The Kingdom of God is now

Last Christmas eve (2005) one of my brothers commented to me during the pastor's message that the language of the "kingdom of God" is anachronistic for this day and age. Who talks about kingdoms nowadays? Who understands what that means? I had to agree with him. In our world we talk of democracy, communism, fascism, socialism, republics, and anarchism but few speak of kingdoms. They have gone by the wayside.

I have been wrestling with this all year. I have decided that this language is perfect for the church. No longer do we have political systems commonly connected to kingdoms, so we are free to make it our own. For me, the kingdom of God is a place above and beyond any human system and yet fully present in today's world. It is more powerful than the US military and more peaceful than Mother Teresa. It is more exciting than a double overtime game and more relevent than my next meal. It is a moving target, always there but difficult to describe.

One thing I know for sure, this year I have paid closer attention to when the kingdom brushes by me. It has happened several times. All these times were with other people. Most of the times were during service to others in Jesus' name.

If the kingdom is the place where God's will will be done, then it has to do with obeying God. God's first command is to put God first. Jesus said a close second to it is love your neighbor as you love yourself. If these things are in place fully, the kingdom is there. Jesus said it is near. We must be the change agents to bring it to pass. We are Christ's body in this world.

I am growing ever more hungry for the kingdom. I am becoming ever more focused on helping others to recognize its proximity to us all. I am more in need of it than ever because I grow ever more tired of the world the way we run it now.

I pray that all Christians would stop waiting for the kingdom to come and begin practicing for its arrival. The practice is the birthing process for it. Aren't you tired of the way things are? Haven't you ever said, "There has to be more," or "There has to be a better way to live"? There is more. There is a better way. It is just outside the door waiting for the hospitality of love to usher it into being on earth. Let's give up our fear of change and practice kingdom living now!