The Kingdom is like…
We resort to metaphors, analogies, and word pictures to describe the Magic Kingdom. Jesus did the same when describing God’s Kingdom.
A friend and colleague of mine is a Magical Vacation Planner for Disney. Have a discussion with her and you will hear something like “The Magic Kingdom is like…”. She is trying to describe another realm in the best way she can, knowing all along that you need to experience it for yourself.
So much of what Jesus talked about was “The Kingdom of God is like…”. Through parables, conversations, even rebukes, Jesus described a realm that he is inviting us into. And, like Disney, all of the descriptions fall short of the lived experience.
Effectiveness
Is the COVID vaccine effective? How about the Gospel?
(This is written at a time when a large number of Americans have received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.)
Is the COVID vaccine effective? We are told yes. But we’re also told to continue wearing our face coverings. I know several people who are very bothered by this contradiction.
I’m wondering why people aren’t more bothered by another contradiction. Was Christ’s death on the Cross effective? Does the Gospel change anything? Apart from Jesus’ sacrifice, we were destined for an eternity of guilt, shame, and fear. This is death—an endlessly broken relationship with God, who is Life. But, in Christ, that relationship was reconciled and we have been restored to innocence, honor, and spiritual power. This is Life. Abundant Life.
So, why do we still talk about saved people (maybe ourselves) as ‘worms’ and ‘depraved’? Why get a vaccination if it makes no practical difference? And why give our heart allegiance to Jesus if we’re still stuck in our guilt, shame, and fear?
Yes, we still carry around the brokenness written into our cells. But why not see ourselves as God sees us? Isn’t it better to trust that Christ’s death and resurrection really did make all things new? And then learn how to live in this newness?
At the same time, we can affirm the necessity and availability of God’s grace in all of this. It’s all by his grace.
Twice
As a church leader, I need to watch out how I live, long before I lead others.
Woe to you, experts in the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel the sea and the land to make one convert, and then when he is converted, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
— Matt. 23:15
These people are filthy stains on your love feasts when they eat with you without fear, shepherding themselves. They are clouds without rain, being driven along by the winds. They are autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.
— Jude 1:12
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.