Why Do Christians Pray “Thy Kingdom Come”?

[Jim B]

But, you said people don't always have God's kingdom in their hearts, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So, how can God's kingdom have already come to earth when it hasn't come to all of man's hearts, even those who calls themselves "Christian?"

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Living by the Spirit of God is not always easy. Sometimes Christians live by the sinful nature -- "the flesh" -- instead of being guided by the Spirit.

I think you misinterpreted what I meant. People always have God's kingdom in their hearts. It is not a now-and-then situation.

 

[Jim B]

People aren't always loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and use self-control. That's why Jesus wants us to recite the Lord's Prayer where in it we say we want God's kingdom (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, etc) to come, meaning to invoke God's help to live out those acts.

If that's the way that you interpret what Jesus said to his non-Christian disciples, fine. But I disagree.

God's kingdom has already come or else Jesus died for nothing.

Saying that people aren't always loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and use self-control has nothing to do with God's kingdom having come or not. It does not mean invoking "God's help to live out those acts".

It's the equivalent of saying that, since some people don't obey the law, we have no government. Think about it.

 

[Pearl]

God's Kingdom is about His authority. And we want that authority to be over all things.

John 18:36
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.

But then:

Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

 

[Jim B]

You said God's kingdom is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You said people always have God's kingdom in their hearts, and thus it has come, but they don't, and thus it isn't always present in hearts, because people don't always live out those acts, hence why Jesus wants us to recite The Lord's Prayer, where in it we say "thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done" to invoke God's help to live out those acts.

So go ahead and say "The Lord's Prayer" if you want; it makes no difference to me. I still accept the fact that God's kingdom has already come. If you don't, fine.

I never said that God's kingdom is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those are the "fruits" of the Holy Spirit that God has given us and is always present in our hearts.

BTW, where does it say that Jesus wants us to recite The Lord's Prayer. He told his disciples to pray that way before He was crucified, ascended to heaven, and gave us the Holy Spirit (which the disciples didn't have at the time).

Simply because we don't always live out "those acts" doesn't mean that we haven't received God's Spirit. It means that, as long as were alive, we're imperfect beings.

If you want to invoke God's help to live out "those acts" then just ask Him.

 

[Jim B]

God's Kingdom is about His authority. And we want that authority to be over all things.

John 18:36
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.

But then:

Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Are you saying that God doesn't have authority over all things? He is, after all, God, the Creator of the universe.

John 18:36 (in its entirety): "Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Jesus was not declared a king by the Romans or anyone else, hence it's not a kingship from this world (or of this world).

Just a reminder: Revelation is a vision that John had. It is a supernatural glimpse into the future.

 

[Jim B]

FYI, here is an interesting post for you Catholics...

After three and a half year-long battle, the Santa Fe Archdiocese has settled a lawsuit with over 300 survivors who have claimed sexual abuse as children at the hands of clergy members within the diocese.

The church has liquidated assets to fund its bankruptcy plan and compensation for victims.