Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. — Matthew 6:10
I find theologian Brian McLaren to be very insightful. He’s written about our unseen biases and how they interfere with us being open to new perspectives. He said that arguing with someone is usually counterproductive because we’re each living in our own closed-in worlds where things may make sense to us but not to the other person. Stories and images, though, can be a game changer.
He noted how Jesus was a master at this. He seldom argued with people who wanted him to argue with them. Instead, he got around their defenses by telling stories and giving images that made them start seeing things in different ways.
It strikes me that those stories and images paint a picture of God’s kingdom.
So, what does Jesus’ Father’s kingdom look like?
–a parent throwing a party for a wayward child
–a person lavishly aiding a wounded stranger
–someone being reborn by the Spirit
–someone being paid for one hour’s work the amount as if they’d worked the whole day
–someone finding an unexpected treasure in a field and selling everything to buy the field
–someone living life with the wonder and openness of a child
What other stories, images, and teachings of Jesus come to mind? Whatever they are, they point to an alternate reality that casts everyday life into a different perspective. They help us understand better what we’re praying: “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”