The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

* What are we to make of all the millions who do not know God in Christ? What is their state when they die - what intermediate state do they experience, and what will their final outcome be? * Can there be an emphasis on eschatological things, that is, a focus on the end times, that does not produce the kind of sobriety and alertness spoken of in the Bible? When does a discussion of these things become a problem, or even a waste of time? * Do you have to believe in an eternal hell in order to be historically orthodox in faith? * Are issues like the millennium and tribulation critical for urban Christian leaders to know and be able to defend? Is there a line drawn on what is really important here? A large, urban, mixed-race church has become an extremely popular place for the young, spiritually sensitive minorities who live in the city. Every Sunday, hundreds of urban Blacks, Browns, and Yellows come to worship in this fast-growing, lively urban church. With the resignation of their senior pastor, the church has elected a committee to search for a new pastor to replace their fine leader who was called by God to another place. In interviewing a number of pastoral candidates, the committee believes it has found a leader for its next phase. A godly man of prayer and the Word, this dear brother loves the church and is ready to come, if the church agrees to call him. The only “drawback” that the committee sees is that the pastoral candidate loves to teach and preach about Bible prophecy, especially on the prospect of eternal life for the saved, and eternal damnation for the lost. The church is “seeker sensitive” in its orientation, that is, it seeks through love, service, and friendship to build bridges of connection before they share the “hard data” of the Gospel. He has been clear that he wants to have the freedom to speak of the final judgment, the resurrection, and hope of heaven freely. Some are concerned that he will intimidate and frighten many people from the church, and from possible commitments to God. How would you counsel the pastoral search committee? Drawing the Lines in the Right Places

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