Church vs. Kingdom?

[krazeeboi]

Something is really irking the heck out of me these days--the juxtaposition of the Church with the Kingdom of God. A very popular statement these days is along the lines of "I'm tired of doing church; it's about the Kingdom." However, isn't the Church the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in this age of grace? I really feel that confusion is being sown by using such vocabulary.

[stillfocused]

I understand what they are saying..people go to church day in and day but, they do not walk in any victory, there has to be a renewing of the mind, to want and become what Christ has for us. We can go to church and shout for hours and remain the same. Myles Munroe said some things that were true..he broke down how living in kingdom the King providers those who live in that kingdom. I believe that when you become kingdom minded you begin to walk in the God given authority that you have. In many churches there is no teaching on dominion we have been given. Think about this way....if you ever watch those movies where the warriors went to fight to regain rule of their kingdom..they were armed, skilled, and always ready for battle...and they never moved without instruction from their King...truimphing over their enemey. Now..bring into your question..those warriors are us..we should be prepared, skilled, and ready for battle..but, that's not the way it is with church..many sit in church waiting for God to do something he alread told them to do or worse yet, someone to do it for them. And chaos the door they run instead of standing. If you go back to the Bible..the Kings did not rule churches..yet, they ruled kingdoms; even the NT church operated in
principles of the present kingdoms of that time.

[krazeeboi]

I don't have a problem with any of that. The problem I have is that functionally speaking, the Church IS the Kingdom. We should also understand that the term "church" has various meanings. It can refer to the local assembly, or the Body of Christ at large. I understand when we say that we tire of doing the same old "church stuff," but the reality is that a lot of what we're doing isn't really church, from a biblical perspective. We've concocted it, put the name "church" on it, then we want to poo poo the whole thing when we were wrong for what we named it in the first place! Once we get (back) to REAL church, the Bible way, we'll also find out that we have indeed discovered the Kingdom. Oh God, that'll preach right there!

[stillfocused]

Understandable..but, where the term "church" come from ? Most people see the church as the local place of fellowship..yet, many never come to understand that are the "church". In the OT that had the tabernacle. I have to do a search but, the church as we know it may not have come along until the dark ages. Christ took the kingdom of God..I have yet, to see where he spoke the "church of God". Many people do "church"; yet, they never become the church. Myles Munroe has a serious teaching on Kingdom vs Church..when I get the time I will post of the notes..as the teaching was very intensive. The kingdom perspective is totally different from "church" perspective.

[krazeeboi]

Well, Jesus did say that upon this rock He would build His church. The Church came into being on the Day of Pentecost, and was something to take place in the future after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.

You say, "The kingdom perspective is totally different from 'church' perspective." And to this I would say, according to who? Certainly not the Bible. The Church is the corporate manifestation of the Kingdom of God. I'm not saying that the terms or concepts are interchangeable, but that they are interrelated.

[stillfocused]

There some things I agree..yet, it was not until I listened to Myles Munroe breakdown..the dynamics of a kingdom..there were somethings I did because that's what I was taught to do. And because there is a lack of understanding of the true meaning of words used doing that time; somethings can be and are done out of context. Later on this evening..I will post some of things from the many pages of notes I have..he only tipped the iceberg..as there was not enough to speak on everything pertaining to what he (Myles Munrone ) teaches on the kingdom.

[Jasmine]

honestly, I think its just an attempt to get folks to do what you want them to do. Now, I am no total fool, and we should be about kingdom building from the very start, which is making disciples. I have seen the catch phrase turn into such things to get buildings funded, floors carpeted, and etc in the name of Kingdom building.

If we realize that from the moment we are saved, to the time we leave this earth, we should have always been building up the kingdom, by witnessing and bringing then in. Not, by our attempts to get rich over night, or build a church where you can show off your gold faucetts, and blinging chandeliers. As if God really cared about any of that.

-Jasmine

[stillfocused]

For some it maybe a catch phrase..I can't speak for anyone else except myself..when I set through a weekend of listening Myles Munroe..teach this..it wasn't that..because he came out the word of God. It's not popular because it challenges one to really take a deeper look at why we do what we do. Sadly, there are many things that we do call it "church", " the church".

[And Such Were Some Of You]

BUMP

[stillfocused]

Yeah..bump!! Still going to church and not becoming the church. I watched a piece on the Sid Roth's show where Becky Fisher was not just talking about children's ministry. She was doing children's ministry and the children were pressing into the presence of God..that's what I long to see. I don't just want to go to church and not see the power of God manifested.

[Beulah5]

I believe that this is due to the fact that many churches are not experiencing what constitutes the kingdom.