Changes

==170:5. LATER IDEAS OF THE KINGDOM==

==170:5. LATER IDEAS OF THE KINGDOM==

170:5.1 Having summarized the teachings of Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, we are permitted to narrate certain later ideas which became attached to the concept of the kingdom and to engage in a prophetic forecast of the kingdom as it may evolve in the age to come.

170:5.1 Having summarized the teachings of [[Jesus]] about the ''kingdom of heaven'', we are [[permitted]] to narrate certain later [[ideas]] which became attached to the [[concept]] of the kingdom and to [[engage]] in a [[prophetic]] [[forecast]] of the kingdom as it may evolve in the [[epoch|age]] to come.

170:5.2 Throughout the first centuries of the Christian propaganda, the idea of the kingdom of heaven was tremendously influenced by the then rapidly spreading notions of Greek idealism, the idea of the natural as the shadow of the spiritual—the temporal as the time shadow of the eternal.

170:5.2 Throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity first centuries of the Christian] [[propaganda]], the [[idea]] of the kingdom of [[heaven]] was tremendously [[influenced]] by the then rapidly spreading notions of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealism#History_of_Idealism Greek idealism], the [[idea]] of the [[natural]] as the [[shadow]] of the [[spiritual]]—the [[temporal]] as the [[time]] [[shadow]] of the [[eternal]].

170:5.3 But the great step which marked the transplantation of the teachings of Jesus from a Jewish to a gentile soil was taken when the Messiah of the kingdom became the Redeemer of the church, a religious and social organization growing out of the activities of Paul and his successors and based on the teachings of Jesus as they were supplemented by the ideas of Philo and the Persian doctrines of good and evil.

170:5.3 But the great step which marked the transplantation of the teachings of [[Jesus]] from a [[Jewish]] to a [[gentile]] soil was taken when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah] of the kingdom became the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jesus_as_messiah Redeemer of the church], a [[religious]] and [[social]] [[organization]] growing out of the [[activities]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his successors and based on the teachings of [[Jesus]] as they were supplemented by the [[ideas]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha#In_eschatology_and_soteriology Persian] [[doctrines]] of [[good]] and [[evil]].

170:5.4 The ideas and ideals of Jesus, embodied in the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom, nearly failed of realization as his followers progressively distorted his pronouncements. The Master's concept of the kingdom was notably modified by two great tendencies:

170:5.4 The [[ideas]] and [[ideals]] of [[Jesus]], embodied in the teaching of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom, nearly [[failed]] of [[realization]] as his followers [[progressively]] [[distorted]] his pronouncements. [[The Master]]'s [[concept]] of the kingdom was notably [[modified]] by two great [[tendencies]]:

*1. 170:5.5 The Jewish believers persisted in regarding him as the Messiah. They believed that Jesus would very soon return actually to establish the world-wide and more or less material kingdom.

*1. 170:5.5 The [[Jewish]] [[believers]] [[persisted]] in regarding him as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. They [[believed]] that [[Jesus]] would very soon return actually to [[establish]] the world-wide and more or less [[material]] kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The gentile Christians began very early to accept the doctrines of Paul, which led increasingly to the general belief that Jesus was the Redeemer of the children of the church, the new and institutional successor of the earlier concept of the purely spiritual brotherhood of the kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The [[gentile]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Role_of_Jesus Christians] began very early to [[accept]] the [[doctrines]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul], which led increasingly to the general [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Pauline_Christianity Redeemer of the children of the church], the new and [[institutional]] successor of the earlier [[concept]] of the purely [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.7 The church, as a social outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly natural and even desirable. The evil of the church was not its existence, but rather that it almost completely supplanted the Jesus concept of the kingdom. Paul's institutionalized church became a virtual substitute for the kingdom of heaven which Jesus had proclaimed.

170:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church], as a [[social]] outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly [[natural]] and even desirable. The [[evil]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was not its [[existence]], but rather that it almost completely supplanted the [[Jesus]] [[concept]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity institutionalized church] became a [[virtual]] substitute for the kingdom of heaven which [[Jesus]] had [[proclaimed]].

170:5.8 But doubt not, this same kingdom of heaven which the Master taught exists within the heart of the believer, will yet be proclaimed to this Christian church, even as to all other religions, races, and nations on earth—even to every individual.

170:5.8 But [[doubt]] not, this same ''kingdom of heaven'' which [[the Master]] taught exists within the [[heart]] of the [[believer]], will yet be [[proclaimed]] to this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church], even as to all other [[religions]], [[races]], and [[nations]] on [[earth]]—even to every [[individual]].

170:5.9 The kingdom of Jesus' teaching, the spiritual ideal of individual righteousness and the concept of man's divine fellowship with God, became gradually submerged into the mystic conception of the person of Jesus as the Redeemer-Creator and spiritual head of a socialized religious community. In this way a formal and institutional church became the substitute for the individually spirit-led brotherhood of the kingdom.

170:5.9 The kingdom of [[Jesus]]' teaching, the [[spiritual]] [[ideal]] of [[individual]] [[righteousness]] and the [[concept]] of man's [[divine]] [[fellowship]] with [[God]], became [[gradually]] submerged into the [[mystic]] [[conception]] of the [[person]] of [[Jesus]] as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redeemer_%28Christianity%29 Redeemer]-[[Creator]] and [[spiritual]] head of a socialized [[religious]] [[community]]. In this way a [[formal]] and [[institutional]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] became the substitute for the [[individually]] [[spirit]]-[[led]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.10 The church was an inevitable and useful social result of Jesus' life and teachings; the tragedy consisted in the fact that this social reaction to the teachings of the kingdom so fully displaced the spiritual concept of the real kingdom as Jesus taught and lived it.

170:5.10 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was an [[inevitable]] and useful [[social]] [[result]] of [[Jesus]]' life and teachings; the [[tragedy]] consisted in the [[fact]] that this [[social]] [[reaction]] to the teachings of the kingdom so fully displaced the [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of the real kingdom as [[Jesus]] taught and lived it.

170:5.11 The kingdom, to the Jews, was the Israelite community; to the gentiles it became the Christian church. To Jesus the kingdom was the sum of those individuals who had confessed their faith in the fatherhood of God, thereby declaring their wholehearted dedication to the doing of the will of God, thus becoming members of the spiritual brotherhood of man.

170:5.11 The kingdom, to the [[Jews]], was the [[Israel]]ite [[community]]; to the [[gentiles]] it became the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. To [[Jesus]] the kingdom was the sum of those [[individuals]] who had [[confessed]] their [[faith]] in the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]], thereby declaring their wholehearted [[dedication]] to the [[doing of the will of God]], thus becoming members of the [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of man.

170:5.12 The Master fully realized that certain social results would appear in the world as a consequence of the spread of the gospel of the kingdom; but he intended that all such desirable social manifestations should appear as unconscious and inevitable outgrowths, or natural fruits, of this inner personal experience of individual believers, this purely spiritual fellowship and communion with the divine spirit which indwells and activates all such believers.

170:5.12 [[The Master]] fully [[realized]] that certain [[social]] results would appear in the world as a [[consequence]] of the spread of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom; but he [[intended]] that all such desirable [[social]] [[manifestations]] should [[appear]] as [[unconscious]] and [[inevitable]] outgrowths, or [[natural]] fruits, of this [[Inner Life|inner]] [[personal]] [[experience]] of [[individual]] [[believers]], this [[purely]] [[spiritual]] [[fellowship]] and [[communion]] with the [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]] which indwells and activates all such believers.

170:5.13 Jesus foresaw that a social organization, or church, would follow the progress of the true spiritual kingdom, and that is why he never opposed the apostles' practicing the rite of John's baptism. He taught that the truth-loving soul, the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, for God, is admitted by faith to the spiritual kingdom; at the same time the apostles taught that such a believer is admitted to the social organization of disciples by the outward rite of baptism.

170:5.13 [[Jesus]] foresaw that a [[social]] [[organization]], or [[church]], would follow the [[progress]] of the true [[spiritual]] kingdom, and that is why he never [[opposed]] [[the apostles]]' [[practicing]] the [[rite]] of [[John the Baptist|John]]'s [[baptism]]. He taught that the [[truth]]-loving [[soul]], the one who [[hungers]] and [[thirsts]] for [[righteousness]], for [[God]], is admitted by [[faith]] to the spiritual kingdom; at the same time the [[apostles]] taught that such a [[believer]] is admitted to the [[social]] [[organization]] of [[disciples]] by the outward rite of [[baptism]].

170:5.14 When Jesus' immediate followers recognized their partial failure to realize his ideal of the establishment of the kingdom in the hearts of men by the spirit's domination and guidance of the individual believer, they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for the Master's ideal of the kingdom the gradual creation of a visible social organization, the Christian church. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain consistency and to provide for the recognition of the Master's teaching regarding the fact of the kingdom, they proceeded to set the kingdom off into the future. The church, just as soon as it was well established, began to teach that the kingdom was in reality to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the second coming of Christ.

170:5.14 When [[Jesus]]' [[immediate]] followers recognized their partial [[failure]] to [[realize]] his [[ideal]] of the [[establishment]] of the kingdom in the [[hearts]] of men by the [[spirit]]'s [[domination]] and [[guidance]] of the [[individual]] [[believer]], they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for [[the Master]]'s [[ideal]] of the kingdom the [[gradual]] [[creation]] of a visible [[social]] [[organization]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain [[consistency]] and to provide for the [[recognition]] of [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[fact]] of the kingdom, they [[proceeded]] to set the kingdom off into the [[future]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements#Church_and_ecclesia church], just as soon as it was well [[established]], began to teach that the kingdom was in [[reality]] to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ].

170:5.15 In this manner the kingdom became the concept of an age, the idea of a future visitation, and the ideal of the final redemption of the saints of the Most High. The early Christians (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of the Father-and-son idea embodied in Jesus' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-organized social fellowship of the church. The church thus became in the main a social brotherhood which effectively displaced Jesus' concept and ideal of a spiritual brotherhood.

170:5.15 In this manner the kingdom became the concept of an age, the idea of a future visitation, and the ideal of the final redemption of the saints of the Most High. The early Christians (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of the Father-and-son idea embodied in Jesus' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-organized social fellowship of the church. The church thus became in the main a social brotherhood which effectively displaced Jesus' concept and ideal of a spiritual brotherhood.