The Church: Instrument of God's Kingdom
There seems to be some reticence on the part of many believers to make this equation. Maybe it smacks of Constantine for some. But I think most of the people I talk to who have a problem with this have a problem because it is God who ushers in His own kingdom. It is not us. I agree with that sentiment as far as it goes, but I still believe that it is fair to say that the Church is, at least in part, the primary instrument through which God ushers in His kingdom.How can I say this? The first reason is biblical - the unity of the Church with Christ. We are His body (cf. Ephesians 5). No one argues that, when Christ appeared on the scene two thousand years ago, he began to usher in God's kingdom. I see the Church as continuing this work on Christ's behalf and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Thus our work is God's work.
This leads to my second reason, which is theological. God is in control of history. He orders history according to his will. He does this so completely that he ordains not just the ends (e.g., that His kingdom would come), but also the means (e.g., that it would come through the Church). Thus, even though I am saying the Church is engaged in this work, it is only because, at a more fundamental level, God is engaged in it.
So the Church is the instrument by which God ushers in His kingdom. I should say that this is only true in this age. Between Christ's birth and death, responsibility for ushering in God's kingdom was His responsibility. It is only ours now because we have the Holy Spirit.
I want to make one final point, and it's sort of a nod to those who may still be uncomfortable with this language. I do not believe that any of this language necessitates that any believer, myself most of all, sees his work in this world as indispensable. God could always, always choose to usher in His kingdom in some other way. That he chooses to use the Church in this age is sheer grace, and it should be our joy. All we're called to do is to love people, in the manifold ways that life offers. For all of this talk about kingdom is somewhat theoretical. Really we're just being obedient to God's command to love. What other word is there to describe an environment where people love one another according to God's Word than "God's Kingdom?"
