The tale of two kingdoms

The tale of two kingdoms

11 – Activating Church

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I want to point you to two excellent items posted on the website, Life with CD. I’ll give a short taster to both with links to the originals, I urge you to read them both in full (they are not long, but they are very thought-provoking).

Sometimes we need to be provoked into thinking things through more thoroughly and deeply. The enemy is so clever at interleaving error quite subtly into everything we think and do, even in meetings we believe to be fully devoted to following Jesus. We can easily swallow what is wrong and believe it to be right. That’s why I’m adding this post to my series Activating the church.

In part one we read about Eli, a young man who is challenged by a conversation with an older man. He loved the Lord, or at least he truly meant to. He read devotionals in the morning when he remembered. He played worship music in the car. He posted verses online. He served at church once a month, sometimes twice when his schedule allowed. He wanted to be known as faithful. He wanted to be useful. He wanted, if he was honest, to matter.

And that is where the trouble began.

For Meridian was a city ruled by two kingdoms.

The first kingdom was loud and dazzling. It did not always look evil. In fact, it often looked admirable. Its banners read words like success, influence, visibility, control, relevance, security, platform, and image. Its citizens woke early and slept late. They measured life in numbers: followers, income, invitations, accomplishments, upgrades, applause.

Read the whole of Part One.

Eli began to notice the two kingdoms everywhere.

He noticed them when he was ignored and felt a surge of resentment. One kingdom whispered, “Make them regret overlooking you.” The other whispered, “You are already seen by your Father.”

He noticed them in ministry meetings. One kingdom wanted credit, subtle control, and the final word. The other was content to serve, listen, and decrease.

He noticed them in suffering. One kingdom demanded immediate explanation and escape. The other invited trust, even in darkness.

Read the whole of Part Two.

Christopher Dryden is right; when we look at church life we can see the two kingdoms battling it out between them. It’s so important that we learn to distinguish the voices, honouring the one and rejecting the other. So many of the things we do and say are serving ourselves, or even serving the enemy. But we’re not here to do that, we’re here to hear the Spirit of Christ as he guides us daily so that we begin to reflect his gentle presence and his patient grace into a world that needs him so much more than it realises.

And Jesus himself told his followers to be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). He said he was sending them out like sheep among wolves. It’s a dangerous world.

This dangerous world crucified Jesus (the wolves got him). Sheep stay in groups, if the wolf takes one the others may escape. Our purpose here in this dangerous world is not to stay safe, but to spread Jesus’ message further and wider. We must do that by taking risks when necessary, but most of the time focusing on blessing those around us by kind and considerate words and actions whenever and however we can.

It has nothing to do with rank or position. I can wince at the erratic words and actions of a president while admiring the good words from the pen or keyboard of lesser, humbler people with hearts to speak the truth in love. And that truth will win out in the end because of its source: Papa, the Son and their Spirit, all poured out for us.

HalleluYah and Amen!

See also:

• Life with CD – Website
• Paying attention like Jesus – Journeys of heart and mind
• Related thoughts from Sandy – Run with patience

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