A Different Kingdom

Many non-believers accuse the Church of wanting to control our lives. They believe our ‘rules and traditions’ are designed to keep us down in the world. It would be much easier if we just gave in to the world and ‘blended in’ more to those around us. Then we would succeed.

This logic is lacking one thing important. What is our incentive in who’s rules we follow? There is no ‘success’ without following the rules of the game. The world has its rules, and the Church has her rules. If following the Church was about control, It is losing control to the world.

Our incentive to follow the Church is because our kingdom is a different kingdom. The Kingdom of God, ushered in by the Passion of Christ, is our homeland. We are foreigners on the Earth until such time as we enter the fullness of the Kingdom.

Brethren, our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.  Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.  I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 3:20-21; 4:1-3

When we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into His Kingdom. We became subjects of the King of Kings. The Church is our outpost, if you will, of Heaven on Earth. When we choose to follow the ‘rules and traditions’ of the Church, we are choosing Heaven.

The King of this world is the devil. He will never stop trying to lure us away from God’s Kingdom. This is why the world is a constant temptation against the Church. Even in times when the Church ‘had favor’ in the world, certain leaders tried to lead the Church astray.

I offer you this reminder today not to chastise you, but to encourage you. Following the life of the Church often comes with struggle. We struggle not because we are in the Kingdom of God, but because we are trying NOT to be in the devil’s kingdom. The world loves its own.

A life of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, sacraments and obedience to the Church is all counterculture to the American way of life. But, it is the only way of life in the Kingdom of God. Fortunately for us, God is a loving and patient King.

He patiently waits for us to ‘get it right’ in His Kingdom, even if we fall flat on our faces every day. Every day, He invites us to get back up and try again. There is no other kingdom on Earth that allows us to fail every day and still be full members, only God’s Kingdom.

As you go about your Friday, looking ahead at the weekend, be courageous and follow the life of the Church. If it has been ‘a while’ since you picked up your Bible, read a few pages today. If you haven’t fasted as you should, try fasting today.

The point is, make a choice between the Kingdom of God and the devil’s kingdom. I’m sure you know which Kingdom God desires for you. Don’t panic. If you don’t get it right today, God will still allow you to try tomorrow. Give it a try.