i've been getting to know the youth minister at our church and we've had a somewhat ongoing conversation that carries over from one time to another. like most everyone else in the world, when we get together (which is infrequently, unfortunately) we talk about the "Kingdom of God" and what the means. it seems we don't know, or at least i don't. the scriptures are a bit vague if you really think about it. when i say kingdom i don't mean heaven, i mean what Jesus was talking about all the time in regards to life on earth and what disciples do in response to God and grace and compassion and mercy... etc.
Jesus mentions (and this is admittedly a lousy proof-text) in Luke 17 that the kingdom of God is "in your midst." this could be taken a few ways i guess, but the way i tend to go with it (or at least right now) is that the kingdom is not some far away, post-earth heavenly existance, but the reality of the way of Jesus and how it is realized in the here and now. the kingdom is not of this earth, not shaped by our perceived rules of kingdom-ness, but in fact the occasions or occurances when Jesus is present and His real way of truth, justice, righteousness is realized in full-effect.
sometimes i think i get it wrong when i put my blinders to where the kingdom is showing up. i am trying to get away from the thought that the kingdom will only come when all things are said and done and we live in perfect peace forever and ever and ever. that is a pretty cool kingdom, but not what Jesus was always talking about (in my interpretation). in talking with my friend the youth pastor (super youth pastor, in fact) about my job with the juvenile-criminal-social outcast types we wondered a few things: i always had this perception that a "pastor" or "minister" had to be under the payroll of a church with a building (slight bit of scarcasm included). but is what this boys home does just as much kingdom work as what the church does? i think so... but with some further explanation needed.
i don't think the mainstream northamerican church does a good job with the balance of spirituality and the Biblical call to social and relational justice. i don't do a good job, either. has the church spent to much time and energy preserving the institution of church and not doing the work of the gospel/the kingdom? i would argue this point to be true. the church has taken the role of spiritual leadership in people's lives but in large part missed the just as important realilty of the social gospel. read the old testament and try to find a prophetic voice not calling the people to plead the case of the orphan, the widow, the alien, the sojourner in your midst!
back to my point about my job in a nonprofit agency working with teen boys from juvenile corrections and health and welfare. i will be the first to say that i don't think government agencies are the answer. but they are a start. the agency i work for does a lot of good. it's hard and unglamorous work. my friend asked if i thought what they did was "in the kingdom." my reaction is that it is... sometimes. my next thought then is this: is the church in the kingdom? again, sometimes. can a person be in the church and not in the kingdom? i believe so. can a person be out of the church and in the kingdom? i believe so. it's a strange dynamic and paradox that i have no answer for, just questions.
i've started to pray that i would have times when i would be able to see the kingdom when it is realized. sometimes i think it's just moments. other times i think it's an ongoing occasion. other times i don't have a clue.
6 comments:
I think you're onto something. Individual, private spirituality isn't as prevalent, even in the NT, as social spirituality.
I don't comment much, but like to read your thoughts about this stuff. It makes me think, too. And thinking is good. =)
Deep thoughts. I definitely think kingdom work is being done in social service settings when Christians are there (whether the "institution" likes it or not)!
I like your thoughts on the mystery of the kingdom. Or should I say your addition of more mystery to the mystery.
The mystery as we all know (christians that is) is of the already but not yet. Personally, I have devoted my time to get evangelicals to embrace the not yet side. In other words, to understand that even though God is with us he is indeed far away. This of course contradicts your statement, "that the kingdom is not some far away, post-earth heavenly existence".
Regarding social justice: I totally agree with you. I became friends with one of Allison's profs at BU. We came up with a definition of carpet theology. Seems like a church who likes to keep their carpets clean does a lot less for those social outcasts than those churches whose carpets are shot from taking care of those in need... Why would a church want smelly bums tearing up the joint! Well, sad thing is I am more like the church who likes to keep things clean. Help!
Also, I'd have to disagree with the statement that kingdom work is being done in social service settings when -Christians are there-. I think as much, if not more, work is being done by non-christian organizations. Not to say that christian organizations are sitting around, but I don't think christians have the corner on this one.
Interesting that in our american political arena, most people would agree that, generally speaking, republicans are the christians and democrats are not. But most people would agree that democrats are far more interested in social justice than republicans. Maybe this is more than interesting, perhaps a mystery?
Man. I think that the kingdom is everywhere. Really. It's with the boys that you are with. It's with your family. It's at the grocery store.
Luke,
Great thoughts about the kingdom! I don't think the scriptural use of kingdom is the spiritualized, far off heaven that we tend to think of. Heaven is actually the realization of the fullness of the Kingdom of God. (as for my thoughts about heaven - that is for another time) So, when heaven talks about no more tears, no disease, no one being hungry - those are all evidences of the kingdom. That said, when we feed the hungry, care for the opressed, etc. we are actually helping to bring the Kingdom to our circles of influence. Kingdom agents if you will.
So, the Kingdom is as you say among us right now. The main thrust of Jesus' ministry was the announcement that the kingdom had come. ("Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.) With that said the kingdom can be seen anywhere; church, boys home, in the world.
Some books to read: This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley; Adventures in Missing the Point by McLaren & Campolo; The Drama of Scripture by Bartholomew and Goheen. All of these have some great thoughts about the kingdom.
I hope these comments are a help to you. It is a joy to be ministering together!
Another thought to ponder....
If the church were truly doing the work of the church, would social justice organizations and government organizations be necessary. They do good work, but are they evidence of a church that has become complacent?
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