WHAT DOES “KINGDOM” MEAN, ANYWAY? BY SCOT McKNIGHT
40 / RELEVANT_MAY/JUNE 11
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HE MOST MISUSED biblical term today is “Kingdom.” One of my college students told me her sister was not working in the Church but was doing “Kingdom” work and “justice” work at a social service. Another student explained to me she was joining hands with a local interfaith group to further peace. She called it “Kingdom” work and added, “It has nothing to do with the Church.” There’s a common theme here: the “Kingdom” is bigger and better than the “Church.” We are using this word, “Kingdom,” both to cut out things we don’t like— evangelism and church—and to cast a vision for what we do like—justice and
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compassion. But it’s time to give this Kingdom people are those who lisword “Kingdom” a fresh look, because ten to Him and live out His Kingdom we’re misusing it. vision. They know His words and they The word “kingdom” comes from abide in His words. Jesus, and so to Him and His Jewish There’s a third element about what world we must go. It was impossible in Kingdom means for Jesus. Kingdoms Jesus’ world to say “kingdom” and not only work well when they have a conthink “king.” Either the word “king” stitution. The Jews of Jesus’ day called referred to Caesar, the empire-build- it “Torah.” Jesus swallowed up Israel’s ing, worship-me-or-die emperor of Torah into His Kingdom vision—and Rome, or it referred to Israel’s hoped- it broke loose one day when He was for King, the Messiah. When Jesus said teaching His disciples. We call it the Kingdom, He meant the Messiah is the Sermon on the Mount. This is the one true King and Caesar is not. Torah for followers of King Jesus. Furthermore, a first-century Jew The biggest problem with the couldn’t say “Kingdom” or “King” Church for many is that the people without also thinking of “Kingdom they know who go there don’t follow people” (or citizen-followers of the Jesus. Which is the exact reason why Messiah). The most unusual of people so many today want to disconnect were Jesus’ Kingdom people—sin- Kingdom from Church: Too often a ners, tax collectors, fishermen, hook- church looks like anything but the ers, demonized women and ordinary, Kingdom because too many so-called poor Galileans. Jesus invited people Kingdom people don’t follow Jesus! to the place of Kingdom living and Christians need to sit down with the said anyone who was willing to turn gospels, read them and compare the from sins and injustice and economic themes of Jesus’ Kingdom vision with exploitation and accumulation would the themes of many local churches. find forgiveness and fellowship and I wish we would all dig in all over freedom. So every evening, when again and construct new foundaJesus decided to eat with His followers, tions for a Kingdom vision of the He attracted a crowd, He told stories Church. A church embodies themes (parables) of what the Kingdom was like love, justice, peace and wisdom. like and He asked His listeners to join The Kingdom church will not only the movement. That table of fellow- talk about such themes, but will be a ship embodied both who was follow- society marked by a Gospel justice, a ing Jesus (or at least hearing Him out), Gospel peace and a Gospel wisdom. It and how they were to love one another will be a people who eat together, love in concrete deeds. one another and who see the needs in That was the Kingdom’s launch in the world around them and do someJesus’ day: King Jesus and His people thing about those needs. According to sitting at a table telling stories. Jesus, a local church is designed to be But Jesus’ vision of Kingdom a local fellowship of Kingdom people was even bigger than that. A scribe who love and follow King Jesus. once asked Jesus a restrictive quesInstead of choosing either the tion: “Who is my neighbor?” But he Church or the Kingdom, Christians meant, “What are the boundaries are called to see church as a living between God’s people (my neighbor) manifestation of the Kingdom. and all the rest?” Jesus turned that I see a freshness about this in man inside out and told him the right churches all around the world, question was, “To whom churches devoted to will you be neighborly?” being a community that Jesus’ answer was: “Anyone serves the community, you meet. Especially the a fellowship that loves needy.” Jesus converted the the neighbor, a church restrictive question into that cares for the poor an inclusive habit. Those and a society that is the SCOT McKNIGHT who live out that inclusive fertile ground for a comis the Karl A. Olsson Professor habit are Kingdom people. pletely new society—the in Religious King Jesus came to create a Kingdom society of Studies at North Park University. Kingdom people, and His Jesus.
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DEEPER WALK Words for the Soul