We have been discussing the three tools God has given mankind to fulfill the purpose for which He created us—ruling
over His earth. They are the family, the church, and the civil government, and each of them has its own unique and indispensable role to play to accomplish our task.
Years ago, when I was first hearing and just beginning to learn these ideas, Jill and I were fully involved in raising three children, so our natural inclination was to focus on the family. That tool was not only the most important one to me, but the only one in which I truly immersed myself.
And did I ever do so! As an elder in our church of a few hundred people, I was able to rally church parents, very reluctantly at first, to start a free Christian, parent-assisted, K-12 school for church members only, with 120 students by its third year. The Christian family was the focus of my ministry.
At the church we had two emphases: 1.) Our theology – Reformed, with an openness, and even an encouragement, to move in spiritual gifts, and 2.) Our emphasis on the biblical family. I was aware of the other two tools God has given us (having a biblically-functioning church and also a civil government that followed biblical parameters, and I gave lip-service to each) but I saw the family only as my ministry calling, and, by far, the most important of the three.
However, as the years have passed, I have come to believe that they are all three equally crucial for the Lord’s Prayer to be answered, as God’s will is “done on earth as it is in Heaven!” (Matthew 6:10). Without families, there will be no children to take up the ruling vision; without churches equipping its members, their children will be untrained, lawless rebels, and without a functioning civil government, there ultimately will be no society over which we will rule—only anarchy and chaos! All three are equally important.
This is where I am today in my journey “to the City.” I am standing with Abraham, who ““By faith…obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going…for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8, 10).
In these weekly postings, I share with you where I am TODAY; what I believe God has shown me in my heart to be “truth,” TODAY Keeping in mind John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,” I do not want to share only “what the Bible says” (the Law), but what that law is saying as it is energized, motivated and uttered—COMBINED WITH THE UNLIMITED, UNCONDITIONAL GRACE OF GOD!
However this may not be what I believe TOMORROW! In my 65+ years as a serious, committed Christian, there have been at least 10 major theological camps where I have pitched my tent for a period of time. Each time, I eventually realized that, no, I haven’t yet arrived at my final destination, broke camp and moved along. I am, indeed, like a little child, who is just now ready for kindergarten! My experiences at these 10 camps are detailed in my book, Waiting for the City with Foundations. All my books are available, completely free in PDF format. As always, drop me a note and I will send any of them to you.
As we begin to discuss the expression of God’s Kingdom through the three tools He has given us, I felt it important to communicate to you that I don’t see myself as speaking ex cathedra, i.e., the one with the “final, correct, biblical word” on the topic. No, this is simply what, after much time, experience and failure, I now believe to be Truth (John 1:17). I want to add the postings that will follow to the discussion!
