KINGDOM OF GOD TODAY
Kingdom. Of. God.
This is not simply a personal ethic. I often hear evangelicals and conservatives say, ‘God wants everything from us’ and ‘God demands our all.’ But somehow many also claim that ‘everything’ and ‘all’ doesn’t include our politics because Jesus only gave us a personal ethic.
The fact is that the Kingdom of God is more than personal. It is political, but it is a radically different kind of politics because it subverts the political status quo. From the beginning of human history, the political status quo has been run by the same dynamic – violence.
But the Kingdom of God subverts the politics of violence. Make no mistake: When Jesus used the term ‘Kingdom of God,’ he was being politically subversive. He was charged with high treason, because in using that phrase he was directly confronting the Kingdom of Rome.
These two political realms function in entirely different ways. The Kingdom of Rome functioned with violence, terror, and exclusion. But this point is crucial: Rome wanted peace. In fact, Rome named its project the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, and wanted to spread it throughout the known world. Unfortunately, the only method Rome knew to achieve ‘peace’ was through violence. As Rome conquered new lands in the contradictory name of the Pax Romana, it carried the sword and the crucifix along with it. And if anyone resisted, they would likely be killed.
As all Christians know, that’s exactly what happened to Jesus. Why was Jesus killed? It wasn’t because he said, ‘Hey guys. I’ve got a personal ethic here, let’s all just love each other! Look, bunnies. Yay! Aren’t they cute!’
No……………….
In the face of terrorism in France and throughout the world, those who follow Christ can have only one response – resist violence with nonviolent love.
In the face of refugees fleeing countries torn to shreds by terrorism, those who follow Christ can have only one response – resist the urge to exclude refugees by showing them gracious hospitality that lends without hope of receiving anything in return.
If we choose any other personal or political ethic, we aren’t living by the Kingdom of God………..
……..love doesn’t guarantee security, but neither does violence. The point for Christians is to not be run by fear, but by love. To follow him means to trust that as we live into the Kingdom of God we can show hospitality and lend to everyone in need, without expecting anything in return, because we know that there will be enough for everyone.
‘May Thy kindom* break forth unto our broken world-
Through our living commitment to peace with justice.
Through our care for our poor, our stranger and our marginalized.
Through our active practice of nonviolence through loving words, thoughts and deeds.
Through our care of our environment in the way we live and share resources.
Through our exercise of endless hospitality and openness to embrace another.
Through our generosity in compassion, mercy and forgiveness..
May Thy kindom come.’
*not a misprint.
