Kingdom of God Pathway to Christian Empowerment

Kingship before Jesus AssyriansMedesPersiansMacedonians Romans (63 BCE) 1.You worship the Gods 2.You go to war with their assistance 3.You are victorious with their help 4.You obtain peace from their generosity. Roman Imperial Roman Imperial Theology Theology

Postcolonial Naming 1. The gods have chosen Rome 2. Rome and its Emperor represent 1. The gods have chosen Rome 2. Rome and its Emperor represent God’s rule, will and presence among God’s rule, will and presence among human beings. 3. Rome manifests God’s blessings – human beings. 3. Rome manifests God’s blessings – security, peace, justice, faithfulness, security, peace, justice, faithfulness, fertility – among those that submit fertility – among those that submit to Rome’s rule to Rome’s rule SOURCE: Warren Carter (2006), The Roman Empire and the New Testament, p.83)

Divine Emperors Caesar Augustus, Divine Son of God Agustus was Divine, Son of God, God, and God from God. He was Lord, Liberator, Redeemer, Saviour of the World. High Priest

Divine Emperors

yMessianic Hope... The Kingdom of Jesus: English: Kingdom (M) English: Kingdom (M) Greek: Greek: Basileia (F) Basileia (F) Aramaic: Aramaic: Malkuta (F) Malkuta (F) Hebrew: Mamlaka (F). Hebrew: Mamlaka (F). Torestorethekingdom of David In the O.T., the word throne occurs 166 times, but only 7 in the four Gospels, and 37 in the four Gospels, and 37 in the Book of Revelation.

A Different Kind of Kingdom The Companionship of Empowerment

Is this what Is this what the new the newCompanionship is really is really about? about?

MELEKH: The King in Hebrew “When we bring mem and lamed together with khaf, we can read Melekh in this way: The maternal waters, source of creativity from which all life issues forth (mem), are channelled and guided (lamed), towards the hand or vessel that is open to receive and give (khaf). Melekh takes us from source, through channel, to ourselves as receivers and givers.” (Marcia Prager (1998), The Path of Blessings, p. 123)

The Disturbing Prophet It would have been impossible for the people of Jesus’ time to have thought of him as an eminently religious man who steered clear of political action. They would have seen him as a blasphemously irreligious man who under the cloak of religion was undermining all the values upon which religion, politics, economics and society were based. He was a dangerous and subtly subversive revolutionary. (Albert Nolan)

EMPIRE HOUSEHOLD To resist Empire as such, we must know what we are up against. It is something inherent in civilization itself. Non-imperial civilization is something yet to be seen upon our earth. J.D. Crossan.

Criteria for authentic Discipleship 1. Unconditional Love 2. Radical Inclusiveness – expansive vision 3. Open Commensality 4. Unconditional forgiveness (healing) 5. Justice through adult empowerment of people 6. Freedom from all oppressions 7. New criteria for family membership 8. Reclaiming imagination in the power of story 9. Being HUMAN in a new way. 10. Whither the Cross & Resurrection?

EMPOWERMENT: Critical Dimensions 1. Health Care 2. Basic Education 2. Basic Education 3. Credit & Insurance 4. Functioning markets 5. Phones & Internet 5. Phones & Internet 6 Non-degraded environment 7. Personal Empowerment to gain freedom to gain freedom from exploitation from exploitation 8. Community Empowerment 8. Community Empowerment for participation for participation in the wider world in the wider world

OUR FATHER: O Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration. WHO ART IN HEAVEN Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your presence can abide YOUR KINGDOM COME Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with your desire GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO ARE.. Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL But illuminate the opportunities of the present moment FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY... For you are the ground and fruitful vision, the birth, power and fulfilment, as all is gathered and made whole once again. Aramaic Lord’s Prayer