Dakota Community Church
July 1, 2007
Kingdom of God IV
In A Kingdom Church
This morning I want to continue our series of messages about the differences between the “Kingdom of God” and its citizens and the “Kingdoms of this world” and their citizens. The focus this week will be on the local church. How does this message change the way we do church? Is the modern church doing a good job of living the difference and if not how can we improve?
Over the last few weeks as we have been examining this topic the issue of the Church has come up over and over again. We have noticed that in many ways the modern church is set up very much after the pattern of this world’s kingdoms.
We fight for power rather than serving.
The more “service” oriented a ministry is the harder it is to get volunteers.
We love those who love us and make excuses for the rest.
We build our personal empires ignoring the needy in our midst and giving as little as possible.
Rather than preferring others we fight for our rights and there are thousands who have been wounded beyond belief within the local church setting.
So what needs to change? What New Testament teachings are being trampled by kingdom of this world influence? How should things be different than they are? Where have we gone wrong?
In a “Kingdom” Church:
1. There is no struggling for title and position.
The disciples argued and fought over who would have the highest position of authority in the new kingdom and even though Jesus rebuked them for it repeatedly they never did really catch on. Neither have we!
I have been involved in every level of church government and I can tell you that there is virtually no difference between the church and the world when it comes to getting and keeping titles and positions of authority. From Sunday School or Choir director to General Superintendent the battle royal is often worse that the worlds version.
I have known ministers who would not speak to congregants unless addressed by the proper title (i.e. “Pastor” Dan). What reason could I possibly have for insisting on being addressed as “Pastor” Dan? There is only one – the title allows us both to be reminded of our respective place in the kingdom. Look at what Jesus did and taught on this subject though:
Luke 18:18-19
A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.
Matthew 23:5-12
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ’Rabbi.’
"But you are not to be called ’Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ’father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ’teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Why would Jesus make such an issue of this seemingly harmless behavior? What is the big deal if we insist on titles for those in ministry, after all aren’t we supposed to give honor to whom honor is due? Here is the problem – we mess up when we think we are due honor from a fellow servant!
Luke 17:7-10
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ’Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ’Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ’We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ "
Here is the issue – we want to be treated by the world’s standards. We want to be paid by the same scale as the managers of companies that generate the sort of income that our churches generate. We define the abundant life by the “American Dream” kingdom and we think that a life of service and sacrifice is the opposite of the abundant life – but, Jesus said and demonstrated differently!
Here is a scary thing I see happening in many churches these days – the ministry using the people to payroll their own lavish lifestyles. Look at this warning from the Lord:
Luke 12:40-48
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth; he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ’My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
"That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
In a “Kingdom” Church:
2. There are no economic or social divisions.
We all vehemently deny it but the truth is so obvious it is embarrassing – we show social and economic favoritism in the church like few other places.
Many of our churches are like Sunday Morning fashion shows and people who can not compete are made to feel that God is not “blessing” them for some reason.
James 2:2-5
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here’s a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
Why is this so hard for us? I can tell you that as a church planter who has had to work on the side, in a hog processing plant, delivering news papers, in a print shop and in a book store – the temptation is to want to get paid so bad that you will compromise your beliefs.
Unfortunately the church is run very much like a business as far as money goes. Our pastors must live in the world just like the rest of us and money becomes an issue.
All of that does not change the message of the up-side-down kingdom of God.
Jesus also taught this same principle when he honors the widows gift.
Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
Luke 14:7-14
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ’Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ’Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Do you realize that you cannot be taken advantage of? If you are used and abused and mistreated by those to whom you give – there is a score being kept – in eternity. We do not believe it though because our treasure is so bound to this world’s kingdoms.
We have got to stop placing value on people in the church based on social and economic standing and we have got to stop kidding ourselves that we do not do it.
In a “Kingdom Church:
3. Members do not compete or compare.
If we want the church to start looking and acting more in line with the Kingdom of God teaching of Jesus we have got to stop holding up positions in the church and inviting competition to fill them. We rate one another’s spirituality and then dish out the positions accordingly.
The more spiritual you are the less likely you will have to take a ministry of service.
Look at what Paul says on this issue:
2 Corinthians 10:12
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
In the church we are not supposed to be seeing how we are doing compared to everyone else. We are not out to make sure we get the respect we deserve, we are trying to keep others from getting more than we do. That is not what Jesus did – He gave – without worrying about being taken advantage of. That is what he taught the disciples to do as well.
John 21:18-22
I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
In the kingdom of God the plan for our neighbor is not our business. “What is that to you?” In the kingdom of God each of us must follow Him. Following Him means loving, supporting, and serving each other as much as possible without worrying about being taken advantage of.
This sermon series is based on the book, “The Myth of a Christian Nation”
By Dr. Greg Boyd.
Buy it and read it!
Hear it Preached: www.dakotacommunitychurch.ca and click "Listen".
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
