Kingdom Coin: Is Your Tribe Also a Troop?

Some things in the Kingdom of God are like the two sides of a coin: Inseparable but reflecting different aspects of one reality. 

Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb; we're guided by Word and Spirit.  

The Body of Christ is designed with two sides of one coin as well: As tribe AND troop. 

The Tribe is denoted as 'Oikos - the household of God: We are connected by The Blood as deeply loved children of God; in relationship as brothers and sisters for intimacy with The Father. 

The other side is Troop - Ekklesia - the governing body and war unit: We are connected by The Mission, as intimate allies for war.  

Yet too many wineskins do not move in both but are defined and driven by only one side of the coin. 

To be a true tribe, we must work (and it does take work,) to build functional connections - risking to know and be known for who we are and what we battle. 

But if we are not also a troop, we are turned inward and so do not operate in full authority: Deploying it outward for the Kingdom.   

On the flipside, if we only function only as a troop, we disconnect from the lifeline of deep relationships and can become, effectively, spiritual mercenaries.  

God designed The Body to function out of identity and relationship as family and then focus that together as a force. 

This is not an easy balance and it's challenging to lead.  

'Most of the mistakes I made as a leader came from being a father when I should have been a general, or being a general when I should have been a father,' *

Like many things in the Kingdom, we must struggle to hold both sides of this dynamic and know when to press on one aspect or the other.  

Take hope and note: The early church managed to walk this out.

And God is restoring again this 'coin of The Realm.' 

Stephen

Replay of this Deck teaching is on YouTube.

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*Quote from Tim Sheets.