Bible believing and practicing Christ followers have always been regarded by the rest of the Western World as extremists or even fanatics. If believers merely strive to be “nice”, do good works and community service they can expect to be tolerated. If they actually speak and live according to their Bible’s instructions, they are now seen as intolerant and practitioners of hate speech.

What’s going on when tolerant society is blatantly intolerant? What is behind the obvious reality that it is culturally OK to hate those who have been labeled “haters”? The Bible is ultra-clear on this subject. Jesus warned His followers in John 15:20 “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Faith in Jesus Christ is always about taking sides with God in a cosmic war. As soon as people pledge allegiance to King Jesus, they are targeted by the kingdoms of this world system.

In North America today, nobody would dream of speaking negatively about Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or Native American religions. But it is open season on Christians. This is a phenomenon that can also be seen all over the world. True Christianity inevitably stirs up animosity and opposition wherever it is practiced. The reason is starkly obvious. There is a spiritual battle going on. The kingdoms of this world are arrayed against the Kingdom of God.

That’s just the way it is.

So, what are we who follow Jesus to do about it? We keep on telling the absolute truth! We keep on standing strong in the face of all the lies and smears that are hurled at us. We are a people of extreme courage because of our convictions. We know with certainty that we are on the winning side. We know how history ends. And we know our King is coming soon!

What you will do with the Kingdom frame of reference that Jesus taught us.

Will it be just another interesting tidbit of truth or will it be the kingpin? Will you see it as a component or as the motherboard concept that properly aligns all the other Biblical ideas?

The Kingdom was the biggest of big deals to Jesus. It seems reasonable to credit Him with the best mind in human history. He was, after all, God in human flesh. Intellectual genius was behind His selection of how to frame the issues of sin, salvation and sanctification.

We somehow tend to forget how smart He was and is! As a result we have historically tried to “improve” His message or taken the liberty to re-frame it. The basic assumption is that He is the best communicator of His message and the ageless standard or benchmark for us.

It’s time for the church of Jesus Christ to rediscover the power and effectiveness of the Kingdom message of our Leader. Let’s not just stick the word Kingdom into our stuff. Let’s start over with the Kingdom at the center and integrate everything into that eternal reality. Let’s “kiss the Son” in allegiance and affection as Psalm 2 commands.

I’m totally convinced that the results will be a far more powerful, life-changing gospel. A gospel that releases “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16) will produce attractive, healthy, growing churches of Christ followers.