Assignment: Students will submit a 500-600 word
paper, "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." This should be a succinct
articulation of the student's concept of the meaning of the kingdom. This is
not a research paper. Rather, it is a reflection of the student's current
understanding of the kingdom.
Response:
The Kingdom of Heaven is still
difficult for me to explain, though I think I have a better understanding than
I did at the outset of this class. I do
not know that my understanding is clear enough to preach it or explain to
someone else. I am always reminded of
the old adage “If it’s foggy to you, it’s muddy to them.” In other words, if it is always even less
clear to the person (people) you are talking to than it is to you.
What I do know is that the Kingdom
of Heaven is not just something in the future.
Nor is it some separate realm existing in a “parallel dimension” (that
is the way one of my teens described it).
Though the fullness of the Kingdom will not be realized until Christ’s
second coming, the Kingdom of Heaven is also a present reality. This part I
understand clearly, and can communicate clearly.
I had my teens do a little Bible
study on all of the parables and teachings in Matthew on the Kingdom of
Heaven. What really made the
present-future reality of the Kingdom obvious to one of my students was Matthew
13: 47- 50. Though the Kingdom of Heaven
now includes everyone (the net that contains both good and bad fish), at the
end it will only include the Christians (good fish). When this student made this connection it
solidified this concept for the entire group.
This understanding of the Kingdom of
Heaven makes it obvious why it is important to proclaim the gospel and
“evangelize.” We want there to be as
many “good fish” as possible when Christ comes again. My students understood that clearly. What I have a hard time communicating to them
is the implications that it has on social justice.
Social justice, surprisingly (not
really, I just forgot that I did not know what it meant when I was there age)
was a new concept for my teens. That is
a big hurdle to jump over with the already new understanding of the Kingdom of
Heaven. I know that our acts of
compassion have eternal implications for the Kingdom, but explaining that part,
both the theology and the practice of it is where things get foggy and harder
to communicate. Explaining how “loving your neighbor” means taking care of “the
least of these,” and that these are THE GOSPEL just as much as salvation – this
is where communication breaks down.
I realize that communicating my
understanding of the Kingdom forces me to understand it better. What was foggy the first time will be clearer
the next time, for both me and the listeners.
I know that this is a personal reflection paper on the Kingdom of
Heaven, and that I have sort of hi-jacked it and made it something else, but
bear with me. I semi-recently heard a
staff pastor, in reference to a theology conference, say “I don’t do that
theoretical stuff.” (There are so many things to say about this…) A correct
understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven is not just to have the best “theory.”
It has nothing to do with theory! Our theology of the Kingdom informs our way
of life! It has direct implications on
our own relationship with God as well as our relationships with others.
Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven
as a present-future kingdom has two main implications (these are simplistic, I
know). The future aspect (understanding
that the Kingdom will be manifest at the coming of Christ) calls us to personal
holiness. We want to live a life that
pleases God and “make it” into the Kingdom.
It also calls us to evangelism, trying to get as many people in by the
end as we can. Recognizing the present
reality of the Kingdom calls us to social holiness – a love for others,
especially the “least of these.” This social holiness requires us to do more
than make converts, but to love and serve others as well. Though scripture
clearly outlines both of these, it seems that Christians today often neglect
social holiness because “that is not the way to heaven.” What we do for others in the present,
however, does have an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God.
Larry Hurtado, in his commentary on Mark, explains the Kingdom of God as anywhere where "the rule and reign of Christ" is present. So the Kingdom of God can be "within you," as Jesus says, in places, and in our world in general. We've been invited to spread the rule and reign of Christ all over creation - taking back the things that are not currently a part of that Kingdom (evangelism, compassion, social justice, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI've found this understanding to be especially helpful. And, the already-no-yet concept is like how I explain sanctification (It's here, but it's not as here as it will be in the future).
Thanks for the insight Keith! I agree, that the Kingdom can be within us. Could you elaborate what you mean by "taking back the things that are not currently a part of the Kingdom?"
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