What does Social Justice Mean to you? Part 2 or Dude Where's My Kingdom?

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If Jesus had a catchphrase it might be "The Kingdom of Heaven is near." He seam to be saying it all over the Gospels. When Jesus heals people, the Kingdom of God seams to be near. When someone shows great faith, the Kingdom of God is near. Why is this?

As human beings there seams to be something that is dividing us separating us from experiencing God, his Kingdom. Something that we were made for. Perhaps it's Chaos creeping back into our lives. Traditional Christian teaching would say that it's sin that separates us. I usually make it a habit not to contradict 2,000 years of thought but I might add a little something to this...... Perhaps it's not so much the bad things that we're doing (sin), but it's the good things that we are not doing that is what is keeping us from experiencing Gods Kingdom. What would happen if we followed Jesus example of loving others selflessly. When we stand up alongside those who are being oppressed and help them to overcome, would the Kingdom of God be nearer to us? I think it would.

When a retiree helps a little kid learn to read, the Kingdom of God is there. When someone is healed from a debilitating disease, the Kingdom of God has been experienced. When a homeless man gets a warm meal and a change of clothes from a stranger, the Kingdom of God has manifested. It's as if Chaos has been pushed back a little bit further and we can experience the Kingdom of God when we love other people.

The funny thing about this kingdom is that it's not based on rules. There is no secret password at the door. There is no way of keeping people out. There might not be any doors, walls or borderlines at all. Instead this kingdom is based on what we do. The common actions that we perform together. That we are loving our neighbors. That we are feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. People can be experiencing the Kingdom of God and not even know it.

Come join us in the Kingdom of God.

Parable of the sheep and goats: Matt 25:31-46