Kingdom Values: One Kingdom. Indivisible.
Introduction
There is a surface need: American values vs Kingdom values. I want to look at Kingdom values.
Let’s start with a definition. Value means, a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life. So, what are some American values? Freedom, independence, happiness, patriotism, nationalism, individualism and materialism are a few.
What are the values of the Kingdom of God? How and when do Kingdom values run counter to American values? Or do they?
There are some who assume that American values are Christian values. Now for sure there are American and Kingdom values that are shared. But, I want us to look deeper at Kingdom values.
If Jesus is King. If we are citizens of his kingdom, then what’s important to us? What should we value?
To answer that, we are going to consider part of the Sermon on the Mount, the most famous sermon of Jesus Christ. The sermon covers three chapters, but we are only going to look at the introduction. The Sermon on the Mount in many ways is a manifesto about how to live in the kingdom of God.
Kingdom of God=What life is like when God is in charge.
(Read Matthew 5:1-16)
What does the word “Blessed” mean? It’s not the word for blessing that we think (eulogia). It’s not the word for praise and favor. It’s not the idea of God blessing you.
The word used is, markarios, and is something entirely different. It’s a statement of value. It’s state of well-being. The “blessed” are the ones who are “fortunate,” “happy,” and should be “congratulated.” The blessed are kingdom people living with kingdom values
So, let’s look at the eight values of the kingdom that are outlined for us here.
Value #1: Poor in Spirit (Matt. 5:3)
When God is in charge, the spiritually bankrupt are blessed. How’s that for the starter of a sermon? Jesus says, “Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to feel happy, satisfied and fulfilled? Then you need to become poor in spirit.
Remember, Jesus and his disciples were poor. They were living hand to mouth. Jesus knows that, and cranks it up a notch. In the same way that you bring nothing into my kingdom financially, you bring nothing spiritually Jesus says. To be poor in spirit is to admit you desperately need God. You and I were raised to be self-reliant but that is not a kingdom value. In the Kingdom, those who recognize their spiritual need are blessed. Those who humbly trust God even when they have absolutely nothing to bring to him are blessed.
If you’ve ever traveled to a third world country, and talk with Christians you see this lived out. It’s always amazing to me, in my travels, to see the joy that poor Christians have.
Jesus is saying to us, “Listen, the pride’s got to drop . You’ve got to say I need God if you are ever going to live in my kingdom.” Life in the Kingdom is totally counter cultural. Our culture says, you don’t need anyone, let alone god!
Value #2: Mourning (Matt. 5:4)
When God is in charge, those who mourn will be comforted. When you are grieving, how would you feel if someone came up to you and said, “Makarios! You are actually blessed!?” Yet, that is exactly what Jesus says. “Happy are those who are unhappy!”
Anyone unhappy today? Anyone mourning? Anyone tired of the pandemic? Anyone mourning the state of racial injustice in our nation? You’re blessed because you will one day be comforted by Jesus himself. You’re blessed because there is something about mourning that draws us closer to God.
Jesus is not telling us to put on a happy face when you are in pain. It’s not a happy thing to mourn. Jesus is reminding them about what God thinks of them. Even though you are sad, God promises you comfort in the coming kingdom.
The world looks at you and thinks your life is unhappy. But God looks at us and says, “You’re blessed.” Your life on earth is so short, but the coming kingdom will last for all eternity. Live with the end in mind!
I talk to people in our church all the time who are suffering in one way or another. And after they tell me all that’s going on I often hear something like, “But you know what Pastor, it’s been a blessing.” “It’s hard, but God has given me so much, I’m blessed.” Those are people who are living with kingdom values
Jesus is also talking to people who are suffering for the name of Christ. From persecution that comes when you live with kingdom values. That’s what he says in verses 10-12.
Jesus is also talking to those who are mourning social evil, injustice and oppression. Jesus is preaching to the poor, the oppressed and those on the margins of the Greco-Roman world. Their lives were hard. Today, Jesus’ words are balm for our black brothers and sisters who have been mourning over racial injustice for decades.
Kingdom people mourn. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he wept over it because of what he saw—sheep without a shepherd. When you look at your community and your city, and our nation, do you ever weep over what you see? Does your heart break for the things that break God’s heart?
When God is in charge, those who mourn will be comforted.
Value #3: Meekness (Matt. 5:5)
When God is in charge, those who turn over control to God are blessed. In the Greco-Roman world of Jesus’ day, to be meek was to be weak. Just like today, this was NOT a value of the culture! Meek people don’t run Washington D.C. or Silicon Valley!
The Jew’s didn’t want a meek king, they wanted a strong and mighty king who would build an army and overthrow the Empire. Jesus ministered in a very tense political time.
The Greco-Roman world also cared a lot about status. Their social system was set up that way. The rich over the poor, the aristocrat over the peasant, male over female, and free over slave.
What does it mean to be meek? Meekness is similar to poor in spirit. Meekness is “power under control.” The word means to be humble, gentle and not aggressive. It’s to say, “God, I am going to rely on our power and strength.” To say, “God, I need you to control my life."
How can we value meekness today? It starts with a correct view of ourselves and the kingdom. When you understand in your bones, just how big God is and all that he’s done for you in Christ. When you can say, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” It’s then and only then, does meekness become a value of our lives.
When God is in charge, those who turn over the control of their lives to God are happy.
Value #4: Righteousness (Matt. 5:6)
When God is in charge, those who hunger after him are satisfied. Most of the people Jesus is preaching to are probably hungry and thirsty during his sermon. And he takes that natural desire and points it to righteousness.
Righteousness in the Bible can mean several things.
- Being in a right relationship with God (not the righteousness Jesus means).
- Moral righteousness—living in such a way that pleases God.
- Social righteousness—desire to see people living under oppression and injustice set free.
Jesus is talking about a spiritual hunger. It’s a desire to know, obey, and honor King Jesus with how we live our lives. There’s also a hunger to see God’s kingdom come to every area of our society. This is about our ethics. It’s about how what we believe changes how we live. What’s our life say about the King and his kingdom.
When you hunger and thirst after the ways of God, what happens is your appetite begins to change. You’re no longer hungry over stuff like popularity, prestige, power, materialism, achievement or worldly success. You’re hungry for the things of God now.
When God is in charge, those who hunger after him are satisfied.
Value #5: Mercy
When God is in charge, mercy comes out of those who have received mercy. Mercy is compassion for people in need, Mercy includes being generous, forgiving others, and having compassion for the suffering. Our God is merciful and so should the citizens of his kingdom be.
Kingdom people who value mercy hear about a need and are moved to action. I was so proud of how our church responded to the fires in Sonoma and Napa Counties several years ago. We raised thousands of dollars to help those families. Just this past year we gave thousands of dollars to help starving kids through Convoy of Hope. But our church is more than just generous, we love to get involved. At our Belle Aire Harvest Festival so many of you served the San Bruno community and lived out the values of the kingdom to people on the margins
Kingdom people value mercy because they have been shown mercy
Value #6: Purity of Heart (Matt. 5:8)
When God is in charge, the ones who are honest with Him are happy. If you read the Psalms, you’ll see lots of references to purity of heart. Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 24:3-4 says, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
The pure in heart is someone who loves God with all his/her heart, soul, mind and strength. The pure in heart is someone with integrity. The pure in heart is someone who is authentic and honest with themselves.
Jesus is saying: “Blessed are you when you’re real because you can’t see God when you’re wearing a mask. Blessed are you when you take the mask off. You’re a pure heart. You say, ‘God what you see is what you get. I’m trying my best to walk with you. You know everything about me, God. I’m not going to cover up anything.’”
Value #7: Peacemaking (Matt. 5:9)
When God is in charge, they change the temperature around them. This value is about our relationships. A keeper of peace is rare, a peacemaker is even more rare. Peace, shalom, means wholeness and harmony in all aspects of life.
Did you know you can either be a thermometer or thermostat? A thermometer adjusts to the climate of the room. A thermostat sets the climate of the room. Jesus says blessed are the thermostats. Blessed are the ones that can walk into a situation and just change the climate because they’re so full of God. Do you know anyone like that? We need peacemakers now more than ever!
When God is in charge, they change the temperature around them.
Value #8: Persecution (Matt. 5:10)
When God is in charge, persecution will come to those who are like Jesus. It’s really interesting how Jesus goes from peacemaking to persecution. The reality is that not all attempts at peacemaking will succeed. “Every day, eight Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith. Every week, 182 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. And every month, 309 Christians are imprisoned unjustly.” This kind of persecution is foreign to us in the U.S.
Jesus says that kingdom people will be persecuted because of righteousness. Remember, righteousness is not just being good, it’s more than that. It’s reorienting your whole life towards God and his will. And when you do that, you will be persecuted.
You’ll be persecuted at your job for living as a citizen of the kingdom. You’ll be persecuted at your school for living as a citizen of the kingdom. You’ll be persecuted in your own family for living as a citizen of the kingdom. But, what’s the reward? King Jesus and his Kingdom.
When God is in charge, persecution will come to those who are like Jesus.
Conclusion
We’ve seen eight values of the kingdom: Poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking and persecution. Kingdom people live with kingdom values.
How do we really live these out, not only in my everyday life but in the kingdom of earth? Seriously, what possible influence could followers of Jesus have in our hard and tough world when we’re poor, meek, sad and peacemaking people?
Jesus tells us the way by using two metaphors: salt and light (vss. 13-14). These two metaphors have to do with influence in the world. Jesus does not want us to withdraw from society. Quite the opposite. He wants us to permeate every aspect of society as agents of love, even the public square.
When God is in charge, you are salt and light. When salt and light are working, they naturally fulfill their purposes. Food is preserved and darkness is dispelled.
Salt gives flavor and prevents decay (no refrigerators). Salt only works as a preservative, when it’s around decaying food.
Light like salt affects its environment by being distinctive. But light only works when it’s in darkness.
What’s the point? Kingdom people are meant to be morally and socially different from others. Christians and the church are called to be distinct communities in our world. That’s why the Apostle Peter calls us “foreigners and exiles”
Christian salt is not meant to be kept in the spice cabinet. Christian light is not meant to stay in the basement. As followers of Jesus, we need to be rubbed into the decaying meat of our society to bring healing. As followers of Jesus, our mission is to bring light to all the dark places of our culture.
Craig Blomberg puts it this way, “We are not called to control secular power structures; neither are we promised that we can Christianize the legislation and values of the world. But we must remain active preservative agents, indeed irritants, in calling the world to heed God’s standards.”
When God is in charge, you are salt. When God is in charge, you are light. When God is in charge, you are an irritant.
Rob Hall is the Lead Pastor at New North Church, located in the San Francisco Bay Area.