Kingdom of God
God’s Ways Are Higher Than Ours
Category: General
Tags: Blessing, Kingdom of God, Love, Racial, Unity
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
A frequently quoted passage from the Old Testament comes from Isaiah 55. It reads: …my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… As the heavens are higher than the earth, so…
What We’re Up Against
Category: General
Tags: Evil, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of this World, Satan, Warfare Worldview
Topics: Spiritual Warfare, Cosmic Conflict
Though Jesus dealt a final blow to Satan’s kingdom through the cross and resurrection, the New Testament makes it clear that Satan is still viewed as the “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), “the…
A Kingdom Not of This World
Category: General
Tags: Israel, Kingdom of God, Nationalism
In the previous post, I introduced how Jesus directly taught against the favored nation status of Israel, an theme that runs throughout his ministry. For example, Yahweh’s Sinai covenant with Israel was rooted in a…
Jesus and the “Favored Nation”
Category: General
Tags: Israel, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Nationalism
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence
Nationalism lies at the heart of the Old Testament narrative. This concept is intimately wrapped up with the law-oriented covenant God made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai, for at the heart of this covenant…
Jesus and Nationalistic Violence
Category: General
Tags: Cruciform Theology, Kingdom of God, Nationalism, Non-Violence, Peace
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence
Throughout the Old Testament, we find Israel spoken of as God’s “chosen nation.” The Israelites were to be a nation of priests whom God wanted to use to unite the world under him (Ex 19:6)….
How God Changes the World
Category: General
Tags: Already Not Yet, Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Practicing the Presence of God
All who place their trust in Jesus look forward to a day when he will return and fully establish the kingdom of God. When this happens, Scripture promises that everything will change. There will be…
The Politics of Jesus, Part 2
Category: General
Tags: Jesus, Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Politics
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
Even in the midst of politically-troubled times, we are called to preserve the radical uniqueness of the kingdom. This, after all, is what Jesus did as he engaged the first century world with a different…
What Power Do You Trust?
Category: General
Tags: Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of this World, Love, Non-Violence, Politics, Power, Upside-Down Kingdom
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence
Governments and nations have always relied on fighting to survive. They punish criminals who threaten their welfare. They go to war against enemies who attack their borders or stand in the way of their agenda….
Introducing “TribeNet”
Category: General
Tags: Connecting, Kingdom of God, TribeNet
Hello Kingdom people, For years I’ve heard on a regular basis from individuals and small groups/house churches who wanted to know if there are others in their area that share their vision of a Jesus-looking…
The Kingdom Stance Toward Enemies
Category: General
Tags: Enemy Love, Kingdom of God, Love, Non-Violence, Power
Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, when a group of temple guards showed up to arrest him. Peter immediately drew his sword and started swinging it, cutting off a guard’s ear. From the…
Politics & the Kingdom of the World
Category: General
Tags: Kingdom of God, Kingdom of this World, Nationalism, Political Idolatry, Politics
Instead of aligning any version of the kingdom of this world with the kingdom of God—as is common in American Christianity—kingdom-of-God participants must retain a healthy suspicion toward every version of the kingdom of this…
Making America an Idol
Category: General
Tags: America, Kingdom of God, National Idolatry, Nationalism
I write as a kingdom person in the context of America, presently the dominant empire in the world. In that light, I’d like to address the fact that my calling is to resist nationalism even…
Why is the World Still So Messed Up?
Category: General
Tags: Eschatology, Evil, Kingdom of God, Warfare Worldview
Topics: Spiritual Warfare, Cosmic Conflict
Through the Incarnation, Jesus made a way for our union with God. In addition, Jesus’ death and resurrection defeated the powers of evil. This should then lead us to ask: Why do we have to continue…
The Destiny of God’s People
Category: General
Tags: Jesus, Kingdom of God, Peace, Racial Reconciliation, Unity, Warfare Worldview
Topics: Following Jesus
Jesus represents the realization of God’s glorious dream for humanity. In Christ, we see what we who are in Christ are destined to be. As a stick placed in a river is destined to be…
Kingdom Reconciliation is Not About Politics (But it is Political)
Category: General
Tags: Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Politics, Racial Reconciliation, Revolt
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
In the broader culture, the social and political discussions about racial reconciliation are usually focused on people’s rights and privileges as a means of making the world a fairer place. The criteria such efforts at…
The Coming Kingdom & Racial Conflict
Category: General
Tags: Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Love, Racial Reconciliation, Unity
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
In the book of Revelation, we see a glimpse into the future. John says he saw, …a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…
Why Racial Reconciliation Matters
Category: General
Tags: Good News, Jesus, Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Racial Reconciliation, Unity
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
In Psalm 72, the author prays for a day when “all kings” would “bow down” to God’s anointed and when “all nations” would “serve him” (vs. 11). At this time, the Psalmist continues, God’s king…
Friday Lights: Glimpse of the Kingdom
Category: Lighten Up
Tags: Kingdom of God, Love, Peace
We interrupt the constant stream of violence and brokenness to bring you this glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Image via broken pencils are pointless
Jesus’ Different Kind of Nation
Category: General
Tags: Blessing, Israel, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Nationalism, New Humanity
Topics: Ethical, Cultural and Political Issues
God called Abraham to form a unique nation by which “all peoples of the earth will be blessed.” The unique call of the descendants of Abraham was to become a nation of servant-priests whom God…
5 Distinctions of God’s Kingdom
Category: General
Tags: Kingdom Living, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of this World, Nationalism
Topics: Following Jesus
Jesus said that his kingdom was “not from this world,” for it contrasts with the kingdom of the world in every possible way. This is not a simple contrast between good and evil. The contrast…