by Joel V Webb | May 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
Doesn’t it
sometimes feel like the way things are handled in our greater world of politics
just isn’t cutting it? The endless and vicious circle of talking points, ad hominin
attacks and a victory at all costs mindset that hurts anyone in the way. This
has been part of the steady polarization we see in the culture around us in the
West, particularly in the United States.
CS Lewis famously wrote, “If we find ourselves with a desire that
nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we
were made for another world.”
This fits perfectly in line with the message given to not just the
Christians of the early church in the New Testament, but also to the natural
nation of Israel. Their way of life commanded by God was meant to distinguish
themselves in the culture around them as a people doing things differently.
From having no standing military, a king who was a humble servant of the
people, a priesthood with no means of amassing political or economic power, and
a redemption and jubilee system that ensured that even the disadvantaged were
able to maintain and provide for themselves.
What does this
maybe look like in our day? We feel uneasy or unsettled that the answers our
political systems are providing don’t seem to fit the mold we see in Scripture.
We want to see not just
Then throw in
the mix our fallen humanities insatiable desire for power. In Scripture (both Old
and New Testament) this desire is often personified with the city of Babylon. A
place of idolatry, power and wealth that conquered and commanded other nations.
This desire for power is something every human is susceptible to.
When Christ
came an inaugurated the “Kingdom of Heaven”, things would never be the same.
The systems of this world are turned upside down with how things would be run.
Think of the Sermon on the Mount as the constitution or founding document,
where we see how citizens of this Kingdom are to represent and follow the King
in a new way of life.
Now, back to
that Lewis quote. When he talks about another world, this is not something
being said about just living and being in heaven. That is a myopic and shallow
understanding of God’s Kingdom. That different world is what God intends for
His creation. A Kingdom, a people transformed and changed by Him who make a
world that is known by its love and different way of doing things, not enslaved
to the grasping for power that we see, attempt and experience here and now.
The Kingdom of
Heaven has been inaugurated, and is waiting to be consummated. It is not
finalized, but it is working. Slowly and surely through history it is growing
and changing the world around it bringing us back to how God intended it.
by Joel V Webb | Apr 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
What do you think the bodily coming of Jesus will look like?
I grew up with and was taught to have this image of during the
complete destruction of humanity and everything, Jesus would come at the last
moment to save the day. Because of the antichrist and the great tribulation,
humanity would be devastated, and while some would be protected from the terror,
most would be subject to the evils of the “end times”.
Well…things have changed. While I certainly am open to
having disagreements with fellow Christians on perspectives of end times and
the book of Revelation, I hold a dramatically different view than what I grew
up with. I’ve come to understand that certain views of the end times can be used
to hold people in fear, keep them in line so they don’t ask questions. “If you
want to be protected in the evil days ahead, do as I say”
Are there other options on how to view His coming again? I
believe in the physically bodily return of Jesus to rule and reign over His
creation with His people in a New Heavens and a New Earth.
Jesus spoke of His Kingdom as a mustard seed. Something that
starts small, but over time grows into something very large. In all the
parables about the Kingdom we get the idea that His people will be
transformative to the world around them, making a difference through the new
life He offers empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The work of His Kingdom will not fail. Sadly, when we talk
about the end times there is excitement that the Church will fail at its task
and Christ will have to come in at the last moment to make it right. Here’s the
question that has been stuck in my craw…is the Church supposed to fail?
I don’t think it is. God has His Kingdom as representatives,
workers of His way of doing things to impact and change the world around them
to reflect how He originally intended His creation to be. The problem as I see
it is that some have hyper literalized obviously metaphoric language particularly
in Revelation. And instead of seeing the encouragement to God’s people to
remain allegiant to King Jesus in the face of anything that comes, we see it is
a calendar that once certain things take place, we can begin the countdown to
His return. But that’s not how that works. Not even Jesus knows the point of
His return. So to say we can have a timeline and know it once things begin to
happen contradicts Christ’s own words.
Instead, the image we see presented by Jesus and the apostles
is that we the Church are the do the work of spreading the gospel. Our
perspective should be that of hope. The Church does accomplish it’s task. Not
through our own strength and ability, but through the power of the Holy Spirit,
as we see our entire world transformed one life at a time.
And one day, whether its in 1 year, or 10,000 Christ will return
in the flesh to a people who will say ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of
the Lord !’” (Matthew 23:39)
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