Wanted: A Clear and Compelling Understanding of the Kingdom of God

Desperately needed:  A Clear and Compelling Understanding and Practice of the Kingdom of God.

After reading the theological literature written on the kingdom during the 20th century, theologian Marcus Borg concluded that the Western church lacked a "clear and compelling" understanding of the kingdom of God.  I agree.  I would add that because of a divorce between personal righteousness and social justice, love and justice, faith and works, the Spirit and the kingdom as well as the lack of a theology of oppression, the American church lacks both an understanding and a biblical practice of the kingdom of God.

As a poor, black Alabama teenager, John Lewis discovered a clear and compelling understanding of the kingdom of God.  Over the radio, Lewis heard one sermon on the kingdom (beloved community) preached by Martin Luther King.  This teaching on the kingdom gave his life deep meaning, purpose and direction.  Soon after, James Dawson gave Lewis and others a few months training in nonviolent social change.  This combination of teaching and training turned shy John Lewis into a fearless soldier in the civil rights movement.  He suffered numerous beatings and failings for the cause of the kingdom.

What are some Biblical Basics on the kingdom of God?

Amos 5:24 (The Message):  "I want justice---oceans of it.  I want fairness---rivers of it."

Mt. 6:33:  "Fix your focus on God's kingdom and his justice."

Luke 4:18-19: "Hey church!  Do want to know what good news to the poor really looks like?  It releases the oppressed by doing Jubilee justice in poor communities."

Rom. 14:17:  "What happens when the church combines the Spirit and the kingdom?  An explosion of Jubilee justice, shalom, and authentic joy."

Some more Biblical Basics on the two-pronged gospel.

Acts 8:12; 28:23 and 31:

     * Jesus Christ, the cross and resurrection, justification by faith.
     * Kingdom of God as Jubilee justice for the oppressed poor.

Acts 1:1-8:

     The Spirit and the kingdom are closely tied together.  Rom. 14:17 summarizes this close tie as justice, shalom and joy.

Messianic passages from Isaiah:  9:7; 11:1-4; 16:5; 28:16-17; 42:1-4; 61:1-4.

     * translate 61:1 as oppressed poor.
     * Spirit, kingdom and justice are tied together.

Exodus, chapter 1:  oppression is ruthless and devastating.

Exodus 6:9:  oppression causes mass PTSD.

My paraphrase of Luke 4:18-9, the key verses in Luke, and Mt. 6:33, the key verse of Matthew:

"With a laser-like focus, the Spirit-anointed church should make its highest priority, the incarnating of God's kingdom as Jubilee justice among God's favorites---the oppressed poor."

The American church lacks a clear and compelling biblical understanding of the kingdom of God; therefore, there is an inevitable failure to practice the kingdom as Jubilee justice that releases the oppressed.

Reread James 2 in The Message.