Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
You are not far from the kingdom of God. --
This is where a lot of us would like to spend our lives--
Secondly, when you live near the kingdom of God you can learn the language of those inside the borders and experiment with some of their customs and rituals. But eating Mexican food doesn't make you a Mexican, and taking communion doesn't make you a member of God's kingdom. At some point you have to apply for citizenship.
Thirdly, as long as you just stay near God's kingdom you can maintain the myth of objectivity. We live in a society that honors seeking and asking questions. But once someone moves inside the kingdom of God, and lives as if the Bible has answers to our questions, that person is often called a fundamentalist. Well, so be it. Do you really want to be objective when it comes to questions of your salvation?
In the end, it doesn't really matter how close you get to the kingdom of God. For an eternity of reasons, all that matters is that you have entered it.
-- Craig Barnes