Over the last few days, I’ve been watching my social feeds for updates on the United Church of Christ‘s General Synod in Milwaukee, WI. Yesterday afternoon, I was able to watch the livestream of the worship service that included a sermon given by Rev. Traci Blackmon.
Rev. Blackmon is Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ, and she serves as Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ (Florissant, MO).
I had the pleasure of hearing Rev. Blackmon speak last summer in Louisvile, KY and earlier this year in Fort Worth, TX.
We Are the Kindom
In her message (starts at 1:26:00) she challenged the 5,000+ attending in person along with those of us viewing online to remember that we are the kindom of God, and that because of this truth we must live it. Blackmon called and continues to call all who follow the Way of Jesus to action:
“The kindom of God is not coming. The kindom of God is already here.
We are the kindom of God. So lets live like it. Lets love like it. Lets shine like it.”
So What?
Blackmon’s powerful plea needs no explanation. Instead, it calls us to action: we must be the kindom in our living and our loving. This is how we shine.
Whether you come from a tradition that focuses more on the kindom (or kingdom or reign or realm) of God as a future state or one that also emphasizes its present reality, it is helpful to be regularly reminded of the centrality of the kindom.
- What does being the kindom of God look like today in your own life? in the life of your local congregation?
- What do you experience to be the most challenging aspect of kindom living, loving and shining?
Note: the Shine logo above is the official logo of General Synod 32