Church Goes Out 1

Luke 17:20-21

One day while teaching in the public schools I was frustrated with the behavior of many of my students. Gathered with other teachers in the lounge I complained about the kids and suggested that maybe the schools should offer a class on how to behave in public. Another teacher said, “You should be teaching that as part of your class.”

I should indeed have been teaching that. As an educator I was responsible for more than having my students learn about nouns and verbs and sentence structure. I was part of their development and should have directed them on what was acceptable and what was not acceptable.

The same attitude can be taken with our faith. We can all commiserate on the state of the world today. We can all complain that there is hatred and war and violence and an abundance of sinful behaviors that go against our Christian theology. But what will do about it?

So many Christian believers have a concept of the kingdom of God being that great and glorious day when Jesus returns on clouds of glory and God smites the wicked. He will set the goats on one side and the sheep on the other, and there will be peace on earth. But when will that day come?

How about now? Our faith is more than a relationship with God that guarantees our own salvation. Our life as Christians involves stepping out into a hurting and broken world, a world of challenges and anger, and being a force of love.

In Luke we have an account of Jesus being confronted by the religious leaders of his day. What do they ask? How will we NOT find the kingdom of heaven? Where is the kingdom of heaven?

What a profound and earth-shaking revelation. The days of peace are not a far off dream of those who love God. The kingdom of God can exist here on earth right now, today, if we will simply be agents for the Lord and live out the love of God.

Where is the kingdom of God? It is not a distant hope that we must wait for. The kingdom of God, that time of peace and love and compassion, exists right now in our hearts. We must live as children of God today, no longer tolerating sinful behavior – not even in ourselves – and sharing the love of God with all people. Then the kingdom of God will be with us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be part of the kingdom of God?