.png)
( KINGDOM VS RELIGION )
Growing up as a pastor's kid, life was pretty smooth. My parents were admired by the local community for the vital role they played in helping build it. They created jobs for homeless and offered hope to those who were less fortunate.
Life was pretty simple for the most part. My dad had gained tons of respect from the community and my only job was to not make him look bad. My only difficulty was trying not to wear the same outfit each Sunday. To top things off, I would attend church each Sunday and the only thing expected of me was to pretend like I was happy to be there and try not to speak what was on my mind for 45 minutes before service and immediately after when everyone would congregate.
While I wasn't speaking, I was listening. What I began to notice through eavesdropping on the conversations my parents were having is that mostly everyone who came to church struggled in the same ways as those who spent their Sunday mornings in bed. What I realized is that, for the most part, church was just a hobby for everyone -- much similar to any other hobby you could have. Almost everyone would show up to check off the box of attendance then proceed back to a normal life and normal issues -- things that everyone in society faces.
If I'm being completely honest, I never once questioned this growing up. However, as I got older, I thought to myself, "What would be the point of going through the motions each Sunday if nothing actually changed in my life? Why not just stop going altogether and pick up another hobby?"
Isn't it strange that Jesus went through so much but requires so little of us? I think we can all agree that a majority of people listen to sermons then go back home to normal lives each week and yet we're confused why we can't win anyone for Christ. Perhaps it is because in order to win someone for Christ you have to actually be following Him yourself?
13-14 “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention." - Matthew 7:13-14 MSG
Growing up in America, the possibilities are endless for wealth, comfort and financial security. Consequently, we have reduced the Gospel message to fit into the American dream. Most Sunday church services are nothing more than social club meetings. As long as you dress the same, act the same, look the same and don't do anything out of the ordinary, you will be widely accepted amongst everyone despite what you are actually doing with your life. Religion is man's attempt to fit God into the box we are most familiar with. So as long as your life resembles other people who aren't actually following God or doing anything different either, you will fit right in.
The scary thing about religion is that it gives the illusion that you are in right standing with God because you repeat the same thing each week. However, pretty much everyone knows deep down that this is not true. Jesus actually spoke to a group of people who claimed to be children of God simply by gathering but not actually doing anything, and this is what He said to them.
"39 They retorted, Abraham is our father. Jesus said, If you were [truly] Abraham’s children, then you would do the works of Abraham [follow his example, do as Abraham did]. 40 But now [instead] you are wanting and seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. 41 You are doing the works of your [own] father. They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children and born out of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me. 43 Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My teaching.] 44 You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false." - John 8:39-44 AMPC
The message of Jesus was to completely lay down your life and everything with it. This is the Kingdom way. Oftentimes, we see the amazing stories in the bible and think to ourselves: Why do we not see these things today? Has God lost His power and awe, or have we as people suffocated who God actually is through our repetitive, boring, religious practices and forms of godliness?
"5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]." - 2 Timothy 3:5 AMPC
The sad reality is that just because you attend a service at a building each week doesn't mean you actually belong to God. Contrary to popular belief, a majority of the time, those two have little to do with each other. Most people think that it is our consistency in listening and observing God's commands that gives us a relationship with Him. In reality, it only shows our interest in Him. If I chose to research the life of Bill Gates, no one would expect me to gain wealth from studying his life. So why would I become close to God by sitting and listening to the life of someone who was?
"39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! 40 And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life. 41 I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame], 42 But I know you and recognize and understand that you have not the love of God in you." - John 5:39-42 AMPC
When Jesus spoke there were crowds of people that poured in to hear Him. Jesus didn't say that they were saved because of their passion to listen to Him. Instead, He proceed to tell them what it actually took to be a disciple and follow Him. So people who had the commitment to sit and listen to Jesus for three days without eating weren't considered to be His disciples or shoo-ins for the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the bible, there was a difference between a listener of Jesus and a disciple. Today however, we have told the listeners of the Bible that they are disciples. The bible makes a clear distinction from the disciples and people who would only sit and listen. So we must ask ourselves, which group do we belong to?
"10 Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables? 11 And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. 14 In them indeed is the process of fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them. 16 But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear." - Matthew 13:10-16 AMPC
In order to experience Kingdom Living, you must actually place your life on the alter and conform to a different way of living, and possibly even dying. Religion focuses on the sacrifices of Christ and everything He gave up for us, but the Kingdom focuses on you actually being crucified with Christ and sharing in His sufferings.
"20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." - Galatians 2:20 AMPC
A majority of everyone knows about the Cross of Jesus, but very few know that He expects you to pick up your own cross and actually follow Him.
"23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]." - Luke 9:23 AMPC
Without laying down our lives completely, we will have to keep relying on fog machines and worship concert services and drama productions to impersonate the power and presence of God.
21-24 “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want." - Amos 5:21-24 MSG
In order to experience God's kingdom, we must go back and look at the standard that Jesus set for those who wanted to follow Him and experience it.
"34 And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]." - Mark 8:34 AMPC
The reality is that if we are not experiencing God's kingdom on earth, then it would be completely delusional to think we would be a part of it for eternity.
The Question of the Day: What would be the point in celebrating the birth of someone who we have chosen not to follow?