We live in a world where "cancel culture" is the new way to live. If you don't agree with someone, don't like them, or they upset you in some way, friend or not, they just decide to "cancel" you...act as though you don't exist. This is ungodly and unbiblical. Yet, I see Christians doing it to their sisters and brothers! King David knew how this felt when he said that it was one thing for enemies to reject him, but it's another thing when it is your friend. How sad that instead of Christians living like Jesus Christ, they have succumbed to align with the world‘s way of handling relationships.
Jesus came to both live and explain another culture...Kingdom culture. And, it was His heart that we who claim the name of Christ, would do the same. The disciples asked for Jesus to teach them how to pray and Jesus shared a prayer that included "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The Kingdom of Heaven came through Jesus and it is His heart that when He left, we would continue to spread Kingdom culture all over the world to His creation. We know this because we are called "ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ambassadors go to another part of the world and represent their Home country accurately. This is God's heart towards us!
With every culture there are specific languages, traditions, relational dynamics, governments, attitudes, perspectives, clothing, and more. The same for we who are a part of the Kingdom. At salvation, you were made a citizen of another Kingdom...the Kingdom of Heaven. Want to talk about racism in the world? In America? The truth is that through Jesus, there became one race, and one race only. "But you are a chosen RACE, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9
The Kingdom of Heaven has its own culture, and we must learn and live in that culture, because it is where we will spend eternity!
Kingdom Culture has its own language. It is positive, full of possibilities, and consumed with faith, hope, and love. The attitude of people in the Kingdom is found in the Beatitudes, as well as the fruit of the Spirit, found in the Bible. The government is on Jesus' shoulders (Is. 9:6; Matt. 11:28-29) When Jesus came, while there had been one way of governing things (The Law) which was all about your HANDS (what you were to do and not do), He showed a new way of governing things by the HEART. He is much more concerned about your heart and its motives than what you do. He brought with Him a whole new way of seeing things. The Kingdom of Heaven was not based on intellect, although Jesus was incredibly and perfectly intelligent. The Kingdom of Heaven was not intellectual, but RELATIONAL! Everything came out of relationship! That's the Kingdom of Heaven.
Old Way: Hands Jesus' Way: Heart
So what about you? What is YOUR identity in the Kingdom of Heaven? Well, the Bible says that you are sons and daughters, and co-heirs with Christ (2 Cor. 6:18; Rom. 8:17). And as sons and daughters, here are just a few things you have inherited:
- Come into His Presence/Worship
- Carry His Presence wherever we go/ Atmosphere changers
- Consumed with His power
- Converting problems into Opportunities
- Commissioned to be Salt and Light
- Constantly motivated by love
- Cheerful in our giving and in our demeanor!
We were created to live in the Kingdom of Heaven. Every other culture will never satisfy because it's not how you were created to live. The Kingdom of Heaven is the only place where you will be happy, fulfilled, and free!!! Jesus came to show us what the Kingdom is like and we need to spend our time studying what that looks like and start living it! So, Christians, it is not about Cancel Culture, my sisters and brothers, it's about Kingdom Culture, and I hope we will get back to that. It's time to repent and renounce the canceling of others - that's just not the way of Jesus - and get back to living like the Kingdom of Heaven!
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