Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

It is particularly important at this cultural moment for followers of Christ to live out of the reality of the kingship of Jesus, particularly in our public engagement.

Why? Well, as society has become increasingly secular, our tendency has been to make too much of the kingdoms of this world. By “secular”, I do not mean that we don’t “believe in God”. Actually, the data suggests that we are as “believing” a nation as ever. Rather, by “secular” I mean that we increasingly think our primary hope is to be found in this world. We are convinced that we must find heaven on earth. We foolishly think that God is in the business of giving us our best life now! That we are here not so much to serve but to be served.

This makes us desperate, especially if we feel things are not going our way. We become anxious that “our kingdom” is crumbling. This not only makes us irritable, but also useless for representing the kingdom of God in this world.

But the Christian is first and foremost a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)—of God’s kingdom. This gives us a confident hope with which to move into the changing kingdoms of this world and to serve our neighbor. We know that the real and lasting kingdom comes not by love of power but by the power of love—not by superiority over people but by serving them. Not by the crown but by the cross.

We have but one King, to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess (Philippians 2). And just as that King served, so too, we are called to do the same.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

And now the Lord says,

he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,

to bring Jacob back to him;

and that Israel might be gathered to him—

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,

and my God has become my strength—

he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Thus says the Lord,

the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,

the servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise;

princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

~ Isaiah 49:5-7 (ESV)