Mennonite Weekly Review

A couple of years ago, I bought a T-shirt with four words on the front: “Don’t go to church.” On the back are three more: “Be the church.”

Andres

What is that slogan getting at? To find out, let’s start at the beginning.

The kingdom comes

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Jesus’ followers. Jesus was executed, rose from the dead, walked among them and then was “taken up before their very eyes” (Acts 1:9).

But when it comes to God’s kingdom, they’re still thinking in terms of political realms (1:6). Before he ascends, however, Jesus tells them the power they’ll get is the Spirit — along with a mission: “And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be my witnesses … even to the ends of the Earth” (1:8, The Message).

At Pentecost, Jesus’ revelation is put in motion. The Spirit comes — and it’s beyond breathtaking. Sounds like violent winds gale about them, and what appear to be “tongues of fire” rest on them all (2:2-3). And they’re filled to overflowing, speaking in languages they’ve never spoken so that all the peoples gathered from regions around can hear of the “wonders of God.”

Peter finally puts it all together. Brimming over, he boldly declares the “last days” have come — those long-awaited days when God pours out his Spirit and restores his people, the days God told Jeremiah are coming when “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jer. 31:31-33). Jesus is who he said; through him the kingdom comes — now. “Change your life,” Peter implores, “Turn to God and be baptized” (Acts 2:38, The Message).

Empowered by the Spirit, they begin to live like kingdom people. They commit themselves to the apostles’ teachings, break bread, pray, gather and eat meals together constantly, and quickly pool resources as needed — all with praise, exuberance and joy in their hearts. And this kingdom-coming stretches out: “Every day their number grew” (2:42-47).

Kingdom-coming today

As these kingdom-living people multiply, they sometimes use the term “ekklesia” (“church”), a Greek word referring to a calling out of citizens. They are the called-out ones of the kingdom-coming, the people of God.