Editing Openai/691e6bfc-7024-8011-90e5-bfcc91b3ee0a (section)

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a) “Sheep Nation” language
* Matthew 25:31–46 describes the Son of Man judging all nations and separating people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats, based on whether they cared for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned.Bible Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Bible Gateway|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* KI uses this to frame a vision of the “world’s first Sheep Nation,” achieved largely through transformed marketplace practice and wealth flowing into the Kingdom.Kingdom Initiatives<ref>{{cite web|title=Kingdom Initiatives|url=https://www.kingdominitiatives.au/|publisher=Kingdom Initiatives|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

Alignment:
* Care for people: If KI’s marketplace teaching leads to fair wages, generosity to the poor, and serving “the least of these,” this is in line with Matthew 25’s emphasis on practical mercy and justice.
* Corporate responsibility: Using business structures to serve vulnerable people is a legitimate application of Kingdom ethics to economics.

Tension / caution:
* Matthew 25’s focus is acts of mercy to Christ’s “brothers and sisters”, not the economic size or success of businesses. The text itself does not speak of building a “Sheep Nation” through marketplace dominance or wealth transfer; those are later theological constructs layered on top of the passage.Bible Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Bible Gateway|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* The risk is reframing a judgment text into a development or growth vision, where economic success becomes too tightly associated with being “sheep.”

b) Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30)
* Jesus’ parable shows a master entrusting money (“talents”) to servants; two invest and double it, one hides it and is rebuked.Bible Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Bible Gateway|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A14-30&version=ESV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* Historic interpretation sees “talents” as all God-given resources (gifts, opportunities, wealth, positions) to be used faithfully for God’s purposes.Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Talents|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

Alignment with KI:
* KI’s call to steward and multiply what God has given in business can fit within this parable: Christians are not called to bury their capacities but to deploy them for the Master.
* The idea that God may entrust different levels of “capacity” and expects faithfulness, not uniform outcomes, also fits.Theology of Work<ref>{{cite web|title=Theology of Work|url=https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/matthew/living-in-the-new-kingdom-matthew-18-25/the-parable-of-the-talents-matthew-2514-30/|publisher=Theology of Work|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

Tension / caution:
* Many commentaries stress this is primarily about faithful obedience and readiness for Christ’s return, not a blanket endorsement of aggressive business expansion.gotquestions.org<ref>{{cite web|title=gotquestions.org|url=https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-talents.html|publisher=gotquestions.org|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* When teaching focuses heavily on “multiply your business beyond natural capacity to attract God’s favour”, there is a risk of sliding toward a prosperity-style reading, where financial growth looks like proof of spiritual success.Kingdom Initiatives<ref>{{cite web|title=Kingdom Initiatives|url=https://www.kingdominitiatives.au/|publisher=Kingdom Initiatives|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

===== Key texts: =====
* 1 Timothy 6:17–19 – Rich believers are told not to trust in wealth but to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, laying up treasure for the coming age.Bible Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Bible Gateway|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A17-19&version=NIV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* James 5:1–6 – Sharp warning against hoarding wealth, failing to pay workers, and living in self-indulgence; such behaviour brings judgment.Bible Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Bible Gateway|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5&version=NIV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

Alignment with KI if implemented well:
* KI explicitly critiques greed, fear and corruption in the marketplace, aligning with James’ condemnation of unjust wealth and exploitation.Facebook<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/648385665362874/posts/1017061918495245/|publisher=facebook.com|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* If KI teaches wealthy business owners to fund church work, relieve poverty, and act ethically, that is consistent with 1 Timothy 6’s call to rich Christians to be generous and do good.

Tension / caution:
* Some marketplace-ministry and “end-time wealth transfer” language in the wider movement (not necessarily KI alone) emphasizes economic power as a central instrument of God’s end-time plan, very similar to some strands of New Apostolic Reformation thought.GraceLife Blog<ref>{{cite web|title=GraceLife Blog|url=https://gracelifethoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/new-apostolic-reformation-end-time-transfer-of-wealth.pdf|publisher=GraceLife Blog|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* The New Testament never guarantees that faithful discipleship produces business success; in fact, it often expects suffering, loss, and marginalization. Identifying economic scaling too closely with Kingdom advancement can distort priorities.