Tony Steward’s Thoughts on Kingdom

Tony Steward posted some of his thoughts on the difference between an empire (large and vertical structure) versus a Kingdom (collaborative and horizontal structure).

Now is a time in the church when we need to ask ourselves if we are willing to sacrifice our empire to help strengthen the kingdom, what we call the global church – the body of Jesus.

It’s important to note that he is not devaluing the process of empire-building. I think Mr. Steward would agree that collaborative effort toward a common vision, group goals, authority structures, rules and procedures are not bad. Instead, he is making a key distinction which is has to do with our orientation.

In an empire, our internal, personal goals define how we fit within the empire’s structure. Our goals are either aligned with those of the empire and we end up thriving. Or our goals are subjugated and are oppressed by the system. Either way, as individuals we are oriented inwardly towards our self and let our own desires drive how we interact with the world.

In the Kingdom, we are called to abandon completely our internal orientation and solely focus externally: first on God, then on others (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Only by focusing externally can our efforts have any significance or can we build something that lasts. Empires will fall.

The point that Mr. Steward makes is that in God’s Kingdom, we all have been given a specific role to fulfill, focused on accomplishing God’s goals by loving and serving others – the very essence of Kingdom strategy!

Who am I? How have I been shaped? What is God’s will for my life? What have I been called to do? What opportunities am I facing? Which people can I love and serve, both right now and in the future? Given all of this, what is the best way for me to serve? This is your Kingdom strategy.

It all starts with a change in orientation from internal to external. Dying to yourself so that you can live for Christ and others! This is how the Kingdom is being built right now. Without this shift, though, all we are doing is building empires that can not and will not last.