The Kingdom of God
Now more than ever it is a good time to revisit and refocus our understanding concerning the “Kingdom of God.” What is this “kingdom” and what exactly do we need to do (or not do) to become a part of it?
We have to begin by first making clear that the kingdom of God is NOT a natural kingdom. What this means is that it consists of qualities and characteristics that are spiritual, intangible, untouchable. Christ makes this clear during his trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea at the time of the crucifixion and resurrection:
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?... Your own people and chief priests have handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’” John 18:33-36 (NIV)
My kingdom is not of this world. Christ’s kingdom is not a Christianized America or a stretch of land in the Middle East. In the gospels, Christ Himself speaks of His own kingdom through the use of parables. These numerous parables use examples from natural reality to convey spiritual principles. So, for example, in speaking about the Kingdom, Christ says:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (NIV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44 (NIV)
And, perhaps, most importantly:
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 (NIV)
We can understand every parable by getting to the heart of what the kingdom of God actually is. As becomes evident from reading the New Testament, the kingdom of God is the transformation of human consciousness to match that of Jesus Christ, who is the image of the divine. This happens through faith (intuitive trust in Christ), hope (for the restoration and renewal of all things), and love (for God and others that ultimately manifests in good deeds). To the extent that we have these three (faith, hope, and love), we have the kingdom of God in and amongst ourselves. This is why I included Luke 17:21 above. The kingdom of heaven is within us.
In equation form, we can see it like this:
Faith (intuitive trust in Christ) + Hope (in the new creation and our role in it) + Love (for God and others, exemplified by deeds) = the kingdom of God (God’s way of thinking and being)
These three forces work together to build God’s spiritual kingdom in us and around us. The kingdom of God is a quality of life. It is the eternal life of God through the Holy Spirit that saturates and permeates every area of our existence - spirit, mind, and body. This is why God has given us the mind of Christ - so that we may know the ways and wisdom of God and act in accordance with them:
“We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began… What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has given us...we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:7,12,16 (NIV)
All of this means that God’s kingdom cannot be forced upon anyone, because it is empowered and energized by love. It is futile to try to force or legislate Christian morality if hearts and minds are not open to this morality. You cannot force love - it comes in its own time, after it has been invited. The best thing we can do is grow these spiritual qualities (faith, hope, and love) like seeds through the light and warmth of spiritual practice and personal worship. As we do so, we will see the harvest. And is this not in line with what Jesus says about the kingdom?
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)
The internal kingdom finds expression in our outward reality. It is not the other way around. As we grow the kingdom, which is the life of Christ, within us, it will manifest naturally in our experience. This inner power manifests in the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith, and a sound mind, and grace expressions like prophecy, miracles, and healings.
There is an incredibly powerful stream of thought today that insists that God’s kingdom looks like a theocracy (government in which the central figure rules in the name of God), with “Christians” overseeing and dictating the laws of the land for all to obey. Don’t be fooled. This stream should terrify you because it is deception. Our kingdom is in the Spirit, where we are seated with Christ. We rule and reign with Him, yes, but this also means suffering (for now) at the hands of darkness, human error, and injustice. We do this in the name of faith, hope, and love, so that God’s kingdom may shine into the darkness and dispel its illusive power.
If we grow the kingdom of God within us through spiritual practice, we will experience the awakening we so desire to see on a societal scale. This means stewarding and tending to the Christ-life within us as a gardener tends to his charge. Slow, steady, and consistent will win the race. We will see the fruit we desire to see in God’s intended season. To be patient and consistent in our love for God and others is what manifests God’s kingdom. In Paul’s immortal words:
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV)
