally), trying to live above the current world system, trying to set up the Kingdom. Just my thoughts.
Living For A New Reformation-
Justin Meier
can't figure out my pass word
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