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The world has suffered much from the various forms of Christian colonialism. Yet the reign of God is an alternative to domination systems and all “isms.” Jesus teaches that right relationship (that is, LOVE) is the ultimate and daily criterion. If a social order allows and encourages strong connectedness between people and creation, people and each other, people and God, then we have a truly sacred culture: the reign of God. It wouldn’t be a world without pain or mystery, but simply a world where we are connected and in communion with all things.  

God’s reign is about union and communion, which means that it’s also about mercy, forgiveness, nonviolence, letting go, solidarity, service, and lives of love, patience, and simplicity. Who can doubt that this is the sum and substance of Jesus’ teaching? In the reign of God, the very motives for rivalry, greed, and violence have been destroyed. We know we’re all part of God’s beloved community.

Jesus called into community a small group of people. They were his disciples and friends. He taught them the essence of faith—the love of God and the love of neighbor—and he became a role model to them. When they asked him to teach them to pray, he taught them to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom: “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” If you want to be children of God, he said, you need to be engaged in peacemaking; if you want to imitate God and be God’s children, you have to love your enemies and to pray for those that persecute you. If you want to resist evil, do not use evil methods. You have to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. You must be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. — Anglican priest, Naim Ateek

Every description Jesus offers of God’s reign—of love, relationship, non-judgment, and forgiveness, where the last shall be first and the first shall be last—shows that any imposition on God’s side is an impossibility! Wherever we’ve tried to force Christianity on people, the long-term results have been disastrous. The gospel flourishes in the realm of true freedom.  

But it’s a freedom we must choose for ourselves. It is almost impossible to turn away from what seems like the only game in town (political, economic, or religious), unless we have glimpsed a more attractive alternative. It’s hard to imagine it, much less imitate it, unless we see someone else do it first. Jesus is that icon of the more attractive alternative, a living parable. Jesus has forever changed our human imagination, and we are now both burdened and gladdened by new possibility. There is good news to counter the deadening bad news, but we first have to be turned away from a conventional way of understanding. 

— by Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M

If I’m honest, I can’t say that I’ve always understood “the reign of God” in this way.  As a young man, I saw this as a power move by God to force humanity into submission. We would either be willing participants (soldiers), or forced to be subservient slaves.  Otherwise, burn, baby, burn. There was a lot of talk about the judgement of God. Fear was a prime motivator, and love wasn’t ever much of any part of the conversation when mentioning God’s kingdom or the reign of God.

Although I did my best to get on board, I was unclear of Jesus’ master mission, outside of “saving” me… or you. It’s embarrassing to say that, but that’s why I say it. Decades later, I can honestly say that I think I see some of the master mission a little clearer. I do imagine a world without dominion politics or bigoted hate. And I do hope for real systems of unconditional love which triumph over our forced rhythms of control and judgment.

I realize we aren’t there. Okay, we’re not even remotely close. But I do have faith that real love will win, and the reign of God will overcome the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into on this planet. The birth pains will be enormous, but the kingdom will eventually come into fullness, and everything will be what it is supposed to be. And the most exciting part of that, is that you and I have the choice to begin NOW,  by living into the very essence of God’s kingdom: love, relationship, non-judgment, and forgiveness.

Someone has to plow in the fallow ground.  Let’s go. —MDP

BE GOOD AT LIFE.   LOVE.

IT MATTERS.