Mark and I started batting around the idea of what an economic model of the Kingdom of God might look like acted out here on earth.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What are the characteristics of Paradise? What shape does that take? What is God's will?
God has a heart for the vulnerable: Orphans, widows, sojourners, diseased, disabled, . . . so whether it be physical, emotional, monetary, or otherwise, bringing heaven to earth means caring for the disadvantaged. What does that look like in economic terms?
Like a lot of frustration. There is no economic model for the Kingdom of Heaven. There are no trigger strategies (I'll behave this way unless you misbehave and then I'll be forced to change the way I treat you).
There's no fear in being taken advantage of by the disadvantaged. The Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it (Matthew 11:12). Between this and the confession, it's becoming apparent that it takes courage to be a Christian. It takes walking out on a wire, not giving in to fear of humiliation and rejection. Even as I write this these words are hard to digest. But that's real Christianity, it's hard to digest and it's hard to take up our cross daily.
There is a real disconnect between heaven and heaven on earth because in heaven there is a fully transformed population whereas here on earth we're dealing with a partially transforming population.
At some point in each of the next months we will be documenting ideas stemming from our own conversations and from your replies. What all this reminds me of is the old hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love", in the 2nd verse where it sings, "We'll guard each man's dignity and keep each man's pride."
The Kingdom of God is the restoration to the full glory denied by the fall. Looking forward to it.
4 comments:
Vance preached about one way to look at the kingdom of heaven. He characterized it in terms of what it means to be a citizen. We are all citizens of many groups, e.g. our family, social groups, place of emplyement, earth. As Christians, we are also citizens of the Kindom of Heaven, now. We have one foot in this world, and another foot in heaven.
But I don't think this is not a dualism. It is not like you can seperate a spiritual aspect of experience from a biological one, for after all we are biologically constrained/blessed. You are still you and you are in both. Your obligations are connected to both the kingdom of this world and that of heaven.
My grandfather wants to know if you know the next part of Wise as Serpants?
Hi Aaron:
Doug and I assume you mean the next part of the scripture, which is "be innocent as doves." Both parts are embedded in Jesus' instructions to the disciples. We interpret "innocent as doves" to mean "led by the spirit to enact the Kingdom". "Wise as serpents" means that we still have to understand the incentives of the world. This seems consistent with both your comments and Vance's. We've used the title "Wise as Serpents" because we're economists and we think that this understanding of how markets work may be less known to many Christians. We'll post more on this later.
Yes. My grandfather was reading over my shoulder and he chimed in with the question. I sent hime the link to the blog and hopefully he will read and contribute. He is a retired Presbyterian minister. I really like the analytical approach. It addresses issues where the rubber hits the road for Christians. I find all of this very thought provoking and insightful. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I have been baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity and have had original sin washed away.
As St. Augustine wrote against the Pelagians, man is completely unable to avail himself in meriting the free grace of God, but his natural will can cooperate with this prevenient grace when it is quickened by the Holy Spirit.
And St. Augustine wrote against the Manichaeans, the mystery of election is in the hidden counsels of God and singularly unto salvation (not "double" unto reprobation); yet, anyone that enters hell does so by their unassisted "free" choice.
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