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About C4USM
The Center for U. S. Missions
is a partnership between The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)
World Mission, Concordia University Irvine, and the North American
Mission Executives of the LCMS. It provides research and training for
mission work among unevangelized people in the United States. We are
Christ-centered, mission-driven and service-oriented. |
Contact Us
Center for U.S. Missions1530 Concordia DR WIrvine CA 92612-3203Phone: 949-854-8002 x1780Email:
office@centerforusmissions.comWeb:www.c4usm.com |
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"Missions and the Kingdom of God"
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By Michael R. Ruhl
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It was a moment
that was more than embarrassing.
Even
after eight years of biblical and theological training, plus accurate and redundant
explanation in the seminary classroom, plus five years of parish ministry in
Minnesota and Michigan, plus numerous sermons on the parables ... I still did not
'get it'...the Kingdom of God, I mean.
Like many
people, I understood the Kingdom of Godas something 'other-worldly'...perhaps even a term that described eternal life in
heaven. It was not until reading the book The
Kingdom of God by John Bright while in training for The Bethel Bible Series many years ago that this central Scriptural
concept came to light. The expression Basileia
tou Theou is better translated kingship
(reign, rule) of God in the hearts and lives of people on earth today. At
conversion, people are ushered into the Kingdom of Godby the Holy Spirit. Justified by grace
and through faith, Jesus establishes his
reign and rule (kingship) in the hearts of true believers. This Kingdom of God is subject to the tension
of the 'already and the not yet'. Salvation begins on earth at conversion, but it is
not perfected until after the saints are joined with Jesus in heaven.Some refer to this dynamic tension as 'inaugurated eschatology'.
At the
recent North American Mission Executives Conference in St. Louis, speaker Ed Stetzer reminded us
that the Kingdom of God is mentioned
80 times by Jesus in the synoptic gospels, along with numerous other 'kingdom insights'.
How sad that the Kingdom of God has
been marginalized and obscured by many in the church, even though it was Jesus' obsession!
So what
does all this have to do with missions and church planting? I am delighted that
you asked (presumably) that question.
Our Triune
God is a sending God. God sent Jesus in the incarnation to reconcile the sinful
world to himself. God sent the Holy Spirit to create the church and to energize
the church to accomplish the purpose of God in the world. And finally, God sends
the church as an instrument of the Kingdom of God.
God establishes his kingdom through the witness to Christ by the church, as men, women, and children enter and
live under the kingship (reign and rule) of Jesus Christ,
starting at conversion and perfected in eternity.
By grace, my embarrassment is over and in the
past tense. The Holy Spirit has given and restored proper missional
perspective. The church is not about imperialistic empire-building. The church
is a means something much bigger and more significant than its own cultural
continuity and expansion. The church is an instrument of the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Michael R. Ruhl is the Executive Director for the Center for U.S. Missions.
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Discuss this topic in our blog
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Click here to add your thoughts about this topic.
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Questions for Reflection
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Explore Jesus'
80 synoptic references to the Kingdom
of God in your favorite
concordance. What insights can your glean from Scripture?
- How clearly do your constituents and colleagues grasp the Kingdom of God?
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What are some explanations for marginalized
understanding of the Kingdom?
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How would you illustrate the connection of
missions to the Kingdom
of God?
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What actions steps can you take to help people
grasp the power of Kingdom-theology?
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If you were preaching on missions and the Kingdom of God, what would be a preferred text
and exegetical outline?
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Do Christians
plant church in order to make disciples or are churches planted because
disciples are being made already?
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What is one thing you will do to be a faithful
'herald of the Kingdom?'
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Links
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The Kingdom of God by John Bright [book]
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News From The Center
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Mission Moments is a monthly electronic newsletter sent by the Center for U.S. Missions to bring information and encouragement to all who desire to share God's great love in Jesus Christ with others. Permission is given to copy this article for distribution within your congregation or organization. Please credit the author and the Center for U.S. Missions. The Center for U.S. Missions provides research and training for mission work among unevangelized people in the United States. A partnership of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Missions, Concordia University in Irvine, California, and the North America Mission Executives of the LCMS, the Center serves all Christian denominations.
Center for U.S. Missions 949-854-8002 x1780; office@centerforusmissions.comMichael Ruhl, Executive Director, mike.ruhl@cui.eduMichelle Connor, Coordinator; michelle.connor@cui.edu |
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