The Insurgency

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” ~ Mark 1:15

Reading the entire bible from beginning to end opens one’s eyes to the unprecedented paradigm shift that occurred when Christ made the declaration of “the Kingdom.” Beginning with Eden and then with the Promised Land, God’s chosen people are residents of a sacred realm within the world of Satan’s chaos. Now, Jesus declares the Kingdom reign of God on Earth. His empire emerged from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and now spreads throughout the World. Kingdom colonies typically start with insurgents dedicated to undermining the rule of the Enemy. Kingdom cells form as the insurgency spreads and, in time, the King’s servants dominate whole communities.  

This militant language should not deceive persons into thinking the King’s servants speak or act violently. Far from it! King Jesus Christ declared, 

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Christ’s servants will risk venturing into the borderlands of the Kingdom so that the lost seekers may be found and gathered. Insurgents will go to the places and people they once associated with, but they will not return to their old ways. Instead, they will present themselves in non-violent, accessible servant-leadership to earn trust and share a new vision. 

One must be radically devoted to Christ the King to be such an insurgent. His devotion will cause discord within families, social networks, and communities. Inevitable conflicts of interest will arise, and one’s reputation will suffer. It will be necessary to question one’s allegiances and embrace the cost of discipleship as a King’s servant. Inevitably, one will realize that there is little room for compromise as one adopts the disciplines of the insurgency. 

  Rejection and persecution await the insurgent disciple of Christ. Sadly, much of it will come from within one’s closest relationships. The ironic resistance of self-proclaimed “Christians,” pious devotees to a religion or spiritual ideal, and fellow church members will cause faithless institutions to exile their members. There will even be character assassinations and physical harm. It may be hard to hear, but over 2000 years of Christian history affirms these facts. 

One must honestly consider the cost of Christian discipleship while reading the New Testament. It must be apparent that it is incompatible with worldly sensibilities and devotion to the flesh. Likewise, it must be evident that a lack of discomfort for the King’s sake indicates lukewarm devotion to Him. Nevertheless, the Kingdom grows exponentially every day, and fellow insurgent servants are close at hand to comfort and encourage. Even some pastors and their congregations choose to serve the King above all else.