What is the relationship between the churches and the kingdom?
By Henry T. Blackaby and Melvin D. Blackaby
I use churches in the plural because I find that many people confuse the church and the kingdom, making it sound like the two are identical. They are not. When you are born again, you are not born into the church; you are born into the kingdom of God. You enter into a relationship with God where He is Lord. And anybody who tells you that you accept Him as Savior and then later surrender to Him as Lord is speaking absolute foolishness. You could not enter into the kingdom of God unless you submitted to His rule. He is Lord by the nature of redemption. Salvation means that you enter a kingdom where there is a King who rules over His subjects.
...It is important that we know the difference between the church and the kingdom and understand that entering the kingdom is essential to salvation. As soon as we confuse the two, we are in trouble. But once we have the priority of the kingdom in place, we then must take seriously the role of the churches within the kingdom. For the church is the best place to grow as a Christian and fulfill our role within the kingdom.
The other major confusion of the church and kingdom is a de-emphasis of the local church. I am concerned that many in our day have misunderstood the purpose of the church in the kingdom. Too many people see local churches as merely denominational entities and actually blame the churches for the perceived failures in the kingdom.
This is a tragic mistake that has weakened the effectiveness of the local church in carrying out the will of God. Each church is a sovereign creation of God, established for the purpose of bringing His great salvation to the world.
Churches who have linked their lives with a larger denomination are not merely following man-made institutions, which practice man's tradition and create divisions within God's kingdom. Yet this is an increasing perception by some.
In fact, denominations in our world are the greatest picture of New Testament Christians, for they practice unity in heart and soul for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel together. They can accomplish more together than they ever could by themselves, and the kingdom of God is extended through them. I believe that a unified denomination with a clear word from God is the most powerful force in the world, but that is exactly why Satan has targeted them and is seeking to divide them.
The many self-appointed groups who choose to remain outside the churches and criticize everything they do are tools that Satan uses. God intended that the edifying be done from INSIDE the body, not from OUTSIDE. Don't listen to those who cause division and strife, casting stones from afar. But invest your lives IN the churches and seek to build them up into Christlikeness.
When people insist on being a member of an "invisible universal church" and refuse to commit to a local church, they are following an unbiblical and harmful philosophy that is destroying the plan of God to extend the kingdom.
There was a time when coming to Christ meant joining His body but not anymore. "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian" is a common response among those who prefer to be in the "invisible church" and thereby avoid accountability to the body of Christ. A depreciation of the local church has damaged its effectiveness to hold believers accountable to the Word of God and has left many Christians detached from the people of God. Don't be fooled; God loves each and every church, and He is using them to do His purpose on earth.
Our oneness with all Christians is found in the kingdom of heaven. This unity is real and runs deep, compelling us to walk together with all other believers. But it remains true that God extends the reign of His kingdom through His churches. The churches, therefore, are absolutely essential to the purpose of God. That is the focus of the New Testament Scriptures, and that is the plan of God to touch the world.
From the book, Experiencing GOD Together. (edited by me)
AI
