Chapter 6 - What is God's Kingdom?

All but right away, Drane points out something that at times in history, the Church seems to have struggled with. He says that God's kingdom is contrary to the idea of "the establishment of a new state which, in contrast to the countries around [Jesus/Israel], would somehow be ruled by God in person." (p. 112) It is possible that maybe, if not maybe even just secretly, the Church would like God to call "times up?" But that points to the different eschatological views that the author discusses. Drane calls it nonsense, the notion of God's kingdom as a political state (p. 113), and surely he is absolutely right.

Jesus calls on us to live in a new way, because of His light within us. We who have been drawn to Him have witnessed the truth, and we are subjects to the real King, the One who reigns eternally. Rather than pledging allegiance to a flag, or swearing an oath, the reclaimed subjects of Christ's Kingdom are loyal to the throne in their concern for the "quality of human life, and nature of meaningful relationships, rejecting attitudes of power and control in favour of love, acceptance and mutual service." (p. 113) God's hand is on those who are called by His name, and He intends to bring glory to His name through us.

You wanna have a great discussion with something that might go in some directions you might think are really odd - pick eschatology! Now I'm not one to criticize someone else's beliefs (unless they're not mine ;-p) but I don't quite understand how people establish a view common to Schweitzer's futurist point of view. Schweitzer seems to strip Jesus of all divinity, and places on Him the mantel of failed prophet who then attempted to bring about His own unrealized prophecies. And yes, Dodd may have been closer to the mark in seeing the kingdom relaized in Christ, but Drane is right to point out that Jesus Himself, and other Scriptural authors, spoke of a later coming. I find the material surrounding the parousia is difficult to settle on. And I think maybe God intended that way. For now, the coming kingdom or the kingdom come gives God's people a chance to explore His word and keep in dialogue about Him and its meaning. Maybe it's not all that confusing after all.