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How does the Kingdom of God unfold? In other words, how does God bring about God’s reign, right here and right now.
This isn’t a new question. The Romans believed they were carrying out the gods’ commands.
In addition to ownership of resources, military force, and working relationships with the elite, emperors secured their power by claiming the favor of the gods. Their imperial theology proclaimed that Rome was chosen by the gods, notably Jupiter, to rule an “empire without end.” Rome was chosen to manifest the gods’ rule, presence, and favor throughout the world.
(Source: The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide by Warren Carter, pg. 7)
If this argument sounds familiar, it is because it is. Substitute in America for Rome and Jesus for Jupiter. There are even Christian pastors who are pretty good at preaching this type of gospel. It’s a message of comfort to wrap Jesus in the flag.
But is it the unfolding of the Kingdom of God?
Maybe God does use nations to unfold God’s Kingdom and reign. I think there are some good examples of this. But I also don’t think God really cares much about our imaginary lines drawn on maps separating people from one another.
I also have trouble with the idea that we are special compared to other people in other places and different times in history. I don’t buy the idea that God has been waiting around until just this time and place for us to show up to carry out God’s will. I think God is always active throughout history in a variety of places.
How does the Kingdom of God unfold? One person at a time, but in many places, and across time. It’s like a ripple effect that once one person is touched by an encounter with God, it reverberates out from that person. This is how God always works.
Laced up Lutheran 
Matthew, I think America is special. It was the first modern democracy and helped to model democracy to many other nations–which is generally a good thing. But that has nothing to do with the Kingdome of God. Trying to mix nationalism with the Kingdom of God is always to the detriment of the Kingdom.
And the Kingdom is not the same as the visible church but is an invisible community spreading over the world to bring about the will of God on Earth. I love the way you describe it: “How does the Kingdom of God unfold? One person at a time, but in many places, and across time. It’s like a ripple effect that once one person is touched by an encounter with God, it reverberates out from that person.”
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Thanks for the input Tim. I agree with you. Especially about the dangers of mixing nationalism with the Kingdom of God.
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I have listed your article on my Resources on Living in God’s Community.
https://jesuswithoutbaggage.wordpress.com/resources-on-following-jesus-and-loving-others/resources-on-living-in-gods-community-in-development/
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Thanks Tim!
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I’m going to leave a reply here that I originally left on another website because I think it fits here, also:
“I always find it interesting when somebody brings up returning America to it’s original “Christian” values of the founding fathers. It shows that they haven’t done their homework!
There really isn’t that much about the founding fathers that could be called “Christian”. One main one was the understanding that religious ideas and values and worldly governments must be kept seperate. And that is exactly what Jesus taught too!
He refused to use worldly politics to establish His kingdom on earth and told us to be the same way.
It is an assumption the connect the idea that separation of religion and state automatically means that the founding fathers were christians. actually, quite a few of them were not! And it is this assumption that is still causing both Christians and non-Christians so many problems.
There is no nation on this earth that can be called “Christian”, because the Kingdom of God is NOT of this world!”
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Amen Dennis! Thanks for sharing this.
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