Why do I care so much about the question as to whether the kingdom of God is now or not yet? Beyond the fact that it is simply what the Bible teaches, the notion that the kingdom of God is now actually hurts people. It turns the gospel into a therapeutic self-help message.

The Bible becomes a mere manual on how to have a happy and prosperous life. Of course, it has plenty of principles that make life better. But that is not its primary thrust.

The driving emphasis of the Gospel has always been a message of hope for persecuted, hated, struggling minorities, the suffering, wounded, little ones. People like you and me. Someday, the One who made us loves us enough to actually come back to save us and fix this damn mess.

-Joel Richardson