The Kingdom of God---What is It?
By Editor
Under this head appears the following note of inquiry in the Evangel, the Baptist paper of San Francisco. The wise men of "the only church" cannot agree in regard to the answer:— "MR. EDITOR:—Will you be kind enough to give me an answer to the above question? Is the kingdom of God the same thing as the church of God? If so, why does Christ say strive to enter into the kingdom, while he nowhere says strive to enter into the church? Why does Paul say "the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" and not say the same of the church? Why did not Christ say, whoever shall not receive the church as a little child shall not enter into it if the church and the kingdom are the same? Why is the kingdom the great subject of prophecy and not the church, if both are the same institution? Why do we read of "the everlasting kingdom," but never of the everlasting church. Why are we commanded to cast the tares out of the church, but are forbidden to cast them out of the kingdom? Why is the church never made the great objective in preaching, but 'the Gospel of the kingdom is to be preached to all nations as a witness? "Except a man be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God,' whereas a man may enter the Baptist church even and not be born of the spirit, although he might be born of the water. How is this if a church and the kingdom are the same? I heard Dr. Graves say, in one of his lectures, that as it takes all the United States to make this great Republic, and all the German States to make the German Empire, and all the British States to make the kingdom of Great Britain, so it takes all the churches (Baptist churches he meant) to make the kingdom of God. Now, Mr. Editor, is this thus? Is the kingdom and the church, or churches, the same conception? Do Ecclesia and Basileia mean the same? I believe that is the Greek for church and kingdom; you will know, of course, if I do not. But I am troubled; I am perplexed; I want light; the church of God, What is it? The kingdom of God, What is it? I sent you the former question some weeks ago; but the "solid men" of our denomination seem afraid to touch it. Now, as an editor is made on purpose to answer questions, will you not answer these two questions, and so relieve the perplexity of an INQUIRER?"