The Kingdom Today!

Today I went to an event with other community leaders to learn about a new group, Columbia Tomorrow (CT). CT is a citizens advocacy group that supports people and institutions working together for a better future for Columbia residents. Their mission is “to help create a more sustainable, inclusive and attractive community that strives for excellence.” This movement is in response to the lively discussions that the residents, institution, business and government leaders of Columbia have had and are having regarding the future of Town Center in Columbia.

I admire and applaud this new community advocacy group’s deep passion to make Columbia even better. They want to uphold the uniqueness (i.e., racially diverse) and community values of Columbia. They understand that Columbia needs diverse voices from all sectors of life to help make Columbia better.

So as I heard their presentation, I asked myself (and now asking you) how does the church community at large and our church specifically help in making Columbia better? Isn’t that part of our mission? We believe that part of praying for God’s kingdom to come (The Lord’s Prayer), God will powerfully use us through the ministry of the gospel to really and truly change the community for the better. The Gospel, Jesus and His message, makes an enduring and radical difference in the community we live: brokenness to hope; hate to reconciliation; sadness to joy; inequities to justice; and pride to humility. Throughout history God has brought His kingdom to societies and radically changed them for the good.

I think how our Gracious Triune God is doing this in Rwanda. God is bringing people from both sides of this horrific tragedy to experience forgiveness and healing. We hope to show this documentary testifying of this reality in the next couple of months. Check out this website As we Forgive to learn more.

Of the many passages in the Bible speaking of God’s kingdom, here are two for us to consider:

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction” (Mt. 9:35).

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

Give me some of your thoughts on how we can participate with God in bringing His Kingdom TODAY to Columbia and our surrounding area.

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff