BUILDING THE KINGDOM

A couple of years ago, when Reverend Peter Carnley accepted the position of Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia, he asserted that there were many ways to God of which Jesus Christ was just one.

As a God-fearing, Bible believing Christian it is of course impossible to accept that position. There is only one way to God and that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. But although there is only one way to God. There are many ways to Christ - and those ways are US!

That’s the whole point of being a Christian: to build the kingdom of Christ so that we can be saved, both now and for eternity.

A Kingdom is a place that has walls to keep the citizens in and the enemy out. It is a place where it’s citizens enjoy the protection and generosity of the King. A good Kingdom is one where it’s people are safe and free to grow into the people that they were intended to be. And the Kingdom of God is the greatest Kingdom of all.

But a Kingdom has to be built in order for the King’s protection and promise to apply. You can’t keep the citizens safe if they refuse to put up the walls - and the way we as Christians put up the walls in order to build the Kingdom is to bring people to Christ. Are we doing it? Yes, some of us are – but are we doing it well enough? Look around – I doubt it.

Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi was India's revered leader in the fight for national independence from British colonialism. As a child in India, a student in England and a lawyer in South Africa, he was exposed to Christianity-and racism. He admired the teachings of Jesus especially the Sermon on the Mount. He admired the life of Jesus, and indeed was inspired to follow his example. But after years of observing Christians he sadly concluded, "For me to believe in their Redeemer, their lives must show they are redeemed." He never became a Christian.

In India Gandhi is revered by many almost as a God. Imagine if Gandhi had become a Christian – and not disillusioned by the few “Christians” he met. What might his contribution have been to the second most populated nation on earth?

Jesus himself is very clear on what he expects from us:

Acts 1:7, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Mark 16:15, He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

John 16: 26-27;"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Matthew 28:19; Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations.

In order to build the Kingdom we have to live a life of example and use that life to encourage others to both follow Christ and do the same. It has to be a conscious, concerted, decisive effort and not a "hit and miss" affair. We will never build a wall to hold out the enemy and keep us safe by cementing the odd brick as the mood takes us or as the opportunity presents itself. The Christian Walk – is not a walk – it is a race against time to get the walls up in order to protect as many citizens as we can before the enemy amasses his forces and attacks.

There are many ways to Christ and WE are those ways.