The election and God's Kingdom

I have been reading the responses to the election from at least the liberal end of the Quaker blogosphere. I felt joy and excitement at seeing a black man being elected president. I was moved by the tears on Jesse Jackson's face. This was certainly an historic occasion. There was a long hard struggle that made it possible and many people sacrificed a lot to see this day happen. It is a significant and joyous day for our country. Nevertheless, it is important for Friends, in fact for all Christians, to remember that this does not bring us one step closer to the Kingdom of God.

God's Kingdom is not of this world and God is not a liberal Democrat. God is also not a conservative Republican. God's Kingdom is not achieved either through the force of arms or the force of the ballot box. God's Kingdom is within us and among us. It is achieved by the intimate working of God and the Holy Spirit in our inmost parts. We enter its borders when we give up our own striving and seeking and turn our hearts and minds wholly to God. We travel deeper into it as we open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. We find our way by following in the steps of Christ. When we get there, the scales fall from our eyes and we realize that we have always been living in it but we didn't see. In the world of James Naylor, “Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love unfeigned; and it takes its kingdom with entreaty and not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind.”

Blessings to all,

Will T