The Kingdom as a Christianized Culture.

kg7The Kingdom as a Christianized culture believes that Christians should be working to transform society by actively changing the way things were done.  In the old days, such people were called social reformers.

A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. The LORD’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. He will delight in fearing the LORD. He won’t judge by appearances, nor decide by hearsay. He will judge the needy with righteousness, and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land. He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth; by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt around his hips, and faithfulness the belt around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze. Their young will lie down together, and a lion will eat straw like an ox. A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole; toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den. They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain. The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the LORD, just as the water covers the sea. (Isa 11:1-9 CEB)

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,  To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 42:1-7  “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.  He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.  A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.  He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”  Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:  “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,  To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, started a company making matches, to light cigarettes and cigars, using red phosphorus because the other companies were using yellow phosphorus that was killing the workers.  William Wilberforce fought against child labor and slavery in factories, mills and mines.  Emily Pankhurst fought for the right to vote, and Dr. Martin Luther King fought for civil rights.

With the advent of the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ and evangelical fundamentalism, social reform became a thing of the past, and the focus turned to the imminent return of Christ and ‘rapture’ of the Church. Worrying about the things ‘left behind’ seemed pointless.  Fortunately today, things are changing, Christians are once again becoming socially aware.

About Terry Threadwell

Dr. Terry Threadwell has thirty five years ministry experience. Author, educator and Director of the Institute of Progressive Pentecostal Studies.
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1 Response to The Kingdom as a Christianized Culture.

  1. shari marquis says:

    I’m so glad I came accross your article accidently on purpose. We know who that usually is being that the Holy Spirit is the teacher who resides in this realm with us. Thank you you helped change a life. sincerly Marquis.

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