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This section is the most revealing about the utter misinformation and ignorance that has been and continues to be passed on to church members.  In it, Conway likens Epcot, “which is an imitation distracting him from reality,” to the church, an imitation of the kingdom.  Yet, he immediately adds that the church is “an inspired imitation but because of sin, it will never offer a complete kingdom experience.”  “Epcot,” he writes, “is good, even great, but it only holds magic because it reminds you of Venice.  The church only has power when it resembles the kingdom.”   He ends the paragraph by explaining the problem of getting so used to the church on earth that we don’t know what to do with the kingdom.

Interestingly, Conway is right about the church being an imitation but he is wrong about it being inspired.  First, that which needs distinguished is the human originating “church” from the biblical ekklesia.  The “called out” describes the people of God which also happens to be His kingdom.  The kingdom is the ekklesia, the rule of Christ is the hearts of  His people.  This is not debatable when adhering to the Scriptures.  And, to answer his question as to why do we pray, “Thy kingdom come?”,  we don’t pray that prayer.  They did before the kingdom came.  But, it has come since then and His people are in it.

Second, the human originating “church” is  likened to living life to its fullest, giving us a taste or glimpse of heaven.  It is the “social expression of the kingdom,”  he claims.  It is social and there are times that individuals may get a glimpse of heaven but it confuses true discipleship with the imitation and leads to a false security that equates faithfulness to good church membership.  Faithfulness and true discipleship is exemplied in Acts 2 because what you have firmly established is a people who have imbibled the true meaning of accepting Christ as Lord, the conclusion of Peter’s sermon.  In fact, the church as defined by Conway is not what was established in Acts 2.  This Jesus whom they crucified is made both Lord and Christ.  The Lordship and His kingdom is what was established in Acts 2.  Those who had given their allegiance to King Jesus gladly received Peter’s sermon, were baptized, were added to their number, and continued daily in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and the breaking of bread.  This is not a glimpse or taste of the kingdom.  It is the kingdom.  Reacting to man’s sinfulness is not properly handled by contrasting the imperfect but beautiful church with the perfect kingdom.  The kingdom is made up of citizens on earth whose intent and purpose is to follow Jesus despite their imperfections . As Paul explains it in Romans 7:25, after exclaiming his wretchedness, “I thank God through Christ Jesus my Lord.  So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”  Paul is not condoning sin.  The rule of Christ is the presence of His will in the human heart, despite the law of sin and my flesh.  This is the kingdom and the beauty of the gospel is that we can join the Ephesian saints and sit with Him in the heavenlies right now (Eph. 2:6).

It seems as though Conway is justifying the presence of the church as a social organization made up of members who can only imagine the kingdom of Christ by experiencing moments of joyful utopia.   Kingdom living which is in the present is a way of life that exemplifies His rule in our hearts, his Word in our lives, and the fellowship of saints in daily contact.  The church imitation accentuates church activity, church worship, church bible study, church discipline, and church giving that is accomplished by church membership and activities done within the four walls of a church building.  He is right about one thing.  These are imitations, but cheap imitations that rob individual obligation and accountability and replace a daily life of sacrifice for corporate worship and giving.

Rather than likening the church to Epcot to move us as close to heaven as possible while realizing it’s only imaginary, we need to “man up” and define the cost of discipleship that demands our whole body, soul, and mind given to our Lord.  This is kingdom living. There are no imitations.  While it is true that this includes imperfections, it raises the bar of expectations in a life given to Jesus that is nothing like local church membership.   Under that system, it deems undisciplined, uncommitted souls to participate as active members in a worship service for an hour or less to leave it all behind until the next appointed time.  Neither the church, nor the ice cream socials gives us a glimpse of the kingdom.  A glimpse of the kingdom is the individual commitment of believers whose fellowship is not marked off by church schedules but by kingdom living.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][kleo_button title=”Launch Project” style=”see-through” size=”lg”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row inner_container=”no” type=”color” bg_color=”#000000″ padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”741,740,739,737,736,734,733,735,728,731″ img_size=”300×140″ hide_pagination_control=”yes” min_items=”2″ max_items=”8″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_type=”footer” padding_top=”40px” border=”bottom”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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