Forthright Magazine
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Straight to the Cross


COLUMN: Final Phase

Not a Cause, but a Kingdom
by J. Randal Matheny

Sometimes we hear people -- and we ourselves --
talk about "the cause of Christ."

But the faith is not a cause, but a kingdom.

Used in this sense, a cause is "(a) a principle or
movement militantly defended or supported; (b) a
charitable undertaking <for a good cause>."

A cause can be lost or won; the kingdom of God has
always had the upper hand.

A cause is the object of our support; the kingdom
is upheld by the omnipotence of God.

A cause appears because someone puts forth a
challenging principle and people rally behind it;
the kingdom was in the mind of God before the
foundation of the world and will reveal its final
manifestation as an eternal kingdom.

A cause is limited in its appeal; times change,
interests shift, cultures evolve. The kingdom
calls to every person, male or female, rich or
poor, of every nation, in every age.

Causes are manifold and compete for support and
funds; the kingdom is monolithic, singular,
unopposed.

A cause has behind it human thought and effort;
the kingdom belongs to God. A cause prizes
achievement; the kingdom rests on a crown of
thorns.

Not to be critical, mind you, but the Bible
doesn't talk about the cause of Christ. It says
much, however, of the Kingdom of Christ and God
(Ephesians 5:5).

Let us, therefore, live and work and strive for
his Kingdom.

"For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly
provided for you" (2 Peter 1:11, NET).

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