In my last post, I started to identify differences between “Church” leaders and “Kingdom (Ekklesia” leaders. In this post, I want to continue with the list and hopefully inspire you to look to become the Kingdom leaders the world so desperately needs right now.
Just a reminder: when I refer to a Kingdom leader, I am referring to a mindset or paradigm that reflects an understanding of how the Ekklesia bring and manifest what Jesus called the Kingdom of God/Heaven in this present moment of time. It reflects or demonstrates an understanding that in ruling or governing in the gates of culture, the Ekklesia outworks the heavenly kingdom into the spheres of culture and nations.
When I refer to a Church leader I am referring to a mindset or paradigm that reflects an understanding that the Church gate and its structures in the present day is the most important gate. It does not necessarily refer to a leader in a church. There are many leaders in churches today who are “kingdom” leaders as per the definition outlined above. However there are leaders in churches who fall into the definition of a “church” leader as I have defined it here.
As per the first post I am going to just list a number of points to highlight the differences that I see between these two paradigms.
A Kingdom leader looks to exorcise demons out of ungodly social systems and gates of culture. Church leaders place a greater emphasis on delivering individuals.
A Kingdom leader recognises that systems, governments and gates can be influenced by demonic activity. They seek to bring the delivering power of Christ to these systems as well as to individuals. A church mindset does not see that systems need deliverance and therefore tend to only focus on individuals.
A Kingdom leader applies their faith to all of creation, including the earth. Church leaders tend to focus on escaping creation and earth in order to get to heaven.
A kingdom leader understands that when God created the earth and the world, He called it good! And as such, a Kingdom leader seeks to bring Heaven into His creation to make it good again. Using Romans 8 as inspiration, they recognise the Ekklesia is meant to bring the redemption power of Christ to all creation. We are meant to make creation smile again. Church leaders tend to focus on getting out of here as soon as possible as going to heaven is perceived as the “spiritual” thing to do.
A Kingdom leader prays and contends for God’s will to be done on earth. Church leaders tend to focus on revival.
A Kingdom leader understands that revival is not the only thing God is interested in, nor is it the only mechanism that He uses to bring about lasting change. He works to transform the earth through Holy Spirit inspired intellect, gifting and leading in everyday life, not just through revival. Church leaders tend to see revival as the only option for transformation.
A Kingdom leader believes for the gospel to prosper and economically lift whole communities, cities and nations. Church leaders tend to believe for tithes, offerings and building fund giving to support the building and church programs they run.
Money…enough said on this point!
A Kingdom leader will look to equip and disciple people for life. Church leaders generally look to equip and disciple people for church life.
A Kingdom leader understands that in order for the kingdoms of this world to become the Kingdoms of our God there is a requirement for anointed, called and gifted people to enter into all the gates of culture. They recognise the importance of all aspects of life. A church leader tends to focus on equipping their people for a life centered around church activities.
A Kingdom leader recognise all gifts, talents and calls as spiritual and holy unto the Lord. Church leaders tend to elevate gifts that function within the area of the church.
Kingdom leaders value, encourage and genuinely honour giftings that function within all the gates of culture. Church leaders tend to honour gifts that function within the church gate.
A Kingdom leader recognises that all the nations are the Lord’s inheritance. Church leaders generally focus on one nation.
This point in itself is a series, but for now, I simply want to point out that in Psalm 2, the Lord is encouraged to ask for all the nations as His inheritance and in Matthew 28 the Ekklesia are called to disciple all nations. It is not a single nation or a specific ethnic group that is His inheritance but rather, all nations are His inheritance and He takes equal delight in all of them.
A Kingdom leader seeks to establish this in the heart of all nations and does not promote one nation above another or a people group above another. Church leaders tend to see the Lord’s inheritance through a lens that favours the Old Testament nation that the Lord used to demonstrate His purposes through.
This is the last post for now on the Ekklesia series. I trust that you have been blessed and challenged by what I have explored in this series.
Regards
Anthony
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