I’m not sure when I first genuinely encountered the kingdom of God. Perhaps it was in that moment during eighth grade when I first audibly heard God speak to me, tears streaming over my Spanish homework. Perhaps it was in allowing myself to unashamedly dance among both friends and strangers.  Or maybe it was as I walked alongside other children of God down the streets of Columbus, Ohio, boldly proclaiming God’s unconditional love, arms held high.

Many of us are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” But what exactly is the kingdom? And what does God imply about accomplishing the kingdom on earth? To begin, we turn to Scripture. Mark 1:14-15 marks the beginning of Jesus’ active ministry: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” 

Repent and believe: Repent from sin to love. Believe in something, some One greater. The foreshadowing of a ruler and reign not meant for this world, yet heading for it like a great meteor. Or rather, in line with Jesus’ parables, a mustard seed: slowly sprouting, constant and undeterred.

As Christians, we are called to a particular reconciling work, as expressed by the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Reconciliation, I argue, forms the core component of God’s kingdom and the heart of our faith. Our sins have been washed away by the cross, granting us direct access to God’s presence. This reconciliation occurs in multiple planes: spiritual and communal. We are invited into a genuine relationship with Christ, in which we follow God and carry out God’s will (commonly expressed in many youth conferences as ‘kingdom work.’) On earth as it is in heaven. 

An even deeper–and in my opinion more profound–understanding of this work can be found in the concept of the ‘kin-dom,’ a contemporary term that has become adopted by some mainline congregations as an alternative to the general use of ‘kingdom.’ The term, an (indirect) translation of the Greek word basileia, comes from theologian Ada María Isasi-Díaz, a prominent figure in Hispanic and liberation theology.

In her book Mujerista Theology, Isasi-Diaz states that “the coming of the kin-dom of God has to do with a coming together of peoples, with no one being excluded and at the expense of no one,” and that “the unfolding of the kin-dom of God happens when instead of working to become part of structures of exclusion, we struggle to do away with such structures.” In the kin-dom, the ultimate vision for God’s relationship with humanity is carried out, emphasizing relationality and unity. The kin-dom is a symbol of liberation, one found only through Christ.

While the term may be new, and prone to being understood as a drastic departure from God’s will, I urge my fellow Christ-followers to envision it as a new way to conceptualize God’s intent for creation as well as the work we are commanded to carry out. As stated by Rev. Cynthia Simmons, when Jesus calls God “Father,” he is not necessarily signifying God as male, but rather affirming our relationship with God and each other.

And there is nothing inherently wrong with the use of “kingdom.” Some use the alternative kin-dom as a form of resistance against systems and theologies they feel inaccurately represent God’s likeness. Some use kin-dom within the context of deconstruction to reframe their relationship with God. But the power and truth of the divine remain. God is still the supreme Lord over all things. Emphasizing kin-dom does not and should not replace God as the foremost authority for creation. We are ‘kin’ because God has created us so. It is God’s will that must be done, not our own.

In Scripture, Jesus constantly expresses God’s will and rule as significantly different from human expectations. Our hearts and minds must be set beyond the confines of our own understanding (Colossians 3:2). The kin(g)dom is an active, inclusive, reconciling force, ushering in divine love. Through Christ’s command to make disciples and preach the Word, we at once spread the truth of the kin-dom already among us and proclaim the coming reign of God prophesied throughout the Bible.

And we proclaim that coming kin(g)dom, beginning through active meditation; through listening to God’s voice, discerning where we might be called and able to act in preparing the way. This living out of God’s will can come in many forms: direct church ministry, social justice advocacy, helping our neighbors and others in need, and simply providing a welcoming presence to those who have not felt welcomed before. There, in the presence of God, we fully encounter the kin(g)dom. I can testify that these experiences have changed me.

And there is something truly redemptive once we approach the will of God through a lens of inclusion. From Luke 14: “Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’” God’s kin(g)dom–the reconciled Christ through which we find salvation–ushers us into deeper, more genuine ministry. The first becomes last and the last becomes first. The dividing line is the kin-dom as resistance, resistance against the works of the Enemy. Thy will be done. 

I feel that this truth should humble us. How often do we truly do the work of God? Will we truly value God with our hearts instead of our lips? Will we genuinely allow Christ to guide us? (Matthew 15: 8-9) I’ll freely admit my own failings. Assistant Professor of New Testament Bridgett Green argues that both ‘kingdom’ and ‘kindom’ “offer promise and responsibility in understanding, living, and proclaiming the gospel.” Regardless of word choice, we are still called to follow Jesus and preach the Good News, so all may repent and believe.

Therefore, we must be the kin(g)dom: doing justice, loving mercy, and walking in such a way that displays a life and a Light beyond human understanding. We must actively reflect the reign God desires to have over all of creation. God’s will is incredibly subversive, and we must truly focus on how to accomplish that will. Perhaps that work will take form in a church, or perhaps in some place entirely unexpected. Where may we encounter the kin(g)dom? Let us reflect on where God may be calling us to serve as both ambassadors and witnesses, in all cases heralding the glory to come.

Or maybe it is better–indeed, more praiseworthy–to reflect thusly:

Our Father/Mother/Creator, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name, 

Thy kin-dom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us each day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts

As we have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kin-dom,

The Power, and the Glory,

Forever and ever.

Amen.