“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Where is the kingdom of heaven? Where is it in space, and in time? Throughout Christian history you tend to get one of two answers:
1. The kingdom of heaven IS heaven. In space it is above and beyond this earth, and in time it is in the future beyond the present life.
2. The kingdom of heaven is here on earth. In space it is where the people of God are, and where God’s presence is supposed to be in a unique way. The Crusaders equated it with Israel and Jerusalem, like in that Orlando Bloom movie. The Pilgrims equated it with wherever they happened to land. The Mormons with Utah, of all places. In time it is present. The fun theological term for this is “realized eschatology.”
Before we weigh in on “where is kingdom of heaven,” we need to answer the question “what is the kingdom of heaven?” Remember, we are in Matthew, the Jewish-focused gospel, and in keeping with the Jewish tradition, Matthew is sensitive about throwing around the name of God willy-nilly. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God.
What is the kingdom of God? I propose to you that the kingdom of God corresponds to earthly kingdoms in this way: The place where the will of the king of Denmark is done is the kingdom of Denmark. The place where the will of the king of Norway is done is the kingdom of Norway. The place where Anne Hathaway’s and Julie Andrews’ will is done is the kingdom of Genovia (thanks, youth girls). The place where the will of the king of heaven is done is the kingdom of God.
That means it can be BOTH in the present and the future. That means it can be both on and beyond the earth.
Re-examine this well-known bit of Jesus’ teaching: “Your kingdom come/Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Those are parallel statements – they say the same thing. “As Your will is done on earth, so it becomes as much Your kingdom as heaven is.” Like an embassy of heaven – a stronghold of the will of God, waiting for the future when the two (earth and heaven) become one in fact and not only in promise.
And the first requirement for citizenship? Humility.
Not place of birth. Not family of origin. Not even righteousness or right behavior (that’s fourth down the list – and it’s desiring righteousness, anyway).
That really opens up the roster, doesn’t it? Anybody, born anywhere, from any creed, no matter what they’ve done previously, is a potential citizen of heaven, and thereby has the divine blessing of God – as long as they are humble in spirit.
And that’s where most of the “heaven is a place on earth” people of the past blew it, and still blow it today. If you are doing the will of God, but being a snot about it, you’re doing it wrong. If you think your place and your people are heaven on earth, and you’re arrogant about it and exclusive in a way that Jesus never was – you’re doing it wrong.
And because humility is lot harder than it looks – it’s good to remember that as soon as I become proud of being able to spot the people who are doing it wrong – I’m in danger of doing it wrong.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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