moving towards the Kingdom Age

It is important that we first acknowledge the season of history that we find ourselves within. We are in transition, much like the time of Pentecost in the beginning of Acts. I like to think about all that took place after that awe-inspiring day when the once fearful disciples left the upper room, went boldly into the Temple courtyard, where the very one who denied Jesus three times just 50 days earlier, stood up and preached the sermon of his life. Peter was so bold in his assertions that Jesus had been crucified, dead in the tomb for three days but then resurrected, and then ascended into heaven 50 days later, that 3,000 people responded with a “yes” to his invitation to follow Jesus and even to be baptized. It’s not so farfetched to think that, just weeks before, many of them may have found themselves chanting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

After Pentecost, everything changed. The fearful disciples became bold apostles and began to call people to meet in homes after the Temple services. They saw big miracles take place; in fact, miracles became commonplace. They developed a community of support, learning, and of sharing communion around the dinner table. The new Jesus followers were still Jewish, and they kept practicing the rituals of their Jewish faith, even as they walked out their new season of life.

It wasn’t until Stephen was stoned to death that the new believers began to leave Jerusalem. This is where it gets interesting. They suddenly found themselves around the dinner table with those who previously had been declared unacceptable. Problems abounded because both Jews and Gentiles were being challenged to lay down the familiar and pick up the unfamiliar new practices of Jesus and His Kingdom ways.

Today, we find ourselves in a very similar period of shifting. The Church Season which I believe began after Constantine declared Christianity the legal religion in the fourth century, continued for close to 1,800 years. It was around the time of the emerging internet when everything began to change, launching a huge transition into the Kingdom Age. Transitions of this magnitude don’t happen overnight, however, so the shift between the familiar Church Season and the rapidly advancing Kingdom Age may take up to 50 or 100 years to fully complete.

It’s during these massive transitions that confusion and disorientation become commonplace. As I asked people how they defined the Kingdom, I found much confusion; many thought that church and kingdom were the same.

So, with the help of a few of my literary heroes, I set out to find a concise, precise definition of the Kingdom.

Perhaps whole generations find themselves feeling misunderstood, misrepresented, and very disillusioned with the status quo. Others defend the status quo as “faithful Christianity,” and the Body of Christ looks as if it’s been all chopped up in the process.

meeting you where you are

transitioning from church season to kingdom age

I am telling my story in an attempt to speak to you wherever you find yourself. Perhaps you have diligently done the things you were trained to do to live as a “faithful Christian.” Maybe you even went so far as to attend seminary and become one who is employed by the church or a Christian organization. Possibly, you were raised in a churched home, but as you began your life as a young adult, you find the traditional answers and practices no longer appeal to you or even bring you close to the God you long to know. Maybe you are so frustrated with all of it that you’ve given up and are exploring other pathways to know God.

Let me ask you some questions:

• Do you feel different?

• Do you feel restless and, possibly, even bored with spiritual activities or church attendance that used to fulfill you?”

• Are you beginning to find excuses for why you aren’t available to do them?

• Have you stopped attending Bible study or church altogether?

• Are you feeling confused or guilty or both?

• Even more, could you possibly be in ministry and spend more time planning your escape route than writing your sermon?

If this describes you, be at peace. You are in the midst of making the transition from the Church Season to the Kingdom Age. It doesn’t always come easily, but the price is worth it.

Do you have the tools necessary to navigate this new Kingdom Age?