The Breakaway Civilization

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that urges you not to bring up theology on a first date.

Even after my landmark book debuted several years ago (I’m speaking about Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom), many Christians still WRONGLY equate the kingdom of God with heaven, making the world a better place, signs and wonders, or a message exclusively for the Jews.

Even though the book – and The Insurgence Podcast – have both had strong distribution (mostly because some of you have recommended them to your friends), the masses of God’s people still do not understand the kingdom to be an alternative civilization on this earth.

A colony of heaven planted right here on this fallen planet.

Another powerful description of the kingdom of God is that it is a breakaway civilization.

By “breakaway,” I don’t mean that kingdom people follow John the Baptist and retreat to the desert, having nothing to do with modern society.

That’s not the case.

Instead, the kingdom of God exists alongside of fallen human civilization (the world system), but it’s completely separate from it in its values, lifestyle, community life, and ethics.

It has “broken away” from the culture in drastic ways.

This is precisely why Paul’s imperial gospel caused riots to break out everywhere he preached.

It’s also why the first-century ekklesias – which were predominantly Gentile – were socially harassed, ostracized, and persecuted by their neighbors.

The Kingdom Comes Not by Observation

During Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were looking for observable signs that alerted them to when the kingdom of God would break into the earth.

The irony, of course, is that the kingdom had already arrived, and it was standing right under their noses, as Jesus – the incarnation of the kingdom – was in their midst (Luke 17:21, NASB).

Pull the lens back.

The Pharisees wanted to OBSERVE the coming of the kingdom. Jesus wanted them – and others — to PARTICIPATE in it.

The Lord said the kingdom of God doesn’t come by (or with) observation.

Observation is mostly a passive activity. Participation is active.

Point: We experience the kingdom, not by observation, but by participation.

When it comes to encountering God’s kingdom, the journey is the way.

The kingdom of God is corporate (collective), not simply individual.

As I’ve argued in Insurgence, the kingdom includes the king, his rulership, and the people (collective) ruled.

Therefore, if you want to see the kingdom – this breakaway civilization – come where you live, one of the best ways is to form a kingdom outpost (or “kingdom cell”) in your town.

A kingdom cell allows you to participate with Jesus along with others who are Christ-centered and kingdom-focused.

Kingdom cells only require two people at minimum.

Therefore, anyone can form one.

Even you.

But it takes action. If you’re passive, it won’t appear out of thin air.

Starting a Kingdom Outpost

Those who have started kingdom outposts over the last several years have done so through one of the following means:

1) Start a book discussion group for Insurgence in your church, Bible study, home group, or Christian college organization. (Or have a friend start one in any of these groups.) Go through the book together in your group and discuss the content, including doing the “Taking Action” steps. People are creating these kinds of groups all over the USA and in other countries. (We don’t keep a list, so please don’t write us asking to find one. Start your own. Also, in-person is always far better than virtual, which I don’t recommend.)

2) If you’re a youth pastor (or you are friends with one), use the book to educate those in your youth group about the Insurgence. If you’re a lead pastor, start a series on the subject using the book (many pastors have done this in their churches).

3) Take out an ad in your local paper and advertise a new Book Discussion Group for serious Jesus-followers. Host the group in your home, a local restaurant, or coffee shop. When you have your first meeting, introduce Insurgence as the suggested book to go through.

4) Use our new YouTube channel videos to spread the Insurgence and generate interest. The channel contains a playlist called Kingdom of God which contains interviews and conference messages on the gospel of the kingdom. As the videos spread, those interested in the Insurgence can connect with each other online.

5) If you (or someone you know) meets my criteria for partnering with me on launching an INSURGENCE conference to equip and connect people who have joined the Insurgence, have them contact me. I would still like to hold a conference for the Insurgence. First read the criteria here.

6) If you attend a pastor or elder-led church, give the leadership a copy of the book and ask them to read it and get back with you about your desire to create a kingdom cell in your church.

7) Spread The Insurgence Podcast to your friends. It’s free and easy to share. There are currently 100 episodes.

So those are seven ways in which you can be proactive in forming a kingdom cell where you live. As well as spreading the Insurgence.

I’ll promise you this: It won’t just happen. You need to take initiative.

The kingdom comes by participation with Jesus Christ and others who desire all that He is and all that He has.

What do you and others do in a kingdom cell?

Here’s an excerpt from page 432 of Insurgence:

Create a plan to begin meeting together regularly.

I suggest you do four things in your meetings:

1. Tell your stories. This will help you to get to know each other better.
2. Spend time in the Lord’s presence. You may also want to go through volume 2 of Jesus Speaks and then read my online article “Aware of His Presence,” which is on the Insurgence Book website.
3. Discuss ways that you can take care of each other as well as the other members of the body of Christ whom you know.
4. Discuss ways of plotting good deeds that show forth the beauty of Christ to the poor, the afflicted, the hurting, and the oppressed where you live.

Ask the Lord to give your “cell” ideas on how to practically carry out this work together.

I look forward to the day when kingdom cells are sprouting up all over the earth.

This can be the beginning of the restoration of God’s Eternal Purpose.

But it begins with only two or three. And that begins with you.

Your brother in the Insurgence,

fv

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