Shaun Groves
Last night I played my set, spoke about Compassion, and lots about what the bible calls “the kingdom.”
The short version is this: Jesus’ main message was what he called the Good News (euangelion in Greek, also translated “gospel” in English). Despite what we might have been told in church, the Good News is more than you’re going to heaven or you’re not going to hell – though that alone is fantastic news. No, the Good News, according to Jesus, is bigger than that: “The time has come. The kingdom is here.” (Mark 1:14-15).
Jesus taught that when God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven the world gets to see what God is like. When the hungry are fed, enemies are forgiven, the outcasts are accepted, wrongs are made right – when this stuff happens we get a glimpse of heaven.
That’s good news for rich folks like you and me because we’re bored. We’ve been told what we were saved from, but our pastors have often neglected to tell us what we were save for. The Good News gives rich folks purpose: God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.
And it’s good news for the poor, wronged, ostracized, and vulnerable too. The Good News gives them hope. And help. When God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven, they’re the first to benefit, to get fed, freed, healed, loved by God’s people.
I said all that, basically, like I do most nights, and then I walked out to the lobby to shake hands during intermission and something that’s never happened before happened to me.
A man introduced himself and said, “So you think heaven is on earth? What’s that aboot?”
“Whadaya mean exactly? I don’t understand the question,” I said.
And what followed was the most fascinating conversation I may have ever had on the road. This man very kindly, respectfully, gently, witnessed to me as if my soul was in eminent peril.
The Good News according to Jesus, the main thing he talked about for three years was so foreign to this Jesus follower that he didn’t even recognize it as Christian. And if it’s not Christian then, he figured, I’m not either.
We talked for half an hour. Very civilly. He asked great questions and I did my best to answer and show him in scripture where those answers came from.
In the end I thanked him for loving me enough to try to save me from hell and heresy. I thanked him for holding me accountable for every word I’d said. And then I went to the dressing room and got back to work on that book of mine. It’s about the Good News, you know? Apparently, some sincere, smart, wonderful followers of Jesus haven’t heard it yet.
Jessica says:
“Amen” seems a sufficient comment.
Eric says:
Fascinating. This has happened to me, but I wasn’t the guy on stage proclaiming the kingdom. At the time I was a guy on the periphery who believed outside the church establishment way before the “Believe Outside The Church Establishment’ movement had begun.
I call it “meal ticket Christianity.” Jesus is your meal ticket to heaven. Once you have your meal ticket and are safely exempted from eternal damnation, your only responsiblity (more of a suggestion, really) is to make sure other people have their meal tickets too. It doesn’t matter if your earthly life is hell, or if you peddle your meal tickets with a sales pitch of hatred and fear. Just hand out those tickets to fill the streets of gold.
It’s ironic that just yesterday I was reading a rant from a “meal ticket” preacher regarding a mutual friend of ours. Apparently our friend was struck down by God in the baptismal waters because he was preaching the heresy of God’s kingdom on earth instead of a message of fear and damnation.
I think people are slowly starting to get it, but the more things change, the more noise you hear from those who want to stay the same.
lavonda says:
Yes, amen is a great comment.
At the very least, you planted some seeds in his heart to think about and dig into the Word on his own to find answers.
I don’t know you at all, but I’ve heard you speak at my church… you seem saved to me. 🙂
holly Panter says:
and I wish more of them knew about it…I think if they did, they’d be sharing it and using it more practically!
Cara says:
Lots of Christians are familiar with the “Holy Don’ts” and not so many with the “Do’s”. It’s part of the “saved from/saved for” tension.
I think it also may go to show how many people don’t dig into the Word for themselves, but just let whoever is standing behind the pulpit on Sunday tell them what they believe the Bible says.
It’s an interesting conversation I’m sure. I wonder how many more of the people in that room thought along the same lines as that man did. You might be surprised.
Jason says:
It amazes me that people can pray “on earth as it is in heaven” and not even stop to think about the practical implications of that phrase.
I did like your usage of proper Canadian grammar in your quote of what you were asked. 🙂
Carly says:
Me too, me too – on both the comment about “on earth as it is in heaven” and on your proper usage of Canadian grammar!
Aw-men!
Tiffany says:
Thanks so much for what you said at the concert last night. I was there listening and thinking to myself, “That is totally what I and so many other Christians are missing” – we’re not ‘saved’ just to get a ticket to heaven but to walk in God’s will – making him King in our life daily – and so being apart of his Kingdom. That’s what you said right? There are so many distractions that it can be easy to forget to search for what God’s will for my life – this second is. This may sound lame but I felt my heart warmed by the truth you spoke last night. I was really encouraged to live in daily surrender, to have God’s Kingdom be more established in my life daily.
kathy says:
Amen. What a gracious response.
Zack says:
Hey Shaun,
I know that there is quite a bit of civil and not-so-civil dialog about what the ‘kingdom’ is and isn’t, and you’re probably a lot more versed in it all than me, but just in case it hasn’t crossed your path, I’d like to point you to Ed Stetzer’s talk at the Advance ’09 conference.
I found it to be very, very helpful in getting clear on what the scriptures say about the ‘kingdom’, and the potential dangers in many of the popular interpretations out there.
It’s free off a link at Advance09.com
Beth says:
I don’t know that pastors have neglected to tell us what we were saved for. Maybe they have, but I’ve heard lots of sermons about how I should live and what I need to be “doing.” I think the problem is that we think of the cross as a one time “get out of jail free” card, and then we move on from there as if we have the ability to do the good works. The work for God’s kingdom can only come from hearts that are broken with the knowledge of how sinful and unworthy we are of God’s grace. When we really understand that we don’t have the power within ourselves to save ourselves, and that apart from God’s intervention we are completely and utterly lost in our own psychogenetic failures, then we will be so grateful that our good works will flow with gratitude. I know that the times in my life when I see God’s intervention most clearly, like the time when He miraculously healed my son from a grave illness, those are the times when my heart is so filled with my own helplessness and God’s mercy that I am given the desire to do ANYTHING for Him. That’s why the cross has to be forefront in our minds all the time….it’s so easy to forget how lost we really were, and what God, in His mercy, has saved us from. We are always cracked and broken people, but the light of God’s love pours through the cracked and broken places in our lives.
Kacie says:
Ten bucks says he’s a conservative baptist. 😉
Sometimes I really, really struggle after discussing things with people like that guy.
Stretch Mark Mama says:
I grew up with hellfire and brimstone as well. In my teens and twenties, I got to experience the ‘discipleship’ model, with lots of emphasis on becoming a better me.
(Which was wildly successful.)
*COUGH*
I’m sloooooowly seeing churches (actually–individuals) transition to the kingdom model that you mentioned. My guess is that the next generation will embrace it. No doubt I will talk myself blue in the face trying to make that happen.
Zack says:
BTW, Shaun, the more I use your blog, the more I have to say that this is one of the darn coolest blogs I have ever seen.
I hope you paid those dudes well :0)
Shaun Groves says:
Thanks, man. And we’re not through yet so I’m not sure what the price tag is myself. Yikes.
Matthew Smith says:
It looks great but is hard to read on my iPhone because of the new “Continue Reading” links…maybe they could make a simple mobile version (autodetects that it’s being read on a phone, redirects to m.shlog.com) that’s less snazzy, but puts all posts on one page with bigger font? I’m sure the web guys could even tell you how many of your current visitors are reading on a mobile device.
Always love hearing what you have to say, especially about Compassion.
Shaun Groves says:
We’re working on that Matthew. There WILL be a mobile version of the sight, if for no other reason than my “web guy”/road manager/booking guy reads it on his iPhone. ; )
Thanks for the kind words, man. I’m getting my butt chewed for thinking this way and a lot of uncertainties and self-criticism swarm me when that happens. So, again, thanks.
Amanda says:
It’s like when the Israelites wanted/needed Moses/Moshe to talk to God for them. They didn’t want to meet Him face to face, they were scared. There is a spirit of fear so deeply rooted in the “church” people don’t recongnize the truth when it is offered so plainly and simply. If you/we keep telling the truth, it will get around to everyone eventually, hopefully sooner than later.