The Kingdom of God

This is my first graduate level paper... I think it's about the same as my other papers, but I haven't had time to write blog posts because I've been writing stuff like this. I hope you enjoy it! Ask yourself, "What do I think Jesus meant by 'the kingdom of God'?"

INTRODUCTION

The kingdom of God (KoG) is one of the few major biblical themes that literally spans from the beginning of the book to the end. It is in Genesis 1 and 2 that we see God creating a kingdom on earth to rule, and it is in Revelation 21 and 22 that we see the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem become the ultimate, perfect kingdom that God will one day rule from within, walking amongst his people once more. But in the Gospels Jesus is seen preaching, “the gospel [good news] of the kingdom of God,”[1] “the kingdom of heaven is like…”[2] and “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[3]The questions that then spring to mind are similar to the following: Was Jesus preaching about a different kingdom of God than the one that spans the full bible? Is there a difference between “the kingdom of heaven” and “the kingdom of God”? If the “kingdom of heaven” was at hand then, is it still? Has “the kingdom of heaven” been established? What is the nature or substance of “the kingdom of God”, literal, spiritual, figurative, or all? Unfortunately, not all of the questions can be answered conclusively, and there isn’t space to give them all a worthy treatment. Instead, this paper will focus only on scratching the surface of the question, “What is the kingdom of God”? The main goal will be to define the concept. First, the basic components of any kingdom will be defined, then the concept of the KoG in the Bible as a whole, and then in Matthew in particular.

Partly Holy Christians

I’ve noticed that the blog posts I write that get the most views are the ones about controversial or touchy subjects. Not many read my posts on the philosophy behind God’s name as the present tense, first person, “to be” verb. I find it vivifying and exhilarating!

Not many read my post on gluttony. Who cares right? That’s a sin we’re okay with in our culture, and if we’re not, we just keep it to ourselves. I can’t tell you how many people didn’t read myposts about Progressive and Normative Dispensationalism. I bet most of you even skipped over those four words!

The posts people do read are the ones about sex, homosexuality, trans-genderism, drinking, and cussing. That’s the stuff we care about, or at least, that’s the stuff ya’ll read more often. The question is, why?

His Name’s Not Lucifer

I made an off-hand comment in a post that said, “If you want to know how to irritate me… say that satan’s name before he fell was Lucifer, but that’s the topic of another post for another time.”

That time has come!

Let’s be clear up-front. This is an incredibly non-essential point of theology. What we call the enemy, satan, is secondary to the fact that he is real and is against us.

The topic of this post is just a pet peeve of mine. However, this particular pet peeve stems from a deeper and more important point: Do you know why you know what you know?

To put it another way, do you question and test the things you are taught to see if they are true, or do you simply accept them? It all relates back to, “WHY do you believe what you believe?” While I’ll only be dealing with the minor question of, “Was satan’s name Lucifer before he fell?” the deeper question of, “How is and why is and just is what he says true?” should be looming at the back of your mind.

Do I give you good reasons, or don’t I? Do you agree with my reasons or not? WHY? These are the questions behind the answer to this non-essential point of doctrine.

On to the answer.

Christians and Booze

Were you to ask the Christian world, “Can Christians drink alcohol?” you would receive different Christian answers.

Your hard-core Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, and others would shout, “No!” in glorious unison. Your Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Anglicans and others would scream, “Yes!” with equal fervor. Non-denoms, Lutherans, and Reformed guys would fill in the spectrum with generous helpings of “maybe”, “sometimes”, and “what do you mean by ‘can’?”

Dallas Theological Seminary recently changed their position on the subject, which has got me thinking about the whole question again. Is it ever right for a Christian to drink alcohol?

Well, as is always the first step, let’s look at the Bible. What references are there to drinking in particular? If there are any, are there any restrictions outlined or common to all? Are there any relevant biblical concepts that can be applied in the question of alcohol use?

Answer: Yes all around.

You're Just Another Klansman

In light of the recent decision by the Supreme Court, the one upholding the constitutionality of Obamacare, I thought I would share my thoughts on the ever increasingly important subject of words and what they mean.

With that in mind, I’d like to share a quotation with you.

“This is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism; embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being:

First, to protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of soldiers. Second, to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. Third, to aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure and from trial, except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.”