S2-E1: Practically Translating Theology from a Church Environment to the Marketplace
S2: Kingdom, Culture, and Theology
E1: Practically Translating Theology from a Church Environment to the Marketplace.
Talking about the Kingdom of God is like stepping into a very long conversation. The discussion did not start yesterday, and it won’t end tomorrow. I must admit, the dialogue has become a little elitist, especially when there is an invasion of “isms” and “ologies” punctuating the chatter, mostly from the intelligentsia.[1] So, I will avoid the elite language. The only “ology” I will use is “theology”. It describes and explains the study of God. By the way, you are highly qualified to get into the conversation because everything about you – all your mental faculties and senses - were designed to be in relationship with God.
First, let me define a few things for the sake of clarity.
We are currently living in a period of time similar to the 16th century. That period of time introduced new meanings to words, largely due to the invention of the printing press. Today, words are given new meanings, not because of a new mechanical invention, but communication technology and liberalism without boundaries (oops I just used an “ism”, sorry). So, for the sake of clarity, I will define the key words used: Kingdom, Orphan, Culture, and Marketplace.
Defining the Kingdom of God is a literal matter of theology because it is God’s Kingdom. I like how Patrick Schreiner defines it in terms of power, people, and place: “The Kingdom is the King’s power over the King’s people in the King’s place.[2] The whole Bible is written in narrative, and as such, the Kingdom of God is the thematic frame. Within this frame, God revealed Himself in human history in terms of power, people, and place.[3] The exodus narrative is a perfect example.
I am using the word Orphan in the sense of being fatherless. If it helps, think about the classic Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, and the impoverished orphaned lifestyle coined in Oliver’s question to Mr. Bumble, “Please Sir, can I have some more?” Power, people, and place are evident in this story. All the power, orphaned people, and the workhouses belonged to bloated Bumble, that is, until the orphan culture was changed. Hold onto that thought.
I like the way Geert Hofstede defines Culture as “the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another.”[4] Culture is highly collective and definitive, or as the German’s like to call it, the Zeitgeist; and, the German culture itself is evidence of a distinguished group.
The definition of Marketplace has become far more fluid in the 21st century. Traditionally, it was a central area in a community where people traveled to buy and sell. Today, it incorporates all product and service industries from a face-to-face transaction to e-markets within a global market. With this in mind, I think Peter Drucker paints a clear picture in his book Innovation and Entrepreneurship that world-class quality can be achieved locally without leaving your home.[5] Numerous ideas in the 20th century proved Drucker’s theory that began in a garage: Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Disney, and Hewlett-Packard just to name a few. Many more have launched in the 21st century in the same vein. So, Marketplace is defined as the opportunity to launch an idea from your home with the potential of impacting a neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country, or global.
Now, let’s think about the Kingdom of God un the Lord’s prayer. Jesus himself was not asking for the Kingdom of God to come. He explained to His disciples the Kingdom of God was near them, at hand, and within them.[6] Jesus was showing his disciples that praying for “your Kingdom come” was their job and continues to be our job. The prayer is one of many examples where Jesus informed his disciples not to ask God to do something for them. When God the Father wanted to do something, it was through them; and, the same applies to us.
Jesus profoundly states, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed” (Luke 17:20-21). We participate. This is another matter I will get to shortly. For now, the Kingdom of God is near us, at hand, and within us, but we must ask God in prayer to work that out of us into our surrounding culture. Then do it.
With these three definitions and the Lord’s Prayer, here’s how I am going to step into the conversation about the Kingdom of God:
People in our surrounding culture lack the one thing necessary to flourish as a community of individuals – the Father. Without the Father, our communities are distinctly orphaned. In this orphaned environment, power is abused, people are used, and places go bankrupt. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father…your Kingdom come.” As such, we must translate our theology from a church service into communities where we live. We do it primarily in the marketplace, not church programs, because Kingdom of God is near us, at hand, and within us. Therefore, God can give you an idea that works in the marketplace that results in a flourishing community.
I’m stepping in to the conversation using a creedal form of “I believe”. By the way, what I’m about to say is not a theory. I’m actually doing this with my wife and seeing the results of flourishing communities.[7] So, here we go!
I believe every culture has a pervading orphaned sub-culture.
Without God, every culture is fatherless, distinguished from the culture of the Kingdom that is remarkably fathered. Evidence for this belief is in the Bible. First, all creation is waiting with eager anticipation for the sons (and daughters) of God to be revealed.[8] People in an orphaned sub-culture are desperate for adoption because they intuitively know there has to be more to life than the workhouse. Second, there is an ever-present cloud of validity and reliability. In the Book of Hebrews, there is a list of people that had faith in God. What follows reveals the validity and reliability of what they did and how they did it. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...” (Hebrews 12:1). People in the orphaned sub-culture have no faith in anyone or anything because their sponsor is insecurity. They have experienced invalid and unreliable promises. Third, people across the world are praying for their communities like incense offered on an altar. As we pray, “Our Father…your Kingdom come” the smoke from the incense rises to God.[9] People in the orphaned sub-culture do not know they have a very large family waiting to call them “brother”, “sister”, “son”, or “daughter”.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit is always there to help. Sometimes we do not know what to pray so the Spirit makes intercession in us especially when the odds are stacked against us.[10] The heart of that intercession is “Abba Father”.[11] Think about Oliver Twist, good people like Mr. Brownlow interceded on behalf of the orphans even when the odds were against him. The Brownlow’s of this world bring Good News to people in an orphaned sub-culture. Finally, and this is simply awesome, Jesus Himself joins in our prayer. As Brownlow intercedes for the orphans, Jesus Himself intercedes for the Brownlow’s of this world by presenting all requests to the Father, who seems to revel in the odds stacked against us![12]
Look at the evidence in the Bible. Creation waits for sons and daughters, the faith-cloud hovers, the sons and daughters pray for the orphans, the Spirit of adoption empowers the prayer of the sons and daughters, and Jesus presents it all to our Father. Therefore, an orphaned sub-culture is waiting for us to translate our theology from a church service to where we live, work, and play. Now, let’s talk about what translating theology looks like.
I believe Jesus is perfect theology.
If we truly want to bring the Father to an orphaned sub-culture, we must study Jesus. Studying Jesus includes reading the text of Scripture, using hermetical literary devices (oops, sorry I mean methods of interpretation). Personal Bible study, or study in groups are necessary disciplines. In addition, classes in seminaries, colleges, and universities can take study further.
Here’s the evidence in the Bible. First, Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Second, St. John said, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father” (John 1:14). Third, St. Paul said, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The evidence paints the picture of Jesus as perfect theology. It is clearly seen in the way He spoke to a woman caught red-handed in adultery.[13] This may trouble you, but it was nothing short of a father and daughter moment. The orphaned-community were about to stone her. Jesus not only prevented her deserved punishment, He forgave her. Remember, an orphaned sub-culture lives by the rules, it’s what bloated Bumble drilled into them. However, the gospel narratives are filled with personal encounters that could be called, father and son or father and daughter moments. Jesus came to reveal the Father.
As we increase the discipline of study, we often forget a lived-experience of Jesus revealing the Father. The text from St. John and St. Paul show us that we must behold Jesus. Studying Jesus is not just cerebral, it is equally experiential. The more we behold Jesus, the more we become like Him. As a result, our countenance shouts, “I am loved, I have been adopted into the Kingdom of God, I have a Heavenly Father, my Father has got my back!”
I think William D. Mounce in his exhaustive explanation of “behold” is perfect.[14] It means to see clearly a necessary fact, an important event, a significant thing, with surprise, awe, unease, and praise. Quite often, beholding Jesus is a result of the believer confessing, “Here I am!” Imagine what your face looks like when you behold Jesus. An orphaned sub-culture is waiting for us to translate our theology from a church service - on our faces! Orphans are highly perceptive. They know the difference between a fake face and a faithful face, mostly from all the broken promises that people have made. The difference between fake and faithful is the Father.
I believe the primer to perfect theology is our Father.
All other theologies flow from the primer. What I mean by “primer” is the simple fact that all other theologies make no sense without the Father.[15] I apologize for how I’m about to write this section, I’m going to break a promise I made to you earlier. Hang with me, you will see how all “ologies” and “isms” are subject to the primer.
Technical terms describe the subject being studied. However, when the terms become the focus, we ignore a lived-experience of beholding Jesus. So, take a deep breath. Here are the eight major “ologies” of the Christian faith: Christology (study of Jesus), Soteriology (study of salvation), Pneumatology (study of the Holy Spirit), Ecclesiology (study of the Church), Missiology (study of mission), Eschatology (study of what will happen in the end), Bibliology (Study of the Bible), and Hamartiology (study of sin). All of them are subject to the primer of perfect theology – our Father. Therefore, the necessary, important, significant, surprising, awesome, and praiseworthy fact is all “ologies” and “isms” flow from, and point to, our Father as we behold Jesus. Though technical terms are sometimes necessary for study, an orphaned sub-culture is remarkably unimpressed with elite language.
Look at the evidence in the Bible. First, God is not explained or described at the beginning of the biblical narrative in Genesis.[16] He simply strides into the story with fatherly confidence. Second, it is not until the Book of Psalms, and particularly in the Book of Isaiah, that God is explained and described. Jesus self-disclosed God as Father, St. Peter had a revelation of God, and St. Paul blows the lid off! The biblical narrative unfolds, it does not explode all at once. However, the absolute constant throughout the narrative is the primer - God our Father.
An orphaned sub-culture is not waiting for an articulate lecture, sermon, homily, or lesson about God. They wait for us to translate our theology from a church service through the stories of our own lives where the absolute constant is God our Father. As you tell your story, the Father will be written into your face. Let’s go beyond our faces to some action!
I believe perfect theology is a distinct shift from observing to participating.
We must practically re-present Jesus, therefore our Father, to an orphaned sub-culture. Remember, Jesus said, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed” (Luke 17:20-21). He explained the Kingdom of God is near us, at hand, and within us.[17] This claim could never be made by the people who lived in the Old Testament, nor could it be made to them.[18]
Here’s the evidence in the Bible. First, with a few exceptions, whatever God did in the Old Testament was observed. Mostly through the patriarchs, prophets, or a few righteous kings, it went something like this, “Observe and see what God will do so that you know He is the Lord!”[19] What God did would either result in people acknowledging He was the one and only God, or God above all other gods. Second, whatever God did, He did as God. In the New Testament, whatever Jesus did was as a man.[20]
In a human capacity, Jesus did many things that resulted in a similar response to people in the Old Testament. However, Jesus did not come to show us what God could do. The people in the New Testament already knew what God could do. Jesus came to show us what we can do in His name; more evidence for the shift between observe and participate.[21] Therefore, the kingdom of God is not something we observe in a church service. Furthermore, our participation cannot be limited to a church service. It is something we do in our communities.
The shift from observing to participating is not necessarily about our skills. The church service should equip us to participate in our communities.[22] However, “building up” of the Body of Christ has very little to do with increased attendance for the sake of a church service. The New Testament appears uninterested in the numerical attendance of a church service. Rather, it is highly interested in the effectiveness of a church in two ways: sound doctrine/theology[23] and doing things that help people flourish.[24] To this extent, the Bible does not limit the gifts of the Holy Spirit to a church service.
“Building up” is largely the result of the Kingdom in the community through our participation impacting the use of power, the flourishing of people, and the prosperity of places. It includes volunteering and organized church programs, but more so, it means establishing business in the marketplace because, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices” (Proverbs 11:10).[25]
For the “righteous” already in the marketplace as an employer or employee, the city “rejoices” when you positively impact power, people, and places. Imagine the impact a word of wisdom and knowledge would have in a staff meeting. More so, imagine what a prophetic word will do in an investors meeting. Now imagine the impact you can have on the city through philanthropic work. Church volunteerism alone does not make a city rejoice, but it does save tax dollars. I shall further address this in the next section.
I am certain that an orphaned sub-culture appreciates our church volunteer programs and serve-days. But I am more certain that orphans in the sub-culture would rejoice if we establish ourselves in the marketplace. It transforms greed into fairness. Our Father is all about his sons and daughters flourishing. In fact, St. Paul frequently uses the son-heir-inheritance matrix to convey this very idea. Now, let’s focus on the marketplace.
I believe the marketplace is where we best participate in the Kingdom of God
Jesus showed us that we should bring miracles to the marketplace – yes miracles. We are never commanded to flock to a celebrity ministry to get a miracle. Rather, miracles should be within arm’s reach in the marketplace itself. The miracles I am talking about are not limited to physical healing, but also those that define the marketplace. Orphans need a miracle that directly addresses their sponsor - insecurity. Without a doubt, the miracle needed in the marketplace is sustained and promotable employment. This is what “rejoicing” looks like. When people are not flourishing in their employment, the city cannot rejoice.
Within the United States, rampant insecurity in the marketplace is the reason for, and where the political slogan emerged, “Make America Great Again”. Yes, it is a selfish statement, but what else would you expect from an orphaned culture?
Lack of flourishing in the marketplace is not limited to sustained employment being relocated overseas or replaced with technology. Any reputable bipartisan publication on economics will show an ever-increasing pay gap between employer and employee that directly impacts power, people, and places.[26] It is the tension of greed and fairness. For this reason, I suspect the cause of declined flourishing alarmingly dates back to the days of Moses. This trend is moving backwards a reenactment of Pharaoh and the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. Power is abused, people are used, and businesses go bankrupt – even whole cities.
In the United States, there has been a shocking list of cities and counties that went bankrupt over the past decade. Again, reliable economic data shows that each bankrupt city and county can be traced back to an abuse of power and people, leaving the place in ruins. “Make America Great Again” may be an illegitimate political mantra but it is a genuine cry from Americans in an orphaned sub-culture. The Kingdom of God is a Fathered response to the same crisis with a different cry, “Make the name of God great again”.[27] A cry for the Father is not difficult because His Kingdom is near us, at hand, and within us.
Even so, are you making excuses in your own mind at this very moment, “I don’t have a business degree” or “I have no experience in business”? If you are already operating in the marketplace are you saying to yourself, “My business won’t grow” or “I will never get promoted”? If you are, then you’re just like Moses.
So, who did Jesus give His name to?[28] Who did Jesus give His Spirit to?[29] It wasn’t to a specific local church, a celebrity ministry, a singular church denomination, or your local seminary, college, or university. Jesus gave you His name. Remember, Jesus did not raise himself from the dead. It was the Holy Spirit,[30] and He gave you this same Spirit. Through you, power, people, and places can be transformed. The place may be the street where you live, the whole neighborhood, town, city, county, state, or even country! Start somewhere.
More evidence is heard in the words of Jesus, “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20). You have received this promise and much more.[31] However, a church service has the potential to keep you in the mode of receiving what you have already received. Translating theology into the marketplace will shift you into the doing mode of those received promises. I’m not advocating reckless initiatives that will bankrupt you, or get you fired. I’m driving at getting theology out of the limitations of a church service into daily life as an employer or employee.
An orphaned sub-culture is not waiting for people who will use them for the sake of a profit margin. They are waiting for people who will hire them and reward their hard work. The marketplace is filled with orphans who are looking for a father-leader with the name of Jesus and His Spirit – though it may be called “equal opportunity”. Father-leaders are normal in the Kingdom of God.
I believe perfect theology is normal in the Kingdom of God.
Perfect theology is not constructed from things that did not take place through the life of Jesus. For example, the disciples came to Jesus and asked why their prayer was not answered regarding a boy tormented by the demonic.[32] Unanswered prayer and the lack of miracles was not normal for the disciples. A non-event was never an event. Ultimately, Jesus taught them that if they prayed and fasted answers to prayer would come.
If you were diagnosed with stage four cancer who would you pray with? The one who asks God if it’s His will to heal you, or the one who knows it is God’s will and prays accordingly? Perfect theology is normal in the Kingdom of God, but for the most part, it is extraordinary, rare, or evasive for many today. The Kingdom of God needs the “righteous” who already operate in the city to pray for their employers and employees; pray for their investors and partners; pray for their supervisors and supervizees; pray for their managers and those who are managed; and pray for their colleagues and clients, even their competitors.
Here’s another example that practically encourages faith. Jesus said there was no-one greater than John the Baptist.[33] He believed God to such an extent that people came to hear him from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan region. He was not a celebrity ministry, politically correct, or gentle with his words. Later in the narrative, John is imprisoned and filled with doubts. He questions the validity of Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19). Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Luke 7:22).
While in prison, John could not “see” or “hear” the miracles that were happening. What this tells us is that once we lose sight of Jesus, we also lose sight of what is normal in the Kingdom of God. Remember, beholding Jesus is to study Him. The more we study Jesus – who is perfect theology – the normality of the Kingdom of God is our norm.
An orphaned sub-culture is waiting for what we preach in a church service to become a reality in the marketplace as God confirms His work in us through the miracle of sustained and promotable employment.[34] You are qualified to do so. For example, when Jesus came to John to be baptized, John thought he was unqualified.[35] Jesus replied to John, “Let it be so now; it is proper” (Matthew 13:15). What you think is extraordinary, rare, evasive, or only for celebrity ministries is actually meant to be normal – it is proper.
There is ample evidence in the gospel narratives that reveal miracles are normal in the Kingdom of God. An orphaned sub-culture is waiting for people like you who see and hear what God is doing.
In summary, every culture has a pervading fatherless sub-culture that results in an orphaned environment where power, people, and places are abused. Jesus came to reveal the Father to the fatherless sub-culture. He taught us to pray, “Our Father…your Kingdom come”. As such, Jesus is perfect theology. We must study Him through reading the Bible and beholding Him. The result of studying Jesus in both ways helps translate our theology into our communities. This is best done by participating in the Kingdom of God. The best place to do this is the marketplace. Participating in the Kingdom of God can begin in a home because the Kingdom is always near, at hand, and within us. The marketplace is where we see and hear miracles of sustained and promotable employment as a normal and proper way of Kingdom life – theology translated.
Finally, if this blog has inspired you, allow me to ask you some questions that may help in stepping into the conversation about the Kingdom of God, and practically start translating theology from your church to the marketplace.
1. What skills do you have that the Holy Spirit can multiply to bring the Kingdom of God into the marketplace?
2. In what way is your church equipping you for the marketplace?
3. What needs do you see among people in the marketplace that can be impacted by you bringing the Kingdom of God?
4. In what ways can you prosper in order to refresh the city?
5. What do your skills look like in the marketplace as an employer or employee?
6. Who do you need to connect with?
[1] Highly educated people as a group, especially when regarded as possessing culture and political influence. C. S. Lewis tended to loathe the intelligentsia.
[2] Patrick Schreiner. The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 13-24.
[3] I acknowledge there are far more exhaustive definitions for the Kingdom of God. For my purpose, I am using this simple definition to explain and describe it. I recommend various publications at the end of this blog.
[4] Geert Hofstede and Gert Jon Hofstede. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind Third Edition. (New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2005), 4.
[5] Peter Drucker. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practices and Principles. (New York, NY: Routledge, 2014).
[6] Luke 10:9; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 17:20-21.
[7] Fox Realty exists to give 20% of the brokerage profits back into the community, creating employment opportunity, and developing Kingdom thinking among the team http://www.foxrealtyaustin.com
[8] Romans 8:19.
[9] Revelation 8:3-4.
[10] Romans 8:26.
[11] Romans 8:15.
[12] Romans 8:34.
[13] John 8:2-11.
[14] William D. Mounce. Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 60.
[15] Ephesians 2:19-22.
[16] Genesis 1:1.
[17] Luke 10:9; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 17:20-21.
[18] 1 Peter 1:10.
[19] 1 Samuel 12:16 is one of many examples.
[20] Philippians 2:5-8.
[21] John 14:12-14.
[22] Ephesians 4:12-16.
[23] 1-2 Timothy and Titus.
[24] Matthew 25:31-46.
[25] Proverbs 10:11. Other translations use the word ‘refreshed’ instead of ‘rejoice’. I recommend reading Amy L. Sherman. Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2001).
[26] I recommend http://www.theeconomist.com as a landing page for other publications.
[27] Habakkuk 3:2 (paraphrased).
[28] Matthew 18:19.
[29] John 14.
[30] Romans 8:11.
[31] 2 Corinthians 7:1.
[32] Matthew 17:19.
[33] Luke 7:28.
[34] Mark 16:20.
[35] Matthew 13:14.