How the Church’s Focus Evolved from the Kingdom to Personal Salvation
From the early church era to the present day, the focus of the Christian message has undergone significant evolution. This transformation reflects a complex interplay of cultural, theological, and political forces that shaped the development of a more salvation-centered gospel, moving away from the holistic Kingdom message that Jesus proclaimed. Understanding this shift provides insight into why the modern church often struggles to balance the Kingdom call with the message of personal salvation.
1. Early Church Era: Tension Between Kingdom and Salvation Messages
The early Christian community was born into a world marked by the messianic expectations of Jewish believers and the expansionist culture of the Roman Empire. In its infancy, the church grappled with how to balance the message of the Kingdom of God with the Gospel of Salvation.
Jewish Christians, led primarily by Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem, preached in synagogues with a strong focus on the Kingdom of Heaven. For them, Jesus was the fulfillment of the long-awaited Jewish Messiah who had come to inaugurate God’s Kingdom on earth. This Kingdom message called for a transformation of society’s values and required believers to embody the principles of justice, mercy, and humility.
On the other hand, Paul, often called the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), emphasized the Gospel of Salvation—a message that stressed personal transformation through faith in Jesus Christ and extended beyond Jewish customs. Paul’s teachings appealed to the Gentiles by offering grace, redemption, and justification through faith without the requirement to adhere to Jewish law.
This early tension led to significant discussions within the church, notably the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and the incident at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14). These debates centered on whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish practices, highlighting the struggle to unify the message of the Kingdom with the emerging emphasis on personal salvation. Although both Peter and Paul eventually embraced a more integrated approach, the seeds of a salvation-centered focus, especially for Gentile believers, were sown during this period.
2. Influence of Greek Philosophy and the Roman Empire
As Christianity spread beyond its Jewish roots, it encountered the influence of Greek philosophy and Roman political culture, profoundly impacting its theology. Paul’s Greco-Roman education influenced his ability to engage with Gentile audiences but also subtly incorporated elements of Greek thought. Greek philosophy, with its emphasis on the spiritual realm as superior to the physical, shaped early Christian views on salvation, often portraying it as the soul’s escape from the material world into an eternal heavenly existence.
The Roman Empire’s structure and emphasis on law, order, and authority also influenced how the church perceived its role. As Christianity gained favor within the empire—culminating in Constantine’s conversion and the Edict of Milan in 313 AD—the church began adopting imperial and hierarchical structures. This development reinforced a view of the church as the primary mediator of God’s grace and salvation, distancing itself from its earlier focus on the Kingdom’s societal and communal transformation.
3. Medieval Era and Scholasticism: The Church as the Gatekeeper to Salvation
In the medieval period, the church became a dominant force, claiming authority as the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on earth. The institutional church wielded immense power, presenting itself as the gatekeeper of salvation. It was believed that access to salvation came exclusively through the church’s sacraments and authority. Practices like penance and indulgences became central to the church’s teachings on salvation, reinforcing the idea that the church mediated God’s grace.
The Crusades (1095–1291) further complicated the relationship between the Kingdom message and the church’s focus. Framed as holy missions to reclaim the Holy Land, the Crusades were presented as efforts to expand God’s Kingdom. However, they often led to violence and exploitation, turning the Kingdom message into something militaristic and imperialistic. Today, this period remains a source of deep embarrassment for the church and contributes to the modern reluctance to fully engage with Kingdom theology.
The rise of Scholasticism, led by theologians like Thomas Aquinas, aimed to reconcile Christian theology with classical philosophy. This movement further entrenched the church’s role as the mediator of salvation, emphasizing a transactional view where salvation was seen as an exchange mediated by the church’s authority rather than an invitation to participate in God’s Kingdom on earth.
4. The Reformation and the Doctrine of Justification by Faith: A Rejection of the Kingdom?
The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century emerged as a response to the perceived corruption and excesses of the Catholic Church, particularly its control over salvation through practices like indulgences. Reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli emphasized the doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide), promoting a direct relationship between the individual believer and God, without the church as the intermediary.
While the Reformation recovered essential biblical teachings on grace and faith, it inadvertently shifted focus away from the Kingdom message. In rejecting the Catholic Church’s institutionalism, Reformers distanced themselves from the idea of the church as a manifestation of God’s Kingdom, focusing instead on individual salvation. The broader call to live out the Kingdom of God in the world was often overshadowed by the emphasis on personal faith and reconciliation with God.
5. Enlightenment and Evangelicalism: From Institution to Culture
The Enlightenment period, with its focus on reason and individualism, further shaped Christian theology. Protestant influence moved from institutionalized centers like Rome to cultural hubs like London, resulting in the rise of Evangelicalism. This movement emphasized personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and evangelism, reinforcing a message centered on individual salvation and eternal assurance.
Dispensationalism, which emerged during this time, divided history into different eras or “dispensations.” This theology emphasized the salvation of souls in anticipation of Christ’s return, promoting a view where evangelism took priority over the Kingdom’s call for societal transformation.
6. The Modern Evangelistic Focus
In the 20th and 21st centuries, the church continued to prioritize evangelism, emphasizing salvation through faith and assurance of eternal life. The rise of megachurches and the influence of figures like Billy Graham further popularized a salvation-centered message. While many churches acknowledged the importance of social justice and Kingdom values, the emphasis on securing individual salvation often took precedence.
7. Post-Modernism: Rejection of Institutional Religion
The post-modern era has presented new challenges for the church. Skepticism toward institutions, including the church, has led many to seek spiritual fulfillment outside traditional religious structures. Scandals involving clergy and historical conflicts have further eroded trust in the church, leading some churches to focus more on inclusivity and well-being at the expense of traditional Kingdom teaching.
8. The Prosperity Gospel: A New Distortion of Kingdom Teaching
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Prosperity Gospel emerged, equating God’s Kingdom with personal success, health, and wealth. This message deviates significantly from Jesus’ call to seek justice, mercy, and humility, reducing the Kingdom to a formula for personal gain. This modern distortion highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing a genuine Kingdom consciousness with the gospel message.
9. Conclusion: The Need for a Rebalanced Gospel
The historical journey of the church shows a shift from a Kingdom-centered message to one primarily focused on personal salvation. Reclaiming the Kingdom message is crucial for the modern church to embody the transformative call of Jesus—to live justly, seek righteousness, and bring about God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.