The Upside-Down Beauty of Kingdom Principles
The Kingdom of God refers to the perfectly just, peaceful, loving, and flourishing society that God will establish on earth at the return of Jesus Christ – a Kingdom that was partially established at His first coming and which will be fully consummated when He returns to rule as King.
The Old Testament of the Bible contains a host of “preview passages” that describe this Kingdom with an overarching emphasis on justice (via rescue, equity, and restoration) and peace (with God, self, others, and creation).[1]
In the New Testament, the Kingdom of God is one of the leading topics – perhaps the leading topic – of Jesus Christ’s teaching. Jesus likened his coming Kingdom to many things in the gospels including, but not limited to, hidden treasure buried in a field; something that belongs to the childlike (i.e., innocent) in faith; a place ruled by a righteous yet merciful king; and a place characterized by a reverse order.
It’s worth expanding on the last point. Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is characterized by principles that are quite different than those of our world. The following points highlight some of these principles followed by at least one scripture (in italics) for each.
You have to serve in order to lead and become last in order to be first. But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant (Luke 22:26)
You have to give up your life to find it. If you give up your life for me, you will find it (Matthew 10:39)
You have to humble yourself to be honored. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor (1 Peter 5:6). Also, [Those] who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11)
You have to give in order to get. [The rich] should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life (1 Timothy 6:18-19)
You should love your enemies. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven… [You] are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48)
Our power, success and wealth come from God alone. Wealth and honor come from you alone [God], for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength (1 Chronicles 29:12 and 2 Corinthians 3:5)
The Golden Rule. Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12)
Can you imagine a world governed by these principles? It’s hard to do when you consider all of the selfishness, self-glorification, arrogance, greed and hatred in our world. But a society characterized by these Kingdom Principles is exactly what God has promised for those who love and follow him, and Christians are supposed to provide a powerful foretaste of the coming Kingdom by the way they live and serve others in this lifetime.
I find it odd and funny when people talk about Christianity like it’s some kind of conspiracy and the Bible like it’s been distorted over the ages to somehow lead people astray. This is utterly ridiculous when one considers that the greatest commandment is to love God and neighbor, including the strangers, foreigners and enemies among us; when one considers that God loves us so much that he gave his one and only Son for us, a Son who beautifully and radically exemplifies sacrifice, servanthood, love, truth and passion; and when one considers that it promotes the kind of government that is fully characterized by peace, justice, truth, love and grace.
If there is some sort of conspiracy here, it’s the kind I think most people would be happy to sign up for.
FOOTNOTES: [1] See Amy Sherman’s Kingdom Calling, Chapter 1 for an excellent summary of these passages.