The Kingdom

I’m no theologian or Bible scholar – so what I’m about to write comes from my thoughts as I’ve been reading through the book of Luke in my quiet time. My hope is that the Lord speaks through me, giving me wisdom that comes from Him and not from me –otherwise this is pretty pointless.

If you’ve opened your Facebook newsfeed in recent days, there’s almost a 100% guarantee that it has been overwhelmed with posts about the SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage or rainbow colored profile pictures, the confederate flag or attacks on black churches in the south or something concerning current racial tensions, and a myriad of blogs expressing their opinions on the state of our country.  Some celebrate, some call for continued reform, while others mourn. In the midst of all of this, the division in the church and among Christians on these issues has been pervasive, which has led this first-time-mom-to-be to ask some hard questions on how I’ll explain and answer Samuel’s questions one day. How do I teach my son to love God’s Word, to prize it as truth that does not change, to love the Lord and to love others as Jesus did? How do I do that when the definition of love I see in Scripture is much different than the definition of love used in our culture? How do I teach him to discern biblically sound and humble teachers to listen to from those who look more like wolves in sheep’s clothing? How do I do all of that without alienating him from the body of Christ – which has always been God’s Plan A in exemplifying the Gospel to the world – when it seems more divided and broken than ever?

Personally, one of the most frustrating things that I have observed in recent weeks has been this outrage and shock from Christians that our nation’s government isn’t making laws consistent with our biblical beliefs. In my opinion, the expectation that those who do not claim Christ would make biblically-based decisions, or ones that line up with Christ’s teachings, is unrealistic – I feel like Paul is pretty clear about this in Romans 1-2. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with the decision, lifestyle, or action of those who believe something differently than you – but our response in these moments ought to be different than shock, outrage, and a beating with the Bible. Why? Because I don’t think the current responses of “tolerance” and “bible-beating” are effective nor Biblical. I could be wrong, but I think the key for a better response lies in understanding the Kingdom and our role in it differently than I have before.

The Kingdom has always been a difficult concept for me to grasp as a believer, to be completely honest. It’s always seemed abstract – something you read about in parables but it isn’t here yet fully, and trying to flush it out practically is another struggle entirely. However, as I’ve been diving into the Gospels, I’m beginning to see that the Kingdom – while it is something we still look forward to in terms of Jesus’ return – is something that is already in our midst. The Kingdom is near – it can be sought and found – and it isn’t something that God is trying to hide from us. On the contrary, Luke 12:32 encourages us not to fear – “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” As a Christ-follower, my citizenship is now found in the Kingdom – and with any kingdom or nation, there are an authority, a people, and an order/way of life/law. There are also certain rights and responsibilities given to you not based on performance but on your position as a citizen. When Jesus says, “the kingdom of God is like…” He’s showing us a greater understanding of who He is as King, who we are as His people, and what life is like under His reign…even in the midst of another physical form of government.

For the Jews, they expected Messiah to come as a political savior – to rescue them from Roman rule and be reestablished as a nation. They wanted so badly to be politically free and independent – that they missed the complete freedom Jesus was offering to them. They missed the Kingdom. I’m wondering if we are today as well.

The more I read and understand Jesus’ words, the more upside down the Kingdom sounds. Love those who hate me? Bless those who persecute me? Forgive those who hurt me? Give all that I have? Don’t seek to preserve my own neck? Leave 99 and go after the lost 1? Welcome the poor, needy, hungry, widows, orphans into my home – meet their needs even when my resources seem limited – and don’t worry?  Yes. Why? Because when I love, bless, forgive, give, seek, welcome, trust, and depend then I am free regardless of my physical circumstances.

The more I look at Jesus’ life, the more I find that He was not only able to submit to the governing authorities (despite being God), but He was also able to fulfill the Law without agreeing with them. How many times did the Pharisees accuse the man of breaking the Sabbath? How many times did they seek and watch and test Him, to catch Him in the act of breaking their laws? And how many times did Jesus speak the truth in love, reveal the purpose and intention of the Law, and perfectly fulfill it? How many times did Jesus heal, act mercifully, love, forgive, and extend peace to “sinners” and those considered “unclean” without calling them to “go and sin no more”? How many times does He call us to do the same?

Jesus understood the Kingdom. He understood that God is working and moving; that His purposes and plans will not be thwarted – He understood that God sees the end from the beginning and nothing catches Him by surprise. He also understood His role in the Kingdom – Philippians 2:1-11 as an example. He understood that you can be subject to governing authorities, to walk in respect and love and honor, without confusing where your true citizenship lies (Matthew 17:24-27, 22:15-24,and Romans 13 as an example). He understood the importance of obeying His Father in the everyday – rather than pointing out everyone else’s sin, the ridiculousness of their self-righteousness, or all of the flaws and poor decisions made by the government – He met people where they were, taught them with great compassion, patience, and truth without contempt, touched the unclean, communed with the poor, the dirty, the sick, the marginalized. Not once did he engage with someone who was lost and fail to have compassion on them, to meet their needs practically and then call them to “go and sin no more.” And when they refused, as some did, He didn’t chase after them beating them upside the head with arguments or reasons why they should follow Him. He was grieved deeply for them, He continued to love them, but He also let them walk away without changing His call.  Therein lays the balance that I fear I have missed, and maybe we have missed collectively as the Church. I can love someone and not condone their behavior. I can respect authority without compromising my conviction or losing sight of where my allegiance lies. I can meet others where they are, love them as Christ loved them, and invite them to see how Jesus is changing my life – not as someone who is perfect or has it altogether – but I can do that without strings attached, and maybe they’ll catch a glimpse of the Kingdom, of Jesus, and want more. Maybe not. 

Jesus shares many parables about a master leaving his servants in charge of his house – emphasizing the importance of the servants being ready for their master’s unknown time/date of return. Will he find them doing what they’ve been commanded to do? Will he find them asleep, unprepared, or worse – abusing one another and acting shamefully towards one another? Or in a current context – will Jesus return finding His Bride doing what we’ve been commanded to do as citizens of the Kingdom? Will He find us walking in obedience, free despite our physical circumstances, and welcoming others into the Kingdom in truth and love? Or will He find us apathetic, complacent, or worse – abusing one another and beating the hell out of everyone who doesn’t see things “our way”?

Jesus, open our eyes to see the Kingdom – create in us servants that you find following your heart all the days of our lives.