Posted by giveawayboy on January 12, 2004 at 09:50:57:
you know, i'd like to hear more of what steve is thinking about the kingdom of god. you know sometimes i want to see this kingdom explode out everywhere and just be finally realized, but then i see forces all about us that seemingly hold it back or at least tremble to recognize it's presence. i have alot o thoughts in my mind after hearing about the different modes of thought in jesus' day about what this kingdom was. it seems there are always forces out there who will have different interpretations on the kingdom of god, whether they are coming from a military bent, a worldly bent, a prophetic or even cosmic dualist bent. So, it's neat to hear Steve talking about this. and it makes me wonder how our generation of christians might be like the Jews of Jesus' day, but even more, how our world, how our generation might be like the crowds of Jesus' day. what opportunities would this suggest? what responsibilities? what freedoms? what new ways of thinking? i certainly feel the tendency to box in our beliefs and preserve them as Christians have always done. in every age we thought we totally fathomed the kingdom of god and in every age we are challenged by a reality that contradicts us. how will we stay free of boxing the kingdom into our little cubbyholes? how can we demolish them? how can we ask better questions? how can we avoid nominalism? how can we advance and not retreat or halt in our steps? how can we unlearn the errors of past centuries, remove the blinders of our age and see the kingdom blazing across all time and space? hmmm....just questions, just thoughts....