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Christian Citizenship  /  What is a Kingdom Christian?  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 3
He claims that in New Testament times this kingdom-focused experience was “normative” for the first 300 years, but after the fourth century “the world sucked them in”; what specific shifts does he name (Christian nations, killing, torturing, class distinctions, persecuting Jews, swearing oaths, ignoring Jesus’ commands), and which of those temptations do you think the modern church is most vulnerable to repeating in different forms?
Another way to ask: Bercot says the early church was pulled into the world after the 4th century (Christian nations, violence, class levels, persecuting Jews, oaths, ignoring Jesus’ commands). Which of these same traps do you think churches today are most likely to repeat in new ways?

Direct Answer Bercot says the major shift was from promoting God’s kingdom to trying to build a “Christian world” through “Christian nations,” and that compromise led Christians to ignore Jesus’ commandments in ways that looked like the world. He implies modern churches can repeat the same pattern anytime allegiance to earthly culture and power replaces obedience to Jesus’ kingdom teachings.

Support from Transcript:

  • He calls it “normative…during the first 300 years of Christianity,” then says “the church became more focused on creating a Christian world than in promoting the kingdom of God.”
  • He says they “imagined…trying to establish Christian nations” was kingdom work.
  • Outcome: “the world sucked them in,” and they “lost sight” that Christians are “citizens of a different kingdom…never…joined with any earthly country.”
  • He lists specific sins/compromises that followed: “killing one another, torturing one another,” and “forming permanent class distinctions between rich and poor Christians.”
  • He adds: “persecuting Jews, swearing oaths, and in general, ignoring most of Jesus’ kingdom commandments.”
  • He later connects this fourth-century church-state union to Christians taking up the sword and to compromising Jesus’ command against oaths.
Discussion Follow-ups Which modern “Christian nation” instincts—political power, culture wars, social status—tempt believers to excuse actions Jesus forbids (enemy-love, truthfulness, humility, generosity)?

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