A Creedal Statement on the Kingdom of God

Over the years, I have asked hundreds of people to write a one sentence definition of the kingdom of God.  Nine out of ten definitions have been vague and imprecise, mostly future and spiritual, seldom with any present and social justice thrust.  Those surveyed supposedly believed that the Bible was accurate and authoritative, yet they were surprisingly ignorant about one of the major themes in the Bible, one that Jesus himself highlighted again and again.

The oppressed are being crushed, traumatized; they require urgent action on their behalf, today not tomorrow.  My proposed creedal statement is one small step in this direction.

According to Acts 8:12, the complete biblical gospel is two-pronged: the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ.  The Apostle's Creed covers the Jesus Christ prong, but not the kingdom of God which is equally important.  The following sentence versions could be added to the Apostle's Creed.  The longer version could be repeated separately.

1.  The kingdom of God here on earth releases the oppressed, provides liberty and justice for all.

2.  I will give my highest priority to implementing the kingdom of God as Jubilee justice that releases the oppressed poor here on earth, where applying kingdom principles will create better families, communities and nations.

3.  I pledge my allegiance to the kingdom of God as liberty and justice for all:

     * justice as prophesized by Isaiah  (9:7; 11:1-4; 16:5; 28:16-17; 42:1-4; 61:1-4.
     * Jubilee justice as preached by Jesus (Luke 4:18-19).
     * generosity/equality as practiced by the church in Acts (4:32-35).
     * equality as preached by Paul (Gal. 3:28).
     * respect/love as advocated by James (James 1:27 and chapter 2).

I therefore will reject any form of idolatry---male supremacy, white ethnocentrism/superiority, national superiority/exceptionalism--that dehumanizes persons and peoples; I will reject any economic system that oppresses persons and peoples.

I will pursue justice as God desires it: "I want justice---oceans of it." (Amos 5:24, The Message).

I will pursue justice in the power of the Holy Spirit: "The kingdom of God is justice, shalom and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, Noble paraphrase).

I will follow Jesus' high priority for the kingdom of God: "Your business is life, not death.  And life is urgent.  Announce God's kingdom. . . .  You can't put off God's kingdom till tomorrow.  Seize the day." (Luke 9:57-62, The Message).

"Seek first God's kingdom and his justice."  (Mt. 6:33, NEB).