Kingdom Bringers
Good morning friends, here is a thought that has been burning in my mind this morning. I hope it's meaningful to you.
For the first 200-300 years of Christianity their care for the most vulnerable, relentless generosity to those in need, palpable spiritual power, and relentless commitment to Jesus as Risen King (not human government) sent shockwaves over much of the world. Without the aid of the weapons and ways of empires, the gospel spread like wildfire. Then, something happened. Christianity became legal and eventually became "normal". Not the Christianity that was advanced by enlisted ambassadors of the kingdom of God...but the Christianity that gathered crowds and left the "work" to the clergy. It became an observational faith. Participation was reduced to attending services and receiving the sacraments. The kingdom of God was no longer the in-breaking of God's healing and restoration of all creation but instead became like a club with membership. This is a massive oversimplification, for sure. However, we continue to see remnants of the shift from cosmic and creation restoring kingdom ministry to the cultural and observational form of convenience Christianity.
Cultural Christianity is disintegrating before our eyes and God is raising up a new generation of kingdom bringers.
Come, Lord Jesus.