Advancing God's Kingdom: A Call to Justice and Reconciliation

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of God's kingdom and its implications for the church and society. The central message is that the Bible's singular theme is the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom. This kingdom is not merely a spiritual concept but a comprehensive rule of God that should influence every aspect of life, including societal structures and cultural norms. The church, as God's legislative body on earth, is called to advance this kingdom agenda, which involves moving beyond a church-centered focus to a kingdom-centered one. This shift is crucial for the church to effectively impact culture and address critical issues such as racial injustice.

We delved into the historical and ongoing impact of racial injustice, emphasizing that the church has often failed to address these issues from a kingdom perspective. The church's silence or complicity in matters of racial injustice has contributed to the perpetuation of systemic racism. We discussed the concept of critical race theory (CRT) and its focus on systemic racism, acknowledging its controversial nature while recognizing the need to address the historical realities it highlights. However, the proposed solution is not merely to critique CRT but to offer a kingdom race theology (KRT) that aligns with biblical principles and seeks to bring about reconciliation and justice.

The call to action is clear: the church must embrace its role as an agent of reconciliation, actively working to dismantle systems of injustice and promote unity. This involves moving beyond mere discussions and seminars to practical service and collaboration across racial and cultural lines. By doing so, the church can embody the kingdom values of justice, righteousness, and love, ultimately reflecting God's glory in a divided world.

Key Takeaways:

- The Bible's central theme is the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom, which encompasses every aspect of life, including societal structures and cultural norms. The church is called to be God's legislative body on earth, advancing His kingdom agenda rather than being solely church-centered. [02:42]

- The church's failure to address racial injustice from a kingdom perspective has contributed to systemic racism. By endorsing cultural norms rather than challenging them, the church has often been complicit in perpetuating injustice. [09:01]

- Critical race theory highlights systemic racism, but the church's response should be to offer a kingdom race theology that aligns with biblical principles. This involves acknowledging historical realities while promoting reconciliation and justice. [20:49]

- Reconciliation is achieved through service, not just seminars. The church must actively work to dismantle systems of injustice and promote unity by serving together across racial and cultural lines. [25:19]

- The church's role is to bring the kingdom's values of justice, righteousness, and love into the culture. This requires moving beyond discussions to practical action, embodying God's glory in a divided world. [27:31]

YouTube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:07] - Introduction by Sean Muldrow
- [00:30] - Collaboration with School of Divinity
- [01:09] - Introduction of Dr. Tony Evans
- [02:42] - Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda
- [03:27] - God's Rule in History
- [04:08] - The Church as God's Legislative Body
- [05:31] - The Church as an Embassy
- [06:20] - The Church on Offense
- [07:14] - Keys to the Kingdom
- [08:19] - The Church Exists for the Kingdom
- [09:01] - Addressing Racial Injustice
- [10:22] - Understanding Critical Race Theory
- [20:49] - Kingdom Race Theology
- [25:19] - Reconciliation Through Service
- [27:31] - Call to Action for the Church

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Advancing God's Kingdom and Addressing Racial Injustice

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:18-19 - "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
2. Ephesians 2:11-22 - Discusses the unity between Jews and Gentiles and the breaking down of the dividing wall of hostility through Christ.
3. Revelation 5:9 - "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What does the term "ecclesia" mean in the context of Matthew 16:18, and how does it relate to the church's role as a legislative body? ([04:21])
2. How does Ephesians 2 describe the reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles, and what role does the cross play in this process? ([22:13])
3. According to the sermon, what are some historical examples of the church's failure to address racial injustice? ([09:14])
4. How does Revelation 5:9 illustrate the diversity and unity within God's kingdom?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the church as an "embassy" on earth challenge the traditional view of the church's role in society? ([05:31])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church has been complicit in systemic racism, and how does this impact its witness? ([09:01])
3. What is the significance of the "keys of the kingdom" mentioned in Matthew 16:19, and how should they be used to address societal issues? ([07:14])
4. How does the sermon propose that a "kingdom race theology" differs from critical race theory, and what are its intended outcomes? ([20:49])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of the church's role as God's legislative body. How can you personally contribute to advancing God's kingdom in your community? ([05:01])
2. The sermon emphasizes reconciliation through service. Identify a practical way you can serve alongside someone from a different racial or cultural background this month. ([25:19])
3. Consider the historical realities of racial injustice discussed in the sermon. How can you educate yourself and others about these issues to promote understanding and change? ([09:14])
4. How can you apply the concept of "kingdom race theology" in your daily interactions to promote justice and reconciliation? ([20:49])
5. The sermon calls for moving beyond discussions to practical action. What is one specific action you can take this week to embody the kingdom values of justice, righteousness, and love? ([27:31])
6. Reflect on the diversity within God's kingdom as described in Revelation 5:9. How can you celebrate and embrace this diversity in your church or community?
7. How can you ensure that your actions and attitudes align with the biblical principles of justice and righteousness, especially in addressing racial and cultural issues? ([36:19])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Kingdom Encompasses All Aspects of Life
The Bible's central theme is the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom, which encompasses every aspect of life, including societal structures and cultural norms. The church is called to be God's legislative body on earth, advancing His kingdom agenda rather than being solely church-centered. This means that the church's mission is not confined to spiritual matters but extends to influencing and transforming societal norms and structures to reflect God's rule. By embracing this broader vision, the church can effectively impact culture and address critical issues, such as racial injustice, by promoting justice, righteousness, and love. [02:42]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in advancing God's kingdom in your community, beyond the walls of the church?

Day 2: The Church's Role in Addressing Racial Injustice
The church's failure to address racial injustice from a kingdom perspective has contributed to systemic racism. By endorsing cultural norms rather than challenging them, the church has often been complicit in perpetuating injustice. It is crucial for the church to recognize its past shortcomings and take responsibility for its role in these issues. This involves a commitment to understanding the historical and ongoing impact of racial injustice and actively working to dismantle systems of oppression. By doing so, the church can become a powerful force for reconciliation and healing in a divided world. [09:01]

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you personally contribute to addressing racial injustice in your community, and what steps can you take to challenge cultural norms that perpetuate inequality?

Day 3: Kingdom Race Theology as a Response to CRT
Critical race theory highlights systemic racism, but the church's response should be to offer a kingdom race theology that aligns with biblical principles. This involves acknowledging historical realities while promoting reconciliation and justice. Kingdom race theology seeks to address the root causes of racial injustice by offering a biblically grounded framework for understanding and addressing these issues. It calls for a commitment to truth, justice, and reconciliation, grounded in the love and grace of God. By embracing this approach, the church can offer a transformative vision for racial healing and unity. [20:49]

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to educate yourself about kingdom race theology, and how can you apply its principles to promote reconciliation and justice in your community?

Day 4: Reconciliation Through Service
Reconciliation is achieved through service, not just seminars. The church must actively work to dismantle systems of injustice and promote unity by serving together across racial and cultural lines. This involves moving beyond mere discussions and seminars to practical service and collaboration. By engaging in acts of service and building relationships across divides, the church can embody the kingdom values of justice, righteousness, and love. This practical approach to reconciliation can lead to genuine transformation and healing in communities. [25:19]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific act of service you can engage in this week to promote reconciliation and unity in your community. How can you involve others in this effort?

Day 5: Embodying Kingdom Values in a Divided World
The church's role is to bring the kingdom's values of justice, righteousness, and love into the culture. This requires moving beyond discussions to practical action, embodying God's glory in a divided world. By living out these values, the church can become a beacon of hope and transformation in society. This involves a commitment to living out the principles of the kingdom in everyday life, demonstrating God's love and justice in tangible ways. By doing so, the church can reflect God's glory and offer a compelling vision of hope and healing to a divided world. [27:31]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can embody the values of justice, righteousness, and love in your daily life, and how can you inspire others to do the same?

Quotes

It is my contention that the Bible only has one theme. It is expressed in a multiplicity of ways but the one theme is the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom, that the kingdom is the only subject in the Bible and that every story, every doctrine, every personality, every biography is one in one way or another designed to advance God's kingdom. [00:02:44]

The failure of the church, in my view, to understand and advance a kingdom theme rather than merely an ecclesialogical theme, that is a church-centered theme, has given great detriment to the church's effectiveness in the culture. We've been more church oriented than kingdom-oriented when really the church is supposed to be the nursery of the kingdom. [00:03:36]

The church in addition to worship and fellowship and all the things that we assign with church is God's legislative body in history. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It legislates from having a history like a um an embassy. An American embassy is located in every identified country in the world. [00:05:07]

The church exists for the kingdom, not for the church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom, and whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven, permitting or forbidding which is binding and loosing. It has to deal with authority. [00:07:19]

If the church in America had taken a different posture, we wouldn't be dealing with the George Floyd situations today because what the church did was it endorsed what the culture accepted rather than reject what the culture accepted because it was expedient to do so. Out of that has come not only slavery, the repercussions of slavery, criminal leasing, peonage debt servitude, Jim Crow, and all the other idiosyncrasies. [00:08:45]

Critical race theory is centered around law, and what it is saying is that there was a legal structure in America, and that legal structure infiltrated every aspect of America governmentally approved, so that all areas of American life have been contaminated by racism. So critical race theory says that the law infiltrated the structures, the structures have been contaminated. [00:10:54]

The problem is that the church of Jesus Christ, which is supposed to be bringing the kingdom and its worldview into the culture, has been so errant in regard to this that it's not offered a clear word. First of all, let me establish something: colorblindness should not be our goal. God is not colorblind. [00:15:38]

Reconciliation is taking those who are divided and bringing them together again. How do you do that? Well, let me suggest something: you reconcile through service, not through seminars. You can have all seminars all day and talk about racial reconciliation and unity and oneness and that's great instruction, but you serve together. [00:25:17]

Kingdom race theology says that the cross of Jesus Christ is designed to create something new in spite of what happened with something old. The reason we can't get rid of this racial crisis is we spend so much time rehearsing the all we never get around to building the new. [00:24:26]

The thing that should dominate all of our conversation is love. The biblical definition of love is the decision to compassionately, righteously, and responsibly seek the well-being of another. So love starts with a decision, not an emotion, and when we're doing that the people who we are seeking to show that to ought to know that. [00:47:37]

The church has been more church minded than kingdom minded. So the book Oneness Embrace which is this comprehensive thing of unity, a lot has happened in our culture with the police shootings, the George Floyd, the political division that is divided inviting us along political lines and all that so I'm updating the book Oneness Embrace. [00:19:14]

The church is supposed to be infiltrating that with the system of the kingdom but because the world has so grafted us, I mean you take Galatians two, here Peter is a super Jew okay if Peter, if Peter was a soul singer his favorite song would be saying loud I'm Jew and I'm proud. [00:50:18]

Chatbot

Transcript

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