Kingdom 101: We Are Government Citizens, Not Religious Members
The question arises, what government am I speaking of? Kingdom government of course. The Lord God's purpose was to establish a commonwealth of citizens, not religious people who attend a religious institution called "church, mosque, synagogue", etc. Understanding this is essential to grasping the concept of the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely the Kingdom of Heaven. As a kingdom, it is definitely a government--a nation, and Jesus the Christ is its King. In fact, the Lord God never intended for those who believe in Him as Messiah and King to be referred to as "Christians". That name was given to the apostles in Antioch. Then everyone else embraced it. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26 As I say, "If you allow people to name you, they will define you". That is a statement of truth.
Jesus never called His disciples Christian, nor did He imply for others to do so. Today, the name Christian has so much negative baggage attached to it. This has come about through their behavior, lifestyles and scandals. It refers to a whole host of people, many of which have no connection to the Kingdom of God--those who fail to read, study and absorb His Word into their lifestyle. They are as King Jesus stated: Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:53-58 Jesus was speaking to the religious Jews at the time and they did not understand what He was saying. But what He said also applies to us in this age.
This word Christian has become a religious term devoid of any significant meaning as it relates to the Kingdom of God. Many who consider themselves Christian do not obey God's Word. Remember that the Lord Jesus is "the Word made flesh". And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). John 1:14 AMP
Please note: Kingdoms are built upon the concept of legalities, which are extended to its citizens, offering them the rights and privileges that are guaranteed by the king.
Individuals who adhere to some kind of religious group, including Christians, consider themselves members of the group which they perceive as a religious and spiritual relationship with an organization. Here is an example of what I mean: "Christian" refers to an individual who adheres or sympathizes with the Christian faith and is identified as such both inside and outside that faith. Its members provide for the organization. Now, the concept of kingdom is completely opposite to the concept of religion. A kingdom consists of a king with citizens. Citizenship is essentially a legal entity with rights and privileges protected by a constitutional commitment of the king and his government. The king and his government provide for his citizens.
Many individuals who call themselves Christians are simply religious people. Citizens of the Kingdom are legal individuals--legal in the sense that by virtue of a spiritual birth each person in the Kingdom has the rights and blessings of this heavenly Kingdom.
I say this with conviction: we must cleanse ourselves from our religious mindsets and have our thinking readjusted so that we can take on a royal or kingdom mindset. Are you ready for my next statement?
Religious people have no rights, but legal citizens do.
Think of it as visitors to America don't have the same rights that American citizens do. The Lord God has always desired sons who are citizens of His Kingdom, possessing the legal right to be part of His family. You must be aware that citizenship is always considered a privilege in all Kingdoms and nations, and is usually reserved for those born in that nation or kingdom. There are certain situations where one can become a citizen through privileges extended by the governing authority, but birthright is the guaranteed form of sonship and results in the right of citizenship. This is why Jesus told the religious leader, Nicodemus that he must be born again: Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7 You first must receive the King: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
The ambassador John was encouraged and bold in the King's Words because he knew who he was and where his citizenship was. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21
The name Christian was originally a derogatory label given by pagans (Gentiles) to followers of Christ, even though believers through the centuries have generally accepted the term. Back then, they bore it with honor Note that the term "Christian" occurs only three times in God's Constitution: Acts 11:25-26, Acts 26:28-29 and I Peter 4:16-17:
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
As I have stated earlier, if you allow people to name you, they will define you. The term "Christian" tends to mentally lock a person into a religious mindset and limits the reality of the truth about the Kingdom of God. Denominational laws, traditions and cultures hide the simple truth our Lord and King, Jesus, preached. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
Christianity was never a term given to us by King Jesus or His disciples. Finally, the term "Christian" was never to be a title nor a label that we should wear, but a lifestyle that we live demonstrating the nature of Christ's likeness and behavior.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are New King James translation except where noted.
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
Jesus never called His disciples Christian, nor did He imply for others to do so. Today, the name Christian has so much negative baggage attached to it. This has come about through their behavior, lifestyles and scandals. It refers to a whole host of people, many of which have no connection to the Kingdom of God--those who fail to read, study and absorb His Word into their lifestyle. They are as King Jesus stated: Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:53-58 Jesus was speaking to the religious Jews at the time and they did not understand what He was saying. But what He said also applies to us in this age.
This word Christian has become a religious term devoid of any significant meaning as it relates to the Kingdom of God. Many who consider themselves Christian do not obey God's Word. Remember that the Lord Jesus is "the Word made flesh". And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). John 1:14 AMP
Please note: Kingdoms are built upon the concept of legalities, which are extended to its citizens, offering them the rights and privileges that are guaranteed by the king.
Individuals who adhere to some kind of religious group, including Christians, consider themselves members of the group which they perceive as a religious and spiritual relationship with an organization. Here is an example of what I mean: "Christian" refers to an individual who adheres or sympathizes with the Christian faith and is identified as such both inside and outside that faith. Its members provide for the organization. Now, the concept of kingdom is completely opposite to the concept of religion. A kingdom consists of a king with citizens. Citizenship is essentially a legal entity with rights and privileges protected by a constitutional commitment of the king and his government. The king and his government provide for his citizens.
Many individuals who call themselves Christians are simply religious people. Citizens of the Kingdom are legal individuals--legal in the sense that by virtue of a spiritual birth each person in the Kingdom has the rights and blessings of this heavenly Kingdom.
I say this with conviction: we must cleanse ourselves from our religious mindsets and have our thinking readjusted so that we can take on a royal or kingdom mindset. Are you ready for my next statement?
Religious people have no rights, but legal citizens do.
Think of it as visitors to America don't have the same rights that American citizens do. The Lord God has always desired sons who are citizens of His Kingdom, possessing the legal right to be part of His family. You must be aware that citizenship is always considered a privilege in all Kingdoms and nations, and is usually reserved for those born in that nation or kingdom. There are certain situations where one can become a citizen through privileges extended by the governing authority, but birthright is the guaranteed form of sonship and results in the right of citizenship. This is why Jesus told the religious leader, Nicodemus that he must be born again: Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7 You first must receive the King: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
The ambassador John was encouraged and bold in the King's Words because he knew who he was and where his citizenship was. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21
The name Christian was originally a derogatory label given by pagans (Gentiles) to followers of Christ, even though believers through the centuries have generally accepted the term. Back then, they bore it with honor Note that the term "Christian" occurs only three times in God's Constitution: Acts 11:25-26, Acts 26:28-29 and I Peter 4:16-17:
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
As I have stated earlier, if you allow people to name you, they will define you. The term "Christian" tends to mentally lock a person into a religious mindset and limits the reality of the truth about the Kingdom of God. Denominational laws, traditions and cultures hide the simple truth our Lord and King, Jesus, preached. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
Christianity was never a term given to us by King Jesus or His disciples. Finally, the term "Christian" was never to be a title nor a label that we should wear, but a lifestyle that we live demonstrating the nature of Christ's likeness and behavior.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are New King James translation except where noted.
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
