The Newness of the Kingdom

 

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are the beginning of a new creation; the old is passing away; behold, the new begins..

And from 1 Cor 5..

Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. And a Happy Chinese New Year to all of my Chinese friends and relatives!

( posting time shifts and divides into Sat/Sun for this weekend because I am on Pacific time and am traveling Sunday morning!)

Dearly beloved,

When we speak of newness, or of a new experience, most of the time it belongs to an experienced order, framework, or it reflects a current understanding of what it means to be alive and experience newness in some way, shape or form.  It’s not new, other than that it is new to us.

But the new creation that this vs speaks of refers to a true ‘paradigm shift’ i.e. when that phrase is used correctly.  An anomaly occurs which no longer fits the existing definitions so the experience does not fit the current framework of understanding. We have to recalibrate in order to get the new understanding and experience correct. We spoke a little about this last week and the week before.  Mind is always in the middle. But now, in Christ, the physical and the spiritual aspects of what it means to be human are flipped over! Newness in Christ brings the spirit of God into our lives. Nothing stays the same. Instead, our potential for realizing Gods understanding of what it means to be human now begins to kick in. If it does not, then we have gotten off to a wrong start and are not yet in the new creation phase. We might need a restart! Or a planned relational kick-start! It depends.

The dimensional reality of the Kingdom of God can become increasingly real in our experience with each passing day. What happened with Elijah when he moved from place to place effortlessly? We do not know. Scripture seems to indicate that the Lord God moved him as needed. Ask, where did Jesus go to, each time he disappeared, in post-Resurrection incidents? How could he move through a wall, and still be touchable? Shades  of Star Trek and beam me up Scotty? Matter that is disassembled, and then reassembled at will.  

The Kingdom of God is an inter-dimensional experience. It is NOT the remaking of human society into the ‘Kingdom of God’ on earth. That claim has never been validated. The Kingdom is never of talk, but talk with action and life-changing power alongside! That is the true meaning of The Word of God. God speaks, and a thing happens. Movement of creative sound that makes a thing become. Remember again what was said to Moses – I cause to be that which I cause to be. The Kingdom is not of this earth. Remember what Jesus said to the question of are you a King? His reply – my Kingdom is not of this earth.

But it does mean that human society can learn that this life is the precursor of life in the Kingdom and that such a precursor begins now, even here. This carries with it an understanding of the finite, transient limits (not limitations) of our physical life. It is why I have always lived as though this very day might be my last. It carries a different attitude, a different expectation of that which can happen, and that which is to come. It is a You don’t have to wait until you die to find out what the Kingdom of God is like. It is also in the here and now. How much of it you may experience depends entirely on us – on how we choose what we choose. And how we live accordingly with our choices. When God says walk before me and be ye perfect it means that in my being with you, you will find your true perfectness. It is not, as many have said, that the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ serves as an ideal. It is not an ideal. It is the reality of the Kingdom that may be experienced.

When Jesus said of his disciples actions on the Sabbath, with reference also to David, let them eat corn (or bread, or wheat…) he downplayed both tradition and culture. And both lead us into habit and custom and so create identity. But this is a different newness. Not of the old described as the new. The difference? True spiritual power. It is not gained by words but by action. Correct action in synchronization with the will of God.

And it is a newness in which God’s leadership plays out in our lives, hence the line in the 23^rd Psalm that says ’He leads me in paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.’ That is exactly how that 1^st section ends.  Again, it is the story of the prodigal son, who was comfortable enough, remembering his father’s love, to head for home when things seemed hopeless. God enables our walk, it is not entirely of our doing. But also of God working with us to achieve His will. Amazing as you watch how God can make a thing happen! But what is key is the degree to which we want to will ourselves to walk with Him in our daily lives.  In a word – our relationship. The closer you are to God, the less you need to say, and the more you are able to do. See this for what it is, in this continuingly sinful world of ours. The more cups of cold water you find yourself giving out, without even having to think about it. God watches, but God also leads. And his leading always brings good ie godliness into the lives of others. It is never self-serving.

Remember also that newness of the spirit into which the God of Jesus leads us is a process for the human condition. It is not like going out and buying a new car. There is no ‘new car’ smell on you the day after you have been baptized.  You are pretty much the same person. It is action oriented. If your will is in synch with God’s will for you, the right action starts to happen and keeps repeating. And with reach repetition it grows stronger, newer, and even more different than before.  Behavioral patterns start to transform. It is the beginning of the Kingdom of God within. It is your link  - of your Spirit with the Spirit of God. The world may hate you, and even persecute you when you are true, but you will prevail because God is not mocked. And the love of God is always victorious in the end.

But as I say, it is a process. And we have allowed ourselves, even in the church, to become so very worldly. We dress up in business suits, or we wear ‘identifying’ vestments, when all we are – are prodigal children who have come home. And who can now rejoice. And celebrate beyond the influence of the world. And our celebration is always of a different kind. 

This is why I keep saying we have no mission, need no money, ask no membership, have no agenda. Ask the hard question – are these things really of the Kingdom? Or are they the result of structures we have created, and hence, as in history, all of the division that ensues whenever we disagree and there is no true Spirit present to show us the truth. We cannot see or hear and so we go separate ways. That is no witness. We  might argue that we are all different, and so this manifests in different ways. Really? Then how come the basic functions are still the same? Jacob’s Ladder is a Fellowship of The Spirit. That is enough. It challenges us to seek the empowering that all Christians must seek. Why?  So that they may go out and be, unconsciously, unthinkingly, the children of the Father! Children know this. That is enough. It is how we behave towards others that convinces them. It is how we behave towards our children that convinces them of whom we are and of the values we carry. We are a witness to them, and in most cases, that is never forgotten. We all know this.

You see, the newness that Jesus brings is the newness of the Kingdom of God. Not some vague ‘mysterium tremendum et fascinans’ but rather of an enabling Father who walks with His children and leads them by the hand. They are loved, protected, challenged to grow beyond themselves, not as shaped by the corporate and institutionally constructed limits of this world, but into becoming spirit beings of strength, wisdom, and power.

Newness is a growing ability, manifest in skill and character. And the good news for the old is that this newness continues. When I was young much of me was sustained by youthful energy. But that is not spiritual in its power. It’s just enthusiasm most of the time! It ages, and slows, as the body ages (its prime functional consciousness is of the body – see?)  and so when you look at older pastors et all, what do you see? I know a few who are exceptions, but they are, as I say, a few. Most get tired… and then retire. Can’t re-tread this tire, can you? Not quite. Newness changes that. You will age, indeed, as I do also. Less hair, eye stuff to deal with, some of it so inevitable. I watch my limits. But beyond these, this is a newness that will continue to remake you, so that as the physical slows some, the spirit keeps renewing mind and body. Find out for yourself. I am satisfied that the God who is both ageless and timeless, brings that to bear upon our relationship with him. Nothing is stopping us. Except the limits we ourselves place on our relationship with God. May the coming time of Lent bring a great newness upon all of us in Jesus; for we are all precious in God’s sight. Find the vs that says that. It’s there. Grace, peace and love to you all. G.