“Is this Kingdom business?” That was the response to a question I had about some decisions we were trying to make on the mission field in Prague from a former professor I had a great deal of respect for. “Is this Kingdom business?” It’s important to note I don’t remember the question – which makes me think whatever the question was, it wasn’t about Kingdom business. But I thought the question was important at the time. Which leads me to some observations….
You see, as children of the King, we are to be about Kingdom business. We are to be about the expansion and glory of the Kingdom. We give our allegiance to God and pledge our lives to Kingdom business. Only problem is, we usually don’t really know what Kingdom business is. We often wrap ourselves up in questions we think are critical to the Kingdom and, sometimes, never come to a realization God really isn’t concerned with the thing we find so fascinatingly important. Let me incriminate myself….
I am passionate about the singing we do in church. My wife used to win vocal competitions, I was in A Capella chorus groups, and my daughters have great voices – one of them was an all-National Choir finalist. We recognize quarter notes from half notes, know what a fermata is, can tell 3/4 time from 4/4 time, understand key signatures, and (gasp) read shaped notes. I am also fascinated by good, well-thought-out lyrics. I’ve read extensively on the importance of song-services and have even led a workshop or two on leading congregational singing. I have also found people to disagree with me about almost everything I believe about singing – from the kinds of songs I believe are most appropriate for worship, to the role of the song-leader, to the proper interpretation of how to sing some of my favorite songs. Getting all worked up about this and imposing my viewpoint is not Kingdom business no matter how much I would like it to be. Now, I’d be happy to share with you any of my views, but the Kingdom does not rise and fall on those.
Kingdom business is bringing as many people as possible to the recognition of and submission to the Lordship of the King. Kingdom business is Kingdom expansion in our own lives and the lives of others. And let’s understand – He will set the parameters for what that looks like for each of His subjects. Consider the rich ruler – Jesus looked at him and loved him – and told him he lacked one thing – he needed to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. The point? The ruler had another lord, another master, another king – it was his wealth. He had to give that up, just as we have to give up anything that challenges God for our allegiance. We will run into all sorts as we work toward Kingdom expansion and that’s why Paul speaks so passionately about what is of first importance – death, burial, and resurrection. We bring people to the cross. Do we understand the power here? I think I hardly do! Paul says it this way when talking to the Corinthian church – he was resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Corinthians 2:1-5). When we bring people to that cross through our words and actions, when we are resolved to know nothing else, when we consider everything else rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ, then we are about Kingdom business. And it is only when we pledge ourselves to that and that alone, allowing ourselves to be transformed by the power of the cross, can we expect others to be so resolved to do likewise. And against that single-minded commitment to Kingdom business the gates of Hell don’t stand a chance….