Kingdom Culture

The appellative ‘Kingdom Culture’ is called on regularly - we talk about it a lot.  But it is most clearly defined for us in the New Testament. (1)

Kingdom Culture in broad terms is: repentance, faith and baptism as point of kingdom entry, inclusion of Jew and Gentile who had lived implacably opposed to each other (therefore, the reconciliation of any oppositional communities), recognition of unity and identity solely in the risen Christ as opposed to national, ethnic, sexual, political and economic determinates, community-based living/expression, the Lord’s Supper, the gifts of the Holy Spirit defining structure and roles, prayer and thanksgiving determining the tone of our communication, scripture read and expounded as fundamental to the churches identity and growth, creation and fall defining the human conundrum, the practise of holiness and ethical virtue, forgiveness and confession of sin, loving one another, and the priority of God’s church.  It is these that define, or more the to the point, are Kingdom culture.  

We have largely defined and constructed Kingdom Culture around attitudes, and such things as servanthood, giving, faith, positive mindsets, creativity, and the like.  None of these need to be contested, but alone they are insufficient. It is because they pose no threat nor prophetic voice to/against the Kingdoms of this world – the domain of the prince of the power of the air.  They are not a serious threat to World Culture, whereas the elements listed in the first paragraph are.

Their shortcoming in defining Kingdom Culture is that they are often centred around church meetings and cultural appeal and don’t go near far enough in describing the countercultural nature and impact of the rule of Christ amongst, and radiating out from, God’s people.  Kingdom Culture is an afront to this age, to the principalities and powers, against whom it is a judgment.   

Kingdom Culture whilst needing to be translated into a cultural context should not be subsumed by it. When it imitates, or acquiesces to, national or global culture it is salt without taste, a bright light covered.

Kingdom culture is always relevant to the human condition/need, but never relevant to human pride/aspiration.

It isn’t as though we need jettison what we already do, but we do need to consider broadening the scope of what constitutes Kingdom Culture, so that the rule and reign of Jesus Christ is not entangled in, nor minimised by, the world we live in, by presenting church/kingdom lite. 

Reference 1 -  I am using Kingdom in broad terms so that it includes the Church, as that is where Kingdom Culture is mostly focussed (in the terms described).