Our Neighborhood in the Kingdom of God is an earthly beginning to the perfect Kingdom completed at Jesus' return. But what does it look like in earthly terms?
Because attempts to portray the 'ideal' Neighborhood are made in the popular culture and media. It is all over Children's programming. The one that set the pattern for me growing us was Sesame Street. I will confess that I am not of the "Elmo" generation and never really got the popularity of "Elmo's World" (but for some reason, I love the extended "Noodle" family).
I grew up when Mr. Hooper was the shopkeeper. And it still brings a hollowness of heart to me in remembering how they had to share the news of Mr. Hooper's death with Big Bird. But that was what the Neighborhood was about, people caring for one another in community. It was done in a way that sought to protect kids growing up in a dangerous world. Monsters weren't bad, people cooperated with each other. Cookie Monster was my favorite. Grover was my voice.
Not all children's programming is this way. Most "children's" programming is not for children except to turn them into consumers. How many shows are just there to sell the merchandise? Even Sesame Street has its share of that. "Tickle Me Elmo" comes to mind (and not as a fond recollection).
It is even proper to be looking into the world for hints of the Kingdom of God? I think it is more than proper, it is necessary. But with discernment. God is the Creator of all. The good things of faith, love and grace and caring, they continue to exist in the world, all tangled up with sin and evil and greed.
Our Neighborhood in the Kingdom of God also exists in the World. We are not called upon to withdraw to a mountain stronghold and defend Jesus against all comers. It is just the opposite, in the Name of Jesus, we are called to invite the world in. It is a line that we, as a church, have sought to discern since the first disciples of Jesus, how do we live "in" the world while seeking not to be "of" the sinfulness of the world?
The good things of God continue to exist in the world, even in the presence of sin that, if it cannot undermine them, will twist and tweak them. We know this is the same for the Church. The good things of God exist in the church, but even here, the presence of sin seeks to undermine and to tweak and to twist what is good.
This is God's world. We know God is here for us. We know God is here for the world, despite sin. So, all around us there are hints and clues of what our Neighborhood could be, should be in our world.
Pastor Pete
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