I did a cursory study of the Kingdom of God (heaven), in the New Testament and I found many metaphors, symbols and similes. Just in Matthew alone it is called a: mystery, sower who sowed, grain of mustard seed, leaven, treasure, net, separated from the world, for the righteous, treasure, good seed, merchant seeking beautiful pearls, dragnet (not the movie), householder, for little children, hard for the rich to enter, like a landowner who went out, taken from you, like a king, like ten virgins who with lamps, like a man traveling, present with power, at hand (or near depending on the version you are reading).
I believe, based on this specious reading of scripture that you would concur with me that, the kingdom of God or heaven, as it is varously translated, is not something easily grasped or understood. Even the disciples were told that that it was given to them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but to the unlearned and wicked, Jesus would teach in parables. Why would he do such a thing? Why wouldn't he just tell them that He was doing something different, like replacing the Law with a new Law of the Spirit. Why didn't he just make it plain to them, as in the plain truth of the kingdom. Why teach through metaphors and symbolism?
In my work with companies, a lot of what we do is to help develop a new thinking paradigm -which is called the "Thinking Way," or a developing a Learning organization. The way we do this is by helping develop the skills of individuals to identify opportunities for improvement through rigorous attention to everyday identification of problems/opportunities. We call this developing a Learning culture. Now culture is not something you can see or feel, but you know it when you see it. It is developed, by people, through daily repetition and re-inforcement.
I believe this is what Jesus was doing with the disciples. He was teaching them a new culture, a new pardigm. Instead of just giving them the answer, He was teaching them to see what the Kingdom of heaven was like so they could see it themselves and would be able to teach it to others. All of the questions they asked Jesus, like why don't you just tell us plainly- Are you the Christ? - were attempts by Jesus to teach them a new way of thinking. He wanted them to live and breath the kingdom - not just head knowledge but actual living of the Kingdom.
He could have given them a prescriptive version of the Old Testament ten commandments and thereby get acceptance of a new updated collection of laws. Or he can try to get their heart involved by getting deeper into their souls by the ongoing questioning, reinforcing by miracles and signs, and the deeper teaching about what the kingdom of heaven was like. The Old Testament was like a slogan you see in many organization that read something like this - Vision - we will be the best company in our city. It's a nice sloga, but what does it really mean, how do you actually become the best company? Will slogans change people's hearts and minds so they start to live the slogan, or is there a better way?
I believe the better way to teach new thinking, is like Jesus did. He did it through actions, questioning, coaching, and metaphor. This is the way to get into the behaviours and thinking of people. Doing it explicitly by telling people what to do is not effective for long term change. This is what Jesus was all about - changing the world through the kingdom of God and doing that through people.
When thinking about all the metaphors for the kingdom and the frustrations of the apostles, think about what it takes to develop culture and you'll see that Jesus was all about changing culture and thinking of the whole nation of Israel and eventually the world.
Nest time you read the Sermon on the mount, read it with the kingdom in mind. Jesus was inaugurating a new kingdom and it was a kingdom based on His kingship and His mercy to us. If we simply read the scriptures and say we are in the kingdom because of our good deeds and perfection, we are missing the point. Jesus is the only perfect and sinless one, our role is to proclaim His perfection, His holiness and His righteousness - not ours since ours is as filthy rags.
The Jesus culture is a new life being lived by millions of Christians based on the new way of thinking - a culture of CI- or continuous improvement- always striving to do His will on a daily basis- as it says in scripture we strive for holiness and perfection - we're not there yet - but He is.
I believe, based on this specious reading of scripture that you would concur with me that, the kingdom of God or heaven, as it is varously translated, is not something easily grasped or understood. Even the disciples were told that that it was given to them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but to the unlearned and wicked, Jesus would teach in parables. Why would he do such a thing? Why wouldn't he just tell them that He was doing something different, like replacing the Law with a new Law of the Spirit. Why didn't he just make it plain to them, as in the plain truth of the kingdom. Why teach through metaphors and symbolism?
In my work with companies, a lot of what we do is to help develop a new thinking paradigm -which is called the "Thinking Way," or a developing a Learning organization. The way we do this is by helping develop the skills of individuals to identify opportunities for improvement through rigorous attention to everyday identification of problems/opportunities. We call this developing a Learning culture. Now culture is not something you can see or feel, but you know it when you see it. It is developed, by people, through daily repetition and re-inforcement.
I believe this is what Jesus was doing with the disciples. He was teaching them a new culture, a new pardigm. Instead of just giving them the answer, He was teaching them to see what the Kingdom of heaven was like so they could see it themselves and would be able to teach it to others. All of the questions they asked Jesus, like why don't you just tell us plainly- Are you the Christ? - were attempts by Jesus to teach them a new way of thinking. He wanted them to live and breath the kingdom - not just head knowledge but actual living of the Kingdom.
He could have given them a prescriptive version of the Old Testament ten commandments and thereby get acceptance of a new updated collection of laws. Or he can try to get their heart involved by getting deeper into their souls by the ongoing questioning, reinforcing by miracles and signs, and the deeper teaching about what the kingdom of heaven was like. The Old Testament was like a slogan you see in many organization that read something like this - Vision - we will be the best company in our city. It's a nice sloga, but what does it really mean, how do you actually become the best company? Will slogans change people's hearts and minds so they start to live the slogan, or is there a better way?
I believe the better way to teach new thinking, is like Jesus did. He did it through actions, questioning, coaching, and metaphor. This is the way to get into the behaviours and thinking of people. Doing it explicitly by telling people what to do is not effective for long term change. This is what Jesus was all about - changing the world through the kingdom of God and doing that through people.
When thinking about all the metaphors for the kingdom and the frustrations of the apostles, think about what it takes to develop culture and you'll see that Jesus was all about changing culture and thinking of the whole nation of Israel and eventually the world.
Nest time you read the Sermon on the mount, read it with the kingdom in mind. Jesus was inaugurating a new kingdom and it was a kingdom based on His kingship and His mercy to us. If we simply read the scriptures and say we are in the kingdom because of our good deeds and perfection, we are missing the point. Jesus is the only perfect and sinless one, our role is to proclaim His perfection, His holiness and His righteousness - not ours since ours is as filthy rags.
The Jesus culture is a new life being lived by millions of Christians based on the new way of thinking - a culture of CI- or continuous improvement- always striving to do His will on a daily basis- as it says in scripture we strive for holiness and perfection - we're not there yet - but He is.
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