Being a Christian only costs me a couple of hours a week . . . . doesn't it?

What is it that we citizens of Earth are charged with the responsibility to do? As Christians we are told to strive to 'be like Jesus' and 'to build the Kingdom of God, here on Earth'. As mortal humans, we have but one journey through our earthly life to do what we can to accomplish these things. Being like Jesus does not mean to look, talk and act like a first century, middle eastern Jew. What it does mean is that we should govern our lives along the principles Jesus taught us through his words and his actions.

In Jesus' day, Building the Kingdom of God was the direct alternative to building the Roman Empire. Jesus was crucified because his people, in particular the temple officials tried to have it both ways, following their religion while still reaping the benefits of supporting the Empire. In our time, we face the real possibility that we could actually destroy our own species because of the same human weaknesses. Today, we have corporate empires, ideological empires, empires built on religion, military might and any factor which will allow them to compete successfully against each other. Empire is still empire and exists to give members advantage over, and to the disadvantage of, non-members.

Jesus was just, inclusive, loving, humble and faithful. He stood by his convictions to the point of being condemned and executed for them. He chose humanity over rigid rules and he spoke out for what he believed. Today he would be called a radical activist; are we really ready to be like Jesus?

A fully realized Kingdom of God would eliminate all forms of competition for the benefit of one individual or group at the expense of another. It would ensure an equal, or at least adequate share of the world's resources and opportunities for everyone, everywhere. Living in the Kingdom would require the cessation of any activity which caused harm to Creation; this would cover most of the activities of our daily lives. Sailing ships might be used to travel over water, horses to travel on land and only as much electrical energy as could be generated by solar, wind and other completely renewable energy sources would be available.

A required benchmark of the establishment of The Kingdom would be attainment of real justice for all the world's people. When this is done, war can be eliminated and peace will reign. War never has and never will result in peace, only in more war.

For us in the industrialized nations achievement of real justice for all would mean major sacrificing of our wants to provide for others' needs; are we really ready to build the Kingdom of God?

JfD

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