 |
| Holland, Michigan lighthouse |
Tomorrow morning when the Redeemer family gathers I'll be speaking on Two-Kingdom Theology. This is the core, biblical Jesus-idea that reality consists of a struggle beween two nonequal and opposing "kingdoms"; viz., the Kingdom of God vs. the kingdom of satan, the Kingdom of Heaven vs. the kingdom of earth, the Kingdom of Light vs. the kingdom of darkness. In the view of Jesus and the New Testament writers this is the way to view things. There's no third kingdom, there's no "spiritual Switzerland," that represents some spiritual and moral neutral place where persons are uncommitted to one of the two opposing kingdoms.
There's also not some "fence" between the two opposing kingdoms that people straddle and "ride." The phrase "I'm on the fence" (meaning "I haven't committed to one of the kingdoms yet") does not apply here. One is either for God, or not for God.
The biblical text I'm going to preach out of tomorrow morning expresses this. It's Colossians 1:13-14, which reads: he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
This entire Jesus-idea of "redemption" and "the cross" and "salvation" and "forgiveness" rests on the foundation Two-Kingdom Worldview. Without such a worldview the core Jesus ideas are incomprehensible.
This word "kingdom" does not refer to a "place" but a condition; viz., a "rule" in the sense of a kingly "reign." Who, or what, reigns over you? The Jesus POV is that it's either "light" or "darkness." Thus the term "kingdom of God" denotes the "rule or reign of God." Who, or what, holds you in its sway?
Practically and personally, I view myself as being under the rule of darkness, of satan, until that unexpected, delightful, life-saving redemptive moment in 1970 when God encountered me. I owe my entire life and being, now and forevermore, to that moment. I've been rescued and redeemed!
I'll talk of this tomorrow, and probably begin by giving the basics of Two-Kingdom Theology. My expectation is that, as I am preaching, God's Spirit will be engaging in needed redemptive activity for all who are there. If you're in need of this I invite you to come tomorrow morning.
