kingdom building vs Kingdom building

As a Christian, I have the phrase "Kingdom building" many times. I understand it to mean work that forwards or advances the Kingdom of God here on the earth. It could be evangelism, discipleship, caring for the homeless, or any number of things that demonstrates the love of God for the unsaved.

The secular world also uses the phrase "kingdom building". It is the way someone in a company makes themselves indispensable in a way that gives greater job security. They find a task or tasks and ensure that they are the only one that is able to perform them. They will end up being the only one who has access to passwords, materials, or the equipment to do the job.

Unfortunately, the church (or rather, churches) is also practicing this kind of kingdom building. If you want to gather with believers, worship the Lord, hear a word from God, experience discipleship, or study the Word, it is expected that you do these things in the church building. Not any church building, just the church building that you normally attend. They might be okay with you attending a special teaching at another church, but it needs to be of the same denomination. If there is only one place to go to seek God, then that is where you will go. It is job security for a church that relies on attendance and tithes to operate.

Now, I'm not saying that if your church is like this that you find another church. As believers, we are called to reconciliation. If you are witnessing this, it needs to be brought up to the pastor or the elders. Also, we are called to grow where we are planted. If the Lord has planted you someplace, do your best to grow there while He is preparing the next place. But if you are hindered from growing where you are and church leadership isn't allowing you to be fed elsewhere while under their covering, then it's probably time to find a new pasture to graze in. Don't help build a kingdom at the expense of the Kingdom. The time is growing short and we need to be getting equipped to draw others to Him.