We are in this season, fixing our eyes on and grappling with a fresh new impartation from God, which we have come to define as Kingdom Humanity – a movement to our shared humanity in Christ. Kingdom Humanity defines the reality of the Arrangement of Human Life in Christ Jesus. This impartation is opening our eyes to spiritual realities we have not fully engaged with in the past seasons, like the issue of Kingdom Citizenship.
The Bible refers to us as fellow citizens (Eph. 2:19) and as those who possess citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Beyond this, the Bible also teaches that we must conduct ourselves and live here on earth according to the principles of our Kingdom Citizenship (Phil. 1:27, NLT). Is there any prophetic and doctrinal significance in the idea of being citizens of the Kingdom or is it one of those pulpit Christian phenomena that is devoid of meaning? I want to submit that the idea of citizenship in the Kingdom has a deep spiritual, prophetic, doctrinal and political meaning for us. A “citizen” is a political phenomenon. By definition, a citizen is one who is a member of a particular administration of human life. One who therefore has to live according to the principles of the administration of which he is a member.
Kingdom Citizenship speaks of an idea that we exist within a particular administration that is meant to provide a framework for our very human existence. If in fact we are not only “believers” and “worshippers”, but also citizens, then the expression of our faith here on earth is much deeper, profound and complex than we may have made it to be. It cannot be contained within a limited (though important) Sunday morning ceremonial Christianity, but expresses itself upon a platform of the administration of God that must be advanced daily. The political nature of our Kingdom Citizenship is in the fact that, 1) we are here to advance and establish a particular administration through our lives, 2) our allegiance is not primarily to the system of the world but to the kingdom of God. This is what often got the early apostles and disciples in conflict with the world in which they existed. Therefore, functional citizenship in the Kingdom has to do with whether we live to advance the administration of the Kingdom or not. The fundamental principle of the administration of the Kingdom of God is that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27). This is profound! It speaks of the requirement for us to be equitable in our human dealings. It means that equity is the defining core principle in human interaction. It also means that in the Kingdom, citizens are in fact called to be stewards of justice or equity. This further clarifies the concept of politics. In its purest form, and if taken outside of sometimes contaminating effects of partisanship (or party politics), politics is the function of equitable administration of human life. It is the way we administer our collective humanity in a manner that dignifies all without showing partiality or discrimination. When you consider this definition, then you realise that politics is something we are all involved in, on a daily basis. It is not simply a thing that the politicians or political parties do. When we love our neighbor as ourself (which Biblically defines not simply the guy whose house is next to ours but all human beings we come into contact with in life – as implied in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37), we are engaged in a deeply and profoundly political process. All that the politicians then do is to take this very same principle and apply it on a systemic – national level. When we teach our kids the principle of sharing toys or food, we are essentially teaching them politics. If justice and righteousness (or equity) are the foundation of God’s throne (Ps. 89:14), then we serve a deeply political God who has a political eye over the affairs of mankind. And if God has shared His nature with us, then we have politics running through our blood stream, hearts and spirituality. We are wired to be political beings who have a political consciousness that informs our understanding of how life must be arranged and flow. Our redemption in Christ redeems this reality as well. So therefore, before we talk of partisan politics, we have to consider that politics expresses itself in normal civil or civilian life. This is how Adam lived, as a civilian and an inhabitant charged to establish the administration of God here on earth. The day he fell into himself was a day he failed in this mandate. This, unfortunately, is where the 21st century inhabitant generally finds himself, in a pit of self and self-interest. But we thank God who has sent His Son, Jesus Christ as the second and Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45-49), who shows us the true example of inhabitation and citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom Citizenship means that we are members of the Kingdom – we are members of the administration of God for human life. It means that our human existence and our concept of humanity and of the world (our worldview), has to be defined and shaped by principles of God’s administration and not by our own opinions or by concepts of the fallen world. It means that the one thing we are trading in all our activities of life – in family, communities, workplace, business etc. is the administration of God. In other words, a kingdom business for instance, defines that business entity that doesn’t simply make profit, but one that establishes the administration of God in the sphere of business. The same applies for all other spheres represented by redeemed humans in the Church. But how can we establish an administration that we are ignorant of? This is the cry of the Holy Spirit in this season. The cry is that church must now be educated and adorned in the administration of God for human life. And this is why Kingdom Humanity is here. It is an impartation from God that empowers the church to position itself as the City of God, as outlined in the prophetic Scriptures – a Civilization of the Kingdom (a Global Kingdom Civilization), in the midst of the nations of the world.
Let us engage these profound and empowering truths with sincere and sober hearts as God empowers us (His bride) for a more powerful kingdom life now and in the future. Amen!
Kingdom Humanity gathering – Thursday 1 March 2018
You are invited to come and engage with these Kingdom definitions in our monthly (first Thursdays of the month) gatherings.
Please see details below of our next gathering…
Day: Thursday, 1 March 2018
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Venue: The Auditorium, Innovation Centre, UKZN Howard College (Gate no. 9, off Rick Turner Rd).
Note: venue is located in the Innovation Centre, opposite the Old Mutual Sports centre.
Robert Ntuli
LivingStones Agency
LivingStones Agency 