Kingdom Citizen

The phrase kingdom citizen comes up often in "Christiandom".   I have no idea what Christiandom really means, so I'm defining it as all places where people who consider themselves Christians may gather. Done. Each time I hear the phrase (kingdom citizen NOT Christiandom, one is clearly a phrase and the other a made up word), I either hear inspiring definitions and explanations (like my Christiandom one) or I hear people really struggle to communicate what this term means to Christians.  So, I thought I'd take a stab at it.

Let's start with the obvious. The term kingdom citizen has two words in it.  (Inspirational wisdom is being poured out already.)   I'll break down both.  Let's start with kingdom. The Kingdom we're talking about is the Kingdom of God.

The scriptures begin to talk about the Kingdom of God in Genesis, as soon as humans introduce sin into the world.  God reveals a redemptive plan, at the end of His decree of punishment for the sin Adam and Eve have committed; He speaks of a time of victory--a time when the woman's offspring will crush the head of the serpent.  Therefore, the kingdom of God is laid out as a time when evil is defeated and the goodness of God reigns. (How'd I get there?  Human's sin. God explains the punishment.  The punishment includes pain, suffering and isolation.  At the end of that, God talks about humans being victorious - crushing the head of the thing that led them to sin.  That last line shows that even as God is decreeing the punishment for sin, He's establishing an end to this punishment, a means of redemption. The Kingdom of God.) 

We see this kingdom again discussed in the book of Daniel. Interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel says:

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (Daniel 2:44)

These two scripture establish the kingdom of God as two things, a time when God's mercy will overcome sin (redemption from sin) and an everlasting period.

Now for the second word: citizen.  A citizen is someone who belongs to a certain realm.  In our case, a kingdom.  Citizens have various rights and privileges in their realm.  Rights and privileges that are not enjoyed by non-citizens.  A common right many citizens have is the right to vote in their realm. There are also duties and responsibilities citizens have in the realm that others may not have. For example, in many realms citizens have to pledge allegiance to the country. (Or, they at least have to not denounce their citizenship.)

Now for the tricky part: putting the words together.  What does it mean to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God? (Pause for dramatic effect.)  Citizens of the Kingdom of God are people who have accepted the invitation to citizenship.  Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelations 3:20) Eating in this verse is a metaphor for relationship and intimacy.  Therefore, the verse explains that whoever accepts Christ's invitation will be in relationship with God and become a kingdom citizen. Another way of saying this is, whoever accepts Christ's invitation will be saved.  How do you accept this invitation?  (Glad you asked!) Romans has a brief, but comprehensive answer:  "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Done. There's nothing else. You don't have to be perfect, amazingly talented at anything, the child of Christians. Nothing. You just have to confess with your mouth and believe with your heart. That said, a true confession coupled with sincere belief leads to repentance and a desire to know more of God and be more like God.

This is where kingdom citizen talks usually go off the rails.  You can't do anything to earn your citizenship.  The only thing you can do to lose your citizenship is to EXPRESSLY renounce it. You would have to expressly declare with your mouth that Jesus is not Lord and truly believe that in your heart.  The Kingdom of God is one of grace and mercy.  Therefore, your citizenship isn't based on your works.  This means, your citizenship isn't acquired or maintained on a tally of the "good" things you're doing.  Your citizenship is a free lifetime membership.

We strive to do "good" things, to follow God's will not in an effort to maintain our citizenship, but in order to build a relationship with God.  What's the difference? God loves us and always will. There's nothing we can do to buy or earn that. Once we become citizens, we have access to God. In fact, the greatest blessing of salvation is that we have the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with God.  We do "good" in order to build that relationship not in fear of losing our citizenship or salvation.

Thoughts?

Scripture Mess

I'm easily annoyed by misinformation that is boldly spread as the truth--especially when it has to do with scripture. I'm tempted to add "Part 1" to this title (because I assume I'll come across more examples), but we know how well that subtitle has worked for me in the past. Anywho, here are some often misinterpreted "Bible verses".

Numero Uno: "Heaven helps those who help themselves". Yeah, that's not in the Bible. So, people can add it to as many sermons or Bible Study lessons as they'd like, but it doesn't change the fact that, A ,It's NOT in the Bible and, B, it most likely contradicts Biblical teaching on grace.

Dos: "Money is the root of all evil." Um...this is also not in the Bible. Here are a gazillion (more like 10) versions of that verse. You'll quickly see that the verse actually says. " The love of money is the root of all evil." What's the difference? The first verse states that money is evil. This has led many Christians to abstain from wealth and cling to poverty. The other verse, clearly puts the blame not on money, but a feeling towards money. That feeling, love, is misplaced when directed towards something as fickle as riches. So, correctly interpreted, the scripture does not condemn wealth, but the act of loving wealth, adoring it, worshiping it, depending on it, trusting it, and maybe even making piles of it and jumping around in the piles.

Tres: "If I be lifted up on earth, I will draw men unto me." So, this verse is in the scriptures. However, most times it's used incorrectly, even in songs. People use this verse to explain that if we praise Jesus on earth, Jesus will draw men unto Him. However, that's not what the verse is saying. The type of "lifting up" this scripture refers to is Christ's death on the cross. Therefore, this verse means, once Christ is crucified on the cross, He wall draw us to Him. All I have for now. Thoughts?

(Insert Clever Title For a Blog Article on Fasting Here)

So, let me start by saying. I am a faster.  I'm a pretty useless prayer warrior.  Also, I almost only sing praise and worship in group settings.  (I feel awkward doing both the lead and background parts by myself.) So, fasting is my go to solution for almost any problem.  In fact, any time something doesn't work out I usually scratch my head and wonder, "Maybe I should have fasted?"   People have asked me for a beginner's guide to fasting. (Well, one person has.  So, I'm assuming the rest of you really want to, but just haven't done so yet.)  So, here goes.

1.  Friends don't let friends fast alone.  I used to interpret this verse of scripture  to mean I had to fast in secret.  But, now, I really don't think that's the point of this verse.  I'm not saying that you should make  "I'm holy, I'm fasting. Don't bother me with your unrighteousness," your Facebook status whenever you fast. But, it can be helpful if you let people around you know when you're fasting.  They can pray for/with you and even fast with you.  A lot of times your fasts will be more meaningful if you buddy up.  Also, letting others know you're fasting helps you avoid the "devil is a liar" traps that usually come, such as friends making you a surprise breakfast on the one day you've decided to fast.

2. Don't become a fasting fatty.  Because you're depriving yourself, the temptation is to overindulge in other things to distract yourself while you fast.  Also, when you finally break your fast, you may feel tempted to overeat.  Monitor yourself and keep this from happening.  In order to deal with the temptation to overeat, when you break your fast, try to start off eating less than half the amount you would usually eat.  That usually helps you stay away from a cookie monster style fast breaking session.  


3.  Control what you watch/ listen to.  By fasting you're taking a big  activity in your day out of the mix.  You need to replace that with something meaningful.  If all you're listening to and watching is "kill that, smash that, buy that",  you're replacing the empty space with garbage.  Instead listen to/watch meaningful, uplifting and, yes, holy things.

4. Put Jesus in your fast.  Fill what would have been your meal times with a "Jesusy" activity, such as reading your Bible, praying, listening to sermons and gospel music, volunteering, healing the sick, or raising the dead.  If you're not doing Jesusy things while you fast, you're not really fasting, you're just choosing not to eat.


5. Decide what type of fast you're doing.  Then, stick to the rules you set.  When I first started fasting sometimes I would see something like an apple that I really wanted.  So, I'd tell myself, "Okay, I'm doing a fruit only fast" and I'd eat the apple.  Then I'd see a cookie and I'd say "Okay, I'm doing a "no meat fast."  Then I'd see some chicken....and you get the drift.  Once you make one exception, it gets easier to keep making exceptions.


6. Alternatives. If fasting from food is a real problem for you, for example if you have a health problem or a lifestyle that demands constant eating (i.e. you're a competitive eater or an athlete) examine your life and look for something that is a huge stumbling block in your faith walk.  During your fasting period, completely cut that thing out of your life.

7. Pray, pray again, and then pray some more.  Pray before you fast for the strength to carry out your fast and for God's guidiance through your fast.  While you're fasting, continue praying for endurance and for a meaningful life change.  If you're fasting to get a specific thing, remember to pray for that request.  Finally, pray before you break your fast.  Thank God for carrying you through the fast.


Thoughts?

Who Do They Say I Am? (Part II)

So, I looked back and noticed that the title to my first "Who Do They Say I Am?" post said "part 1".  At the time I assumed that it was going to be a series.  How ambitious of me.  Well, in order not to disappoint 2010 me, I have decided to meet  the expectations of that title. Here goes.


My entire Christian life, I worked tirelessly so I wouldn't be seen as one of those Christians. You know who they are. The ones with the signs!  Not all signs are created equal.  I mean the Christians with those signs.  The signs which list all the things God supposedly hates, usually using racial and other slurs, sloppy graphics, and, of course, bad grammar.  Also, not all signs are on billboards.  Other signs are loud voices on talk shows, appearances at inappropriate places, lifestyles. I've seen those Christians and struggled not to be linked with them.

This kid's parents think this sign is appropriate.

I never wanted to be a Christian who was more interested in being a Christian than in BEING a Christian.  That is, I wanted to be a Christian at home, at school, at church, and at work without forcing my Christianity on people in all of those places.  I wanted my life to be worship.   But, while worshipping, I didn't want to accidentally be mistaken for one of those Christians.  So, many times I downplayed my faith in public and whitewashed a lot of my beliefs so, I wouldn't be taken as a wierd extremist.  I was so worried that people would take my real me the wrong way that I inadvertently created a quasi-me, a "me lite", if you will--a washed out version that in no resembled the fullness of me. 


I like to think I've changed and I'm different.  Who knows?  But, here goes an attempt to show the unwatered down version.  Here are two of my "CHRISTIAN" beliefs.


1. I don't believe abortion is right, for any reason--even rape, incest, or the mother's health.  But, I do not believe this is a decision anyone is entitled to make for another person, especially through a law. As Christians we should try as much as possible to provide the support people need to make the right decision in these cases.  But, to somehow pretend you are more moral than others because you think the government should force all women who get pregnant to carry the baby to term is silly.  As Christians the goal is conversion. We want women to choose to keep their babies--to know that God will provide.  (We also want underaged women to abstain from sex, so they don't get pregnant with babies for which they are not prepared.) But, forcing our faith on others is a cheap way of carrying out our commision to spread the gospel.


2. I think the idea that being a Republican and being a Christian are one in the same is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.  I cringe because I feel that a lot of Republicans run on a platform of  religious beliefs that mirror mine, but their lives, campaign style (the venom they spew through ads, and appearances) and every day statements they make seem so at odd with what I believe.
 
There!  I have now exposed my "Christianity"!
...(maybe 2017 me will have a part III)


Thoughts?

In the Shadow of the Most High

I KNOW two things. 1) That God exists and, 2) that God loves us (and by us, I mean everything, the trees, birds, goats, humans, fish and even the devil). There are huge things that make me aware of God's love. His sacrifice on Calvary. The fact that I'm alive.

I lived in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, was in Nigeria during the post 1996 election riots, and once stepped out of an SUV that had flipped over four times until it was crushed from almost every angle all without a single physical bruise (we'll talk about my emotional bruises later.) But, ironically, it's the little things, the "mini events" in my life that make me especially aware of God and extremely grateful.

For instance, last Sunday I tripped while the sermon was going on. I gracefully bumped into the drum sound booth, dismantling it completely. I also bruised my elbow and stubbed my toe enough for it to bleed. But, the best part was yet to come. When I made the mistake of turning around, I realized that the preacher had stopped preaching and everyone in the church was staring at me. So, back to the gratitude part. After that huge spectacle, I simply carried on with my business and it was a non-issue. No uproarious outbreak of laughter. No teasing. It was simply forgotten. No one ever mentioned it. I gave God meaningful praise that day.

As I walked to my car this morning, I had that sinking feeling as I realized no one was parked on the same side of the street as me. My eyes caught the multitude of street cleaning signs warning everyone who can read not to park on that side of the street. I also saw a man with a gauge thingymajig in his hand walking towards my car.

I started clack clacking in my heels towards my car. The man stopped and asked, "Is this your car?" When I sheepishly nodded. He shrugged and said, "There's nothing I can do."

I responded with resignation, "Oh, crap, you've already written the ticket." He paused for a while and then said, "No, I haven't. Go on with your day." He then left without writing a ticket.I got in the car and yelled, "YOU REIGN!" In that moment I was sure of my numbers 1 and 2 as mightily as if I'd seen the Red Sea part, a lame person walk, or a leper healed. They say the devil is the details. But, I think it's the opposite. God is in every detail. And, sometimes, it's through the tiny details, those small moments, that we can truly see that we're in His shadow.

Thoughts?

My LITERAL Fear of God

      I am going to start this post with a side note/ public service announcement that has absolutely nothing to do with the following post. Here goes: I'd like to ban the word "literally" from the English language or at least give it a mini vacation. Almost every time the word is used, it is used incorrectly.  When people say "literally", they usually mean "figuratively".  The few times that people really mean "literally", they don't have to use the word.  If something is 'literal,' people can tell the act really happened—so, using the word is redundant.  I dared myself to find one example where that isn't the case...see my title.  I barely made it, I had to use the noun form of the word. Yes, our regular programming was just hijacked by Grammar Nerd.  Don't worry I have banished her, we can now jump into my fear of God, (yep, figuratively!)

     So, lately I have been spending a lot of time alone in my church.  The recurring theme of my time in church is the deep eeriness I feel.  Every creak makes me jump.  Every peep makes me swivel around with my fists clenched.  I am not willing to publicly share what the wind howling makes me do.  So, for the most part, my church stays have been spent alternately meditating and having mini heart attacks.  This has put a little bit of a damper on my "spend time alone in church meditating so you can get closer to God" plan.  In response I have started forcing myself to dig into my fears (figuratively!) and get to the root of them.

 

     I have decided I have only one thing to blame.  Hollywood!   No, I''m kidding.  (But, doesn't it seem like these days, that's always who we blame?)  I think the root of my fear is God.  I love God, want to know Him more, and would be delighted to know the full extent of God's plans for me.  But, I am afraid of God.  And, I'm not sure my fear is the appropriate Proverbs 1:7 beginning of knowledge fear.  I think mine is a deeper Colbert fear of bears (he thinks they're "Godless killing machines"). No, I don't think God  is a killing machine. (Though He did go ham, in some of those old testament stories.)  But, I think at the same time that I long to know God and be vulnerable and intimate with Him, I am completely terrified of that—of dropping layers and being completely open with God, of knowing God's thoughts towards me, and, especially, of allowing God to take over in my life.

     That's level one digging.  Level two digging begs the question, "why am I afraid of this closemission? (—closeness and submission made into one word. Feel free to use it, send royalties through paypal to my email addy.)  The answer is simple: I don't know.  That is, my fear of God is my fear of the unknown.  I have no idea what a greater closemission to God would involve.  I have no idea who I would be or what my life would be like.  I have no idea where God would lead me or what He would require of me along the way. That is enough to make me shake in my boots. (figuratively!)

Thoughts?