Church vs. Kingdom
“The church gets into
trouble whenever it thinks its in the church business rather than the kingdom
business. In church business people are
concerned with church business and religious behavior. In the kingdom, people
are concerned with kingdom activities – all human behavior visible and
invisible. Kingdom people see human affairs as saturated with spiritual
meaning and kingdom significance. Kingdom people seek first the kingdom of God and its justice. Church people often put concerns of church work
above concerns of justice, mercy and truth. Church people think about how to get people into the church. Kingdom
people think about how to get the church into the world. Church people worry
that the world might change the church. Kingdom people work to see that church
changes the world. When Christians put the church ahead of the kingdom they
settle for the status quo and their own kind of people, but when they catch a
vision for the kingdom of God their sight shifts outside the walls of the
church to the lost and the needy. They see the life and work of the church
from the perspective of the Kingdom. If the church has one great need, it is
this – to be set free for the Kingdom of God."
Hi. Just came across your blog on the 'recently updated' list. Appreciated the Snyder quote on the Kingdom - the Church only finds its power and purpose when it sees that it's an instrument of the Kingdom.
Thanks, be blessed.
Posted by: Roger Aubrey | January 15, 2005 at 12:47
Boy, I'm really going to have to chew over that one for awhile. It really gives me something to think about.
Posted by: May Thiessen | January 16, 2005 at 07:46
My brother seems to be comparing (contrasting!) apples and oranges. How woudd he restate his remarks using the BIBLICAL definition of the Church, rather than society's? THE Church cannot be set free "for" the kingdom of God - it ia a PART of that kingdom (in its present form). The church simply needs to BE the church (= redeemed people) rather than be "conformed" to and by the "world" (system). I'm sure that's what he means, doesn't he? :-)
Posted by: Allan | February 23, 2005 at 05:28
Allan -
As I understand Dr. Snyder's comments, he is not denying the church as a redeemed people. Rather he is exhorting the church to fulfill its calling as the primary agency of God's redemptive work in the world through economic and social stewardship.
We have focused far too long on shortsightedness in evangelizing without discipling.
Posted by: Dave Doty | March 28, 2005 at 07:31