The Church; The Kingdom ?

The Church / The Kingdom
(Don Siebert)

In synoptic Gospels, the word ‘kingdom’ is used 106 times, the word ‘church’ once. Thus it is the kingdom for which we strive. The church is a means to promote the kingdom – not an end in itself.

The kingdom is a mystery outlined in the parables and beatitudes; not a list of laws, but a set of mind boggling ideals with which we struggle in life to come to terms.

It is the reign of God in our lives; a gathering awareness, a process, a growth rather than some abstraction; it is the presence of God deep within us and all other people and our world. It is the source within us of our dialogue with God; it is a call to wholeness, to selfless love and service of other people.

The kingdom brings Hope not fear; prophetic word and action, not paralysis. Sharing, not self-sufficiency; forgiveness, not revenge.