The Kingdom and the Church
OK, I really need some feed back on this. This series of quotations pretty well summarizes the essentials of the prevailing view in Latin America. And, as you might expect, is "somewhat" different from the prevailing conservative North American view.
Please read this carefully and give me your feedback/reactions.
In the Bible, the
This new Adam has begun to reverse the effects of the disobedience of the first Adam (Romans 5:12-21). In effect, the mission of Jesus has been to reverse the consequences of evil in the world: disease, demon possession, the hostility of nature, social and religious and ethnic rivalries, hunger, economic exploitation, empty religiosity, alienation, and death. The conflict was characterized Jesus' ministry was, in reality, the struggle of the new order to replace the era of sin and death. Therefore, all who trust in their wealth, power, and prestige for their security react violently because the values of the new order threatening false sources of security (pp. 90-91).
"Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sites, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them" (Matthew 11:4-5). These, according to Jesus, are conclusive signs of the presence of the kingdom. The righteous reign of God becomes manifest in the gracious, saving, provident ways in which God is at work among the poor, the oppressed and the suffering. God does this work through his Messiah and later through the messianic community. This is the vision that marked Jesus's ministry. (pp. 91-92).
Like Jesus, the community of the Messiah has been commissioned to live out the reality of the presence of the kingdom world, thereby fulfilling the commission it has received. This is the community which anticipates the kingdom; it is a sign of the kingdom; and fulfills its mission in the service of the kingdom. Such a vision of God's reign should orient all our evangelizing deeds and words. In this way the spiritual power that characterizes God's kingdom, present in the mission of Jesus, will also characterize the church’s evangelization. (p. 93).
The church, of itself, is not the kingdom. It is, rather, the messianic community in the service of the kingdom. It witnesses to the kingdom. In its life and values, it anticipates the kingdom. It is the community charged with continuing the messianic mission in the same spirit and strategy characterized Jesus's mission. It is the community in which the signs of the kingdom are most clearly evident. We must resist the temptation to identify the church with the
posted by Gary McDuda at 12:40 PM
10 Comments:
Some observations and a question
Para.1 What do they mean by the phrase "saving strategy?" Does saving mean the same as redeeming? When we NAEC (North American Evangelical Christians)think saving strategy, we think personal evangelism. But is God redeeming more than just individuals and if so, what Scripture supports the idea? ( I would say yes and start studying words like reconciliation and redemption)
The emphasis on life before death over life after death is reminiscent of the OT perspective, where righteousness on earth meant blessing and the after life was an after thought. (what is sheol?)
Para 2 "The mission of Jesus is to reverse the consequences of evil." But Jesus said, "I have come to seek and save that which is lost." Again, we think individuals, but is that what He meant? (I would say He meant people.) It's interesting how they view the word "commission" differently than we do. We say its to make disciples, they say its to live out the kingdom.
I'm not sure its fair to say that dispensationalists "seperate the kingdom from the church." I think most of us hold an "already/not yet" tension on the subject. Its here, but not all of it.
My question is, "In their theology, who does one enter the kingdom?" (For that matter, how does it happen in our theology?)
Jesus said, it requires righteousness surpassing the Pharisees (Matt 5:20) Not everyone who says lord lord gets in (7:21) You must be converted and become like a child (18:3) Its hard for a rich man (or impossible depending on your interpretation of many texts) It happens thru many tirbulations; and the Pharisees were not entering and they were preventing others from doing so (Matt 23:13) There's not much here about "Believe and be baptized." Are the requirements for "getting saved" and the requirements for "entering the Kingdom" the same or different?
The question should read "How does one enter the kingdom?"
Wow! I had to read this thing 3 or 4 times just to begin to understand it. I don't think I'm smart enough to even comment on it, but because you asked.....
Is he saying that Jesus' mission was to simply make the world a "better place" and end the effects of the reign of sin and death altogether?
If that is true, what is He expecting to find when He returns? A wonderful, peaceful world in which everyone is living unselfishly and conflicts are a thing of the past?
If so, what about a passage like 2 Tim 3:1-5 "...there will be terrible times in the last days..." and then it lists a "not so pretty picture" of what that will look like?
With this kingdom view, wouldn't the last days be very different from that?
RP! Thanks for your comments! This is what I'm hoping for!
First off, do a ctrl F and search my blog page for the word "saving." Note especially the last paragraph in my Dec 1st post "Images of the Church":
The first sentence is "In the Bible the final goal of God's saving intentions is the transformation of all creation."
And now reread the first paragraph again of this post. Note the sentence "In the biblical motif of the kingdom of God, we find summed up God's saving intention for a new humanity within a restored creation.... the biblical view of the kingdom of God offers a framework in which to understand more wholistically the nature and mission of a transformed and transforming messianic community. "
Wholistic is the key word you will find throughout the Latin american writings. It's not just the "saving of the individual person" but restoring all of creation.
Biblical support is usually a recap of original creation with a view to a "new creation" with emphisis on the New Heavens and the New earth. I'm not sure I've seen Rom 8:18-24 used, but I sure would.
I think when we read these pasages, we put it all future, in the eternal state. They are bringing (at least) part of it into the here and now.
You are right. Much of this comes from an OT perspective.
Paragraph 2: For sake of argument (and because I probably agree with you) Mark 10:45 is referring to people. But, does that EXHAUST the mission of Jesus? I kind of doubt it.
For instance Col 1:20 "and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. " Sounds kinda wholistic doesn't it? I think there might be more to the death of Christ than "merely" saving human beings.
As for viewing the commission differently, well, yeah, that's my whole point. I'm glad you see it. The task, as I see it, is "seek first to understand." I think we tend to reject outright anything that is different from our "company line."
A year or so ago I began my study of Latin American theology fairly seriously. One of the things I've learned is that even the guys that are "way out there" usually get something right. Something we got wrong. I can learn from them.
Now, I think we get somethings right that they get wrong. So, as we study each other (with an open mind, not just to be on a seek and destroy mission) we just might develop a better more balanced theology.
Of course I agree with you on your dispensational comment (you don't know how much it pains me to say that!:)) But let's be honest. How much ink and/or verbiage does the already get? How is it here? I think what we might need to learn is that it is more here than we tend to recognize. Certainly it's not all here, yet.
As to "how does one enter the kingdom"? I think that's a very good question. I don't find that addressed very often, if ever. That might be the "something" we get right that we can share with the world. I don't know. But your caveat is interesting, "How does it happen in our theology"? Maybe we have more to learn than I thought.
I don't know how LA theologians would answer it, but historically LA has been considered Christianized for 500 years. Also, I think there is a tendency to think that the poor are automatically "in."
However, I think if I pressed the more conservative guys, they would admit some sort of personal response. It's a matter of emphasis. The corporate, wholistic aspects out weigh the personal, individual aspects.
I think both LAEC and NAEC are probably at two ends of the spectrum. We need each other.
I love your last paragraph in your comment. Can't wait for you to post some answers!
Arnold! Glad you could stop by! I'm glad your gubernatorial duties don't keep you out of the blogosphere!
Yeah, it takes awhile to digest this stuff. And you are at a slight disadvantage with just having some isolated quotations to work from, and the the whole book. But, it's not much easier with the book. I've been wading thru this for sometime now.
You raise some very valid concerns. I think we would agree that indeed Jesus did come to end the effects of reign of sin and death altogether. We just put it all in the future. Oh, wait, no, we keep some here. A believer should not let sin go on reigning in his life etc. So, we like to see Jesus make people better, but not the world. Why do we make that distinction? We make it all pretty much "spiritual."
Some of the people I read seem to put all the effects of Jesus' mission in this world. And I think they would expect Him to find "A wonderful, peaceful world in which everyone is living unselfishly and conflicts are a thing of the past". At least we should work for that.
Your 2 Tim 3:1-5 quotation is extremely valid. I think that rules out what we call "post-millennialism." Much of what I read about Latin American theology seems to have this slant.
But this book is a little different. Read (or reread, or re-re-reread)my previous posts especially the one on "Contrast Society," but all of them touch this topic.
I don't think the thesis of Driver is that the whole world will be wonderful, peaceful, etc. But that WITHIN that ugly 2 Tim 3:1-5 world, one can see a contrast-kingdom living and operation on contrast values. To me, that's a much more tenable position.
Thanks McDuda,
That helps me understand a little better. Interesting stuff, and important stuff to think about and apply as God leads.
P.S. I'm thinking of giving up the Governorship and making a run at the big White Mansion. What do you think?
A.S.
I'm so proud to be part of a community that can correctly spell the word gubernatorial and use it in a sentence. It's one of my all time favorite English words.
LOL!!
Not much happening in Centerville, huh RP?
Got any other favorite words?
perspicuity, chiastic (of course) and Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg which is an Indian word that means "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side and nobody will fish in the middle."
gee, gary, still needing some feedback? may i suggest a new post?
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