Kingdom theology
Encyclopedia
Kingdom theology is a system of Christian thought that elaborates on inaugurated eschatology
, which is a way of understanding the various teachings on the kingdom of God
found throughout the New Testament
. It is often associated with the Vineyard movement. Its emphasis is that the purpose of both individual Christians and the church as a whole is to manifest the kingdom of God on the earth, incorporating personal evangelism, social action, and foreign missions.
Kingdom theology should not be confused with Kingdom Now theology, which is a variant of Dominion theology
.
In the kingdom theology framework, the present day is caught between these two ages: Jesus Christ has established the kingdom of God on earth, but will not abolish this present evil age and its kingdom of darkness until he returns.
, in the present day. In a kingdom theology framework, present-day manifestations of the kingdom of God include the presence of the Holy Spirit
within every Christian, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, successful evangelism
and missionary
activity, as well as divine healing and other miracles. Additionally, the role of individual Christians and of the Church as a whole is to represent the kingdom of God to the world, through evangelism, missions, and social action.
Because the kingdom of God is not yet here in its full expression, the works of this present evil age continue though not as unlimited as it would have without the presence of the Kingdom of God. Although Christians have eternal life
, they still sicken and die. Although God dwells within them, their knowledge of God at times seems quite limited. War, poverty, sickness, godlessness, and death continue, and kingdom theology teaches that they will continue until the end of the age.
, then a professor of biblical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary
. Its more recent proponents include John Wimber
, Gordon Fee
and Dallas Willard
. It has been influential among the more Charismatic elements of evangelical Christianity, for whom it provides a theological framework for believing in the present-day activity of the Holy Spirit. It is officially embraced by the Vineyard Churches, and underpins many of the teachings of that movement.
, which states that Christ will return to remove the church from the earth. Ladd, in particular, was a proponent of Historic premillennialism
. However, the Vineyard Movement's statement of "Core Beliefs and Values" has no official position regarding this issue.
Inaugurated eschatology
Inaugurated eschatology is the belief in Christian theology that the end times were inaugurated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and thus there are both "already" and "not yet" aspects to the Kingdom of God....
, which is a way of understanding the various teachings on the kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
found throughout the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. It is often associated with the Vineyard movement. Its emphasis is that the purpose of both individual Christians and the church as a whole is to manifest the kingdom of God on the earth, incorporating personal evangelism, social action, and foreign missions.
Kingdom theology should not be confused with Kingdom Now theology, which is a variant of Dominion theology
Dominion Theology
Dominion Theology is seen by some as a subset of Dominionism, a term used by some social scientists and journalists to describe a theological form of political ideology, which they claim has broadly influenced the Christian Right in the United States, Canada, and Europe, within Protestant...
.
Eschatological framework
Kingdom theology divides spiritual history into two great ages:- This present evil age, brought about by the Fall of Man and lasting until the Second ComingSecond ComingIn Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
of Jesus Christ. This present evil age is governed by SatanSatanSatan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
's "kingdom of darkness", and through the influence of Satan and sinSinIn religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
, has become characterized by deathDeathDeath is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, diseaseDiseaseA disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
, godlessness, warWarWar is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, povertyPovertyPoverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, and evil and suffering of all kinds.
- The age to come, inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus Christ, and lasting into the eternal future. The age to come (or World to ComeWorld to ComeThe World to Come is an eschatological phrase reflecting the belief that the "current world" is flawed or cursed and will be replaced in the future by a better world or a paradise. The concept is similar to the concepts of Heaven and the afterlife, but Heaven is another place generally seen as...
) is governed by the kingdom of GodKingdom of GodThe Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
, and is characterized by eternal lifeEternal life (Christianity)In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
, freedom from sickness and suffering, humanity's intimate knowledge of God, universal peace on earth, and God's absolute reign over all creation.
In the kingdom theology framework, the present day is caught between these two ages: Jesus Christ has established the kingdom of God on earth, but will not abolish this present evil age and its kingdom of darkness until he returns.
The "already" and the "not yet"
This present-day tension is often expressed in phrases such as the kingdom of God is "already, but also not yet," or "here, but not yet fully here." Because the kingdom of God is already here, believers in the kingdom theology expect to see God actively working, sometimes even miraculouslyMiracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
, in the present day. In a kingdom theology framework, present-day manifestations of the kingdom of God include the presence of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
within every Christian, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, successful evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
activity, as well as divine healing and other miracles. Additionally, the role of individual Christians and of the Church as a whole is to represent the kingdom of God to the world, through evangelism, missions, and social action.
Because the kingdom of God is not yet here in its full expression, the works of this present evil age continue though not as unlimited as it would have without the presence of the Kingdom of God. Although Christians have eternal life
Eternal life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
, they still sicken and die. Although God dwells within them, their knowledge of God at times seems quite limited. War, poverty, sickness, godlessness, and death continue, and kingdom theology teaches that they will continue until the end of the age.
History and influence
This theological concept of "already" and "not yet" was proposed by Princeton theologian Gerhardus Vos early in the 20th century. Kingdom theology was more fully examined in the 1950s by George Eldon LaddGeorge Eldon Ladd
George Eldon Ladd was a Baptist minister and professor of New Testament exegesis and theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California....
, then a professor of biblical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
. Its more recent proponents include John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
, Gordon Fee
Gordon Fee
Gordon Donald Fee is an American-Canadian Christian theologian and an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God . He currently serves as Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.-Biography:...
and Dallas Willard
Dallas Willard
Dallas Albert Willard is an American philosophy professor and author born in Buffalo, Missouri. His work in philosophy has been primarily in phenomenology, particularly the work of Edmund Husserl...
. It has been influential among the more Charismatic elements of evangelical Christianity, for whom it provides a theological framework for believing in the present-day activity of the Holy Spirit. It is officially embraced by the Vineyard Churches, and underpins many of the teachings of that movement.
Kingdom Theology and Historic Premillennialism
Kingdom theology is often paired with a rejection of the doctrine of the Pretribulation RaptureRapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
, which states that Christ will return to remove the church from the earth. Ladd, in particular, was a proponent of Historic premillennialism
Historic premillennialism
Historic premillennialism is the polemical designation which could be more objectively called post-tribulational premillennialism. The use of the term "historic" implies that this point of view is the historical view of premillennialists, while pre-tribulationism is a new theory...
. However, the Vineyard Movement's statement of "Core Beliefs and Values" has no official position regarding this issue.
Additional Resources
- The Theology and Practice of the Kingdom of God, Berten Waggoner, National Director, Vineyard USA
- The Kingdom Coming, Come or Both?, Don Williams, Ph.D.
- The Kingdom: Healing the Dualism of Personal and Social Ethics, Derek Morphew, Director, Vineyard Bible Institute
- Vineyard Movement statement of Core Values and Beliefs
- Kingdom Driven Church/Good News of God's Kingdom