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Reclaiming the Kingdom of God Metaphor for the Twenty-First-Century Church Timothy R

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Reclaiming the Kingdom of God Metaphor for the Twenty-First-Century Church Timothy R Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Seminary 3-1-2014 Reclaiming The Kingdom of God Metaphor for the Twenty-First-Century Church Timothy R. Willson George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Willson, Timothy R., "Reclaiming The Kingdom of God Metaphor for the Twenty-First-Century Church" (2014). Doctor of Ministry. Paper 87. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/87 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Seminary at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY RECLAIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD METAPHOR FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST- CENTURY CHURCH A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY TIMOTHY R. WILLSON PORTLAND, OREGON MARCH 2014 George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Timothy R. Willson has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 26, 2014 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Phillip Carnes, DMin Secondary Advisor: Roger Nam, PhD Lead Mentor: Leonard I. Sweet, PhD TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 Words Define the Kingdom ............................................................................................ 6 Biblical Metaphors Define the Kingdom ........................................................................ 8 Characteristics of Christ’s Mission Define the Kingdom: ............................................ 10 CHAPTER TWO: KINGDOM THEOLOGY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ............. 13 Jesus’ Kingdom Priority ............................................................................................... 13 Jesus’ Kingdom Parables .............................................................................................. 20 Jesus’ Kingdom Miracles .............................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER THREE: THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD ................................. 57 The Universal Kingdom of God – Defined................................................................... 57 The Universal Kingdom of God – Assumed................................................................. 60 The Universal Kingdom of God – Aspirational ............................................................ 63 The Universal Kingdom of God – Actual ..................................................................... 77 CHAPTER FOUR: THE KINGDOM OF GOD: A METAPHOR FOR SANCTIFICATION ......................................................................................................... 80 A Synthesized Definition of Sanctification .................................................................. 81 Common Synonyms of Sanctification .......................................................................... 84 Framing the Kingdom Metaphor .................................................................................. 89 Kingdom Characteristics as Synonyms for Sanctification ............................................ 90 Sanctification as Kingdom Witness .............................................................................. 96 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCIPLES OF CHRIST: KINGDOM AMBASSADORS ......... 102 Discipleship: A Working Definition ........................................................................... 103 Discipleship and Transformation ................................................................................ 105 Discipleship and Evangelism ...................................................................................... 108 Discipleship and Christian Education ......................................................................... 112 Discipleship and Discipline ........................................................................................ 116 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 119 CHAPTER SIX: IMPLEMENTING A KINGDOM OF GOD DISCIPLESHIP MODEL IN A LOCAL CHURCH CONTEXT.............................................................. 120 Cursing the Darkness: Summary of Conclusions ....................................................... 120 Lighting a Candle: Three Key Components to the Implementation Process .............. 133 Emotional Health .................................................................................................... 133 ii Spiritual Habits (Personal) ...................................................................................... 140 Spiritual Habits (Corporate) .................................................................................... 143 Gifts of the Holy Spirit ........................................................................................... 145 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 148 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 150 iii ABSTRACT In this dissertation I will argue that an egocentric eschatology (preoccupation with what happens to the individual at the moment of death) has unwittingly trumped the importance of incarnating the Kingdom of God in this present world. It is my assertion that a better understanding of Kingdom of God theology and the promotion of its priority will inspire Christian discipleship leading to reformation and renewal in the church. For this to happen, we must fundamentally renovate our definition and articulate the meaning of “Kingdom of God” as His sovereign reign and rule over a people He has called out, set apart, and sent forth to carry out His mission in the world. This Kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope. It exists already, but it is not yet fully realized. The supreme and sovereign reign of Christ has been established through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection. All authority in Heaven and on earth is His. His reign was victoriously inaugurated, and it will be finally consummated when He returns at the end of this age. Christ’s Kingly influence has continued to expand from the time of His ascension to the present day and it will progress until the Second Advent. During this age, God is drawing to Himself a people from every nation, tribe, and language. We call this gathering of people the Church, and its members are citizens, ambassadors, and witnesses of His Kingdom on earth. A problem I have observed in a rural Wesleyan context is that an inaccurate and inadequate theology of the Kingdom has inadvertently undermined the priority of spiritual formation and gospel ministry. An inordinate emphasis on “going to heaven when I die” has subjugated the primacy of the Kingdom of God. The question for our iv consideration then is, how might redeeming and redefining a biblical Kingdom of God metaphor revitalize spiritual passion in rural Wesleyan churches? Myles Munro summarizes this conflict very well: “One of God’s biggest challenges in getting His message of the Kingdom to the world is the fact that we who are His witnesses on earth are so slow to understand the message. Dreams of golden streets and heavenly bliss have blinded us to our responsibilities on earth.” 1 In this dissertation I will argue the case that improving our understanding of Kingdom citizenship (its privileges and responsibilities) will help the church refocus her attention on the task of reproducing Christ-like disciples; ambassadors and witnesses of the Kingdom of God in the present age. 1 Myles Munroe, Rediscovering the Kingdom: Ancient Hope for Our 21st Century World (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2004), 135. v CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION It was in the coffee line immediately following our annual Christmas Eve service that I engaged in a seemingly harmless holiday conversation. Noel turned to me and said, “I was listening to a local radio station today and people were calling in to talk about the best Christmas gift they ever received. I intended to call and say ‘the best Christmas gift I ever received was…Heaven.’”1 I was thoroughly expecting her to say “Jesus” and I confess I was disillusioned. I wanted to challenge her theology, but in the spirit of Christmas I held my tongue. Noel unwittingly disclosed a soteriological faux pas that I have discovered is common among members of small Wesleyan churches, particularly in rural settings. People in this context regularly talk about salvation primarily as it relates to heaven. Testimonies are often summarized or reduced to “I accepted Jesus into my heart,” or “I prayed the prayer of Salvation and when I die I will go to heaven.” Myles Munroe said, “Being born again is the way into the Kingdom—it is the necessary first step. But the Gospel of the Kingdom involves much more.”2 This unsophisticated and incomplete way
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