The Kingdom Narrative
Originally Written: July 7, 2020
I love flying.
I love the sense of wonder that fills my heart.
I love the way that my creativity seems to soar with the plane.
And I love the way it changes perspective.
When I am on the plane, I see whole cities in action. I see the beauty in road designs, the clovers of on-ramps. I see the patterns of houses and at Christmas time the neighborhoods that decorate with lights and those who don’t. All in one glance. When I am on a plane, I see just how big each city is, and the prominence that is correlated to it.
With all the things going on in our world, there are a lot of flashing lights and frustrating details we can get consumed by. However, if we raise our perspective, we start to see patterns, themes, and problem areas. It doesn’t negate the details; the higher perspective just shows us how big the problem is.
We like to fit what we experience into a narrative with boundaries we already know. It is a coping mechanism to help us make sense of confusing times. Right, wrong, conservative, liberal, conspiracist, or fascist all become narratives we turn to. In my experience we choose to fit world circumstances into the narrative we know best. Into the narrative, we identify most with. What we have put our identity in is being revealed in this season. Our idols are being revealed in this season.
All these narratives are inferior to The Kingdom and are idols if we are coming to God through the filter of these opinions. For example, if we are choosing to see Kingdom through the lens of a republican, we have found ourselves an idol. If we are choosing to see the Kingdom through the eyes of a Democrat, we have found ourselves an idol.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God.”
The Kingdom is marked by worship, humility, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and love. These are the things that heal.
This is why the Church must be activated to engage in difficult topics. I do not mean declaring a particular viewpoint from the pulpit, although at times that might be appropriate. I am talking about individuals getting activated to go out into their communities and represent Jesus. I am talking about a group of people who are willing to repent and forgive and love. I am talking about seeing humans respond to weakness with kindness and calling others higher in character and perspective. I am talking about people who are not afraid to take a stand when it matters most. This is how we deal with the very real spiritual battle that surrounds us.
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.“ (Ephesians 6:12-20)