The Kingdom of God is everything.
Many evangelical Christians view Christianity as believing the right things in order to go to Heaven. Therefore, the mission of the Church is to get others to believe the right things so that they will go to Heaven. I believe this account 1) gets Christianity wrong, that is, it is based on faulty theology and 2) actually makes its own goal of getting people to believe certain things more difficult!
The Lord's Prayer
Jesus prays for three things (so I would argue): 1) God's name to be hallowed, 2) God's Kingdom to come, and 3) God's will be done. Where? In Heaven? No, on Earth! The Kingdom of God is also about this earth: the new Heavens and Earth (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; Revelation 21:1). God wants to redeem this earth.
My point is that the Kingdom of God is where God reigns and God reigns when love reigns and loves reigns in many ways:
Conversion
Studies have shown that converts are more likely to join a group through networks and interpersonal bonds. My point here is that the stronger the network the more likely someone will convert. "They shall know you by your love." Therefore, when a church has strong networks, they will more likely recruit people and then they will get that recruit to believe the correct X, Y, and Z. However, when the goal is just information based the convert is likely to relapse.
Theological Upshot
Therefore, it's not a sin for a church to develop strong social networks and to do things that foster that. In fact, that might be the best way to get recruits. Sure, there is a need to be intentional about reaching out to others but don't you first need something to give? Just a thought.
The Lord's Prayer
Jesus prays for three things (so I would argue): 1) God's name to be hallowed, 2) God's Kingdom to come, and 3) God's will be done. Where? In Heaven? No, on Earth! The Kingdom of God is also about this earth: the new Heavens and Earth (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; Revelation 21:1). God wants to redeem this earth.
My point is that the Kingdom of God is where God reigns and God reigns when love reigns and loves reigns in many ways:
- When a family takes a Sunday picnic together.
- When friends go out for pizza and make each other laugh.
- When a person is friendly to the supermarket cashier.
- When a person fails to get angry at the person who cut them off in traffic.
- When a mother reads a book to her child.
- When a small group prays for each other.
- When a person calls their grandmother to say hi.
- When a person talks to a stranger at the pool and gives a word of encouragement.
- When a person shares the gospel with a friend.
Conversion
Studies have shown that converts are more likely to join a group through networks and interpersonal bonds. My point here is that the stronger the network the more likely someone will convert. "They shall know you by your love." Therefore, when a church has strong networks, they will more likely recruit people and then they will get that recruit to believe the correct X, Y, and Z. However, when the goal is just information based the convert is likely to relapse.
Theological Upshot
Therefore, it's not a sin for a church to develop strong social networks and to do things that foster that. In fact, that might be the best way to get recruits. Sure, there is a need to be intentional about reaching out to others but don't you first need something to give? Just a thought.
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