CAC affiliate faculty Randy Woodley connects the Hebrew concept of shalom with Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God:
Jesus, in his ancient context of imperial occupation, was also concerned with creation’s harmony, and used the phrase kingdom of God to communicate this idea. The metaphor was rightly understood by Jesus’ audience in contradistinction to the kingdom of Caesar. God’s kingdom stood over against the death-dealing ways of the Roman Empire; God’s kingdom was a Spirit-filled community living out the Creator’s shalom purposes on earth.…
Jesus used kingdom language in his context because it made sense to the people and powers to whom he spoke. His kingdom goal was stated simply: “On earth as it is in heaven.” In other words, heaven’s economy is to be made manifest in creation. And what is heaven’s economy? It is shalom, a Hebrew term often translated as “peace.” But peace doesn’t capture the depth of this word. Shalom is who the Creator is—the one God, a trinity of persons (from a Christian perspective) dwelling in harmony, mutuality, and deference toward one another and the creation. Shalom embodies wholeness, completeness, and love. It is strikingly similar to many Indigenous constructs of “harmony,” which emphasize the interconnectedness and interdependency of all things, the need for balance, and the primacy of community. And if that is what Jesus’ kingdom was about—radical shalom and harmony—it is helpful to translate this metaphor into something like community of creation, a phrase infused with Indigenous meaning, which more readily emphasizes that all living things are participating in this new peace that the Creator is bringing about through Christ. [1]
Brian McLaren considers the metaphor of a “network” to describe the kingdom of God:
For many people today, kingdom language evokes patriarchy, chauvinism, imperialism, domination, and a regime without freedom. Not a pretty picture—and the very opposite of the liberating, barrier-breaking, domination-shattering, reconciling movement the kingdom of God was intended to be!…
God is inviting people into a life-giving network. First, God wants people to be connected, plugged in, in communication with God, so God can transfer to them what they need—not just information but also virus-debugging software, along with love, hope, empowerment, purpose, and wisdom. Also, each person who is connected to God must become integrally connected to all others in the network. In this way, the network of God breaks down the walls of smaller, exclusive networks (like networks of racism, nationalism, and the like), and invites them into the only truly world wide web of love. The network exchanges information and increases understanding for all participants. The network becomes a resource for people outside the network as well, and of course, people are always invited to enter the connectivity themselves.
The metaphor of an ecosystem could work in a similar way: we are currently living in an imbalanced, self-destructive ecosystem, but God is inviting us to live in a new network of relationships that will produce balance, harmony, and health. [2]
References:
[1] Randy Woodley, “Early Dialogue in the Community of Creation,” in Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry: Conversations on Creation, Land Justice, and Life Together, ed. Steve Heinrichs (Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2013), 92, 93–94.
[2] Brian D. McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2006), 139, 146–147.
Image credit and inspiration: Harli Marten, untitled (detail), 2016, photo. Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. The reign of God is peace, even today, between two people and a tree at sunset.
Story from Our Community:
When I think of the kingdom of God, I like Diarmuid O’Murchu’s characterization: “the companionship of empowerment.” What a marvelous vision of community! In other words, the kingdom of God is togetherness with God.
—Susan J.
