Comments on: The Kingdom of God

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:12:01 +0000

Kent – Thanks so much for the update. Many prayers continue! I can’t believe all the misery Ike created. So many people are still not even close to having water, sewage, food, etc.

Brad – Right.

Bruce (#1) – Yes, yes, and yes. The kingdom has broken in; we await its fulness (at “the new heavens and the new earth” — when God will complete his work of re-creating).

Others – Thanks so much.

By: Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:29:20 +0000

I am still wrestling with these questions about the coming kingdom:

1. Did the kingdom come already, or did it partially come, or is it still in the process of coming?
2. If you point to the miracles of Jesus (and the apostles, etc.) as signs that the kingdom had arrived, then why don’t we see many miracles anymore?
3. When Jesus said that “You will always have the poor among you….” (John 12:8), wasn’t that a kind of fatalistic statement that indicated that perfection would never come to this world?

Just wondering.

By: paul

paul — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:13:21 +0000

I still pray the Lord’s Prayer every day, usually several times a day, and long to see the Kingdom in its fullness. May the Lord reign!

By: Brad E.

Brad E. — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:52:50 +0000

Mike,

It was wonderful re-reading that. I am wondering, though, if you could clarify your statement that the kingdom is not “political” like the Jews thought it would be. Knowing your love for N.T. Wright, my assumption is that you mean “not political in the way they had in mind,” and then I would add that the kingdom (and the church by extension) offers the world a new kind of politics, a new way of being “political.” But I don’t want to put words in your mouth, so let me know if I am safe assuming all of that, or if I’m headed in the wrong direction.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:11:01 +0000

I actually printed this out in 2006 and used some of your thoughts to help teach my class on Kingdom language.

Now, two years later, I’ve started seminary and am taking a class called “The Church and God’s Mission in the World.” And again your thoughts are timely and helpful.

How awesome to co-reign with God! How humbling!

By: KentF

KentF — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:06:58 +0000

Mike, friends and all – Lufkin and deep East Texas is slowly coming back to life. Thankfully, we suffered no property damage, however, this region got hammered ten times worse than Rita – but things are actually coming back around a little more quickly. We still have 3,000 evacuees and lots of family from Houston and Galveston in the area. Prayers for south Houston and Galveston are definitely needed and encouraged. Many families in this region literally cannot find their homes – they are gone.

By: Kathy S

Kathy S — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:37:17 +0000

This is a truth that is thrilling and humbling at the same time to me. It’s thrilling to see more clearly and to really believe that God reigns. It’s thrilling to come to know that His kingdom is bigger than we are. This helps me see that we really are a part of God’s Story of redemption and salvation. And, it’s quite humbling to finally comprehend that I’ve looked at this all wrong for a good part of my life.

And it’s thrilling as well that this truth is being taught to so many college freshmen!