Creating a kingdom of God on Earth

Near the beginning of the Matthew gospel, Jesus is reported to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

In the Mark gospel, Jesus, at the beginning of his teaching career, is quoted as saying that “the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe.” In Luke he declares, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God, for this purpose I have been sent.” In the Matthew gospel he was asked how to pray. He taught his disciples to pray that the kingdom of God would come on earth.

The intent of Jesus from Nazareth was very clear from the very beginning of his public activities. He was out to challenge and overthrow the despised Roman rulers and all of Rome’s client Jewish enforcers. In a recent book titled “Jesus Goes to Washington,” Dennis J. Miller strongly makes the case that Jesus drew no line of distinction between the governance of this world and his spirituality. The values of his faith demanded expression in a world of injustice, inequalities and unimaginable poverty that existed with nearby wealth, privilege and oppressive power. In those circumstances, Jesus became an economic critic, a political activist and a protester of injustice. Confronting a broken economic system, a corrupt and unjust political arrangement, and a broken social system became his mission.

Christians who today embrace a spirituality that attempts to escape rather than confront this world have left the traditions of a prophetic Jesus from Nazareth. Jesus did not simply confront the evils of his day, he advocated new ways of doing things. His cry was “repent,” which meant turn around and let’s go in a new, life-supporting direction.

This separation between concerns for the world and its people and spirituality is epidemic here in the United States, where there is a critical misunderstanding of separation of church and state. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.” The First Amendment prohibits government from sticking its nose into the business of religion. It does not prohibit religious people, churches or church-based institutions from full participation in the matters of government. The First Amendment grants religious people and institutions full freedom to participate in all public processes.

Certain key words dominate the writings contained in the Bible. Shalom, justice, freedom and salvation are the key words that unlock the concerns of the Israelite, Muslim, Christian triumvirate. These four words are related to one another. They all witness to the common good of all human beings. Abundance and peace are not the heritage of the few; rather, they are the hope and promise of every person on earth.

The Bible finds no shortage of scoundrels who have tried to subvert this basic commitment to shalom, justice, freedom and salvation. Typically, the scoundrels were rich and powerful. The great prophets, including Jesus, were confronters. When Jesus (and John the Baptizer) cried “repent,” it was the signal that the status quo of this world was being challenged.

America has come through a period of extreme individualization. Some sociologists are saying that period is coming to an end and that a concern for the neighbor and for the common good is emerging. At the same time, a new generation of Christians is showing a high level of interest in the historical, real-in-the-flesh Jesus. Add to the mix the finest Jesus scholarship the churches have ever known and the potential for worldwide change influenced by the ethics of shalom, justice, freedom and salvation appears on the horizon.

Two issues raised by Christians and churches have dominated the ethical concerns of churches willing to be politically active: abortion/women’s right to choose and gay acceptance. The struggle over gay acceptance is over. The issue is dead, even though the funeral has not been held. Abortion/women’s right to choose is very much alive and will continue as an emotion-filled debate. However, shrill voices need to be quieted and debates need to be placed in the context of common good and the dignity of life.

I am excited by the strength of peace movements in our churches. Environmental concerns and care of the earth are drawing much more interest. More critical issues are emerging. Livable wages are being demanded and wage disparities are being challenged. More and more women are taking their rightful places of leadership.

Ministers and their pulpits are important if churches are going to follow the lead of Jesus and become politically active. However, the real key is found in the people who sit in the pew. Every congregation ought to have a political action committee. Churches should become society’s most important voter registration site. The Jewish/Islam/Christian hope for shalom and demand for justice should fill the Internet in all its forms. Every citizen should be aware of the justice demands of their local churches.

The first business of religious congregations is the redemption of God’s creation. Jesus will find joy in nothing less. Let us be about our creator’s business.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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