Have you ever tried to define the Kingdom of God? Christians use the phrase often, but many struggle to explain exactly what it means. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks constantly about the Kingdom of God, describing it as God’s reign breaking into the world — bringing healing, forgiveness, justice and restoration.
Part of the challenge is that Jesus talks about God’s Kingdom in glimpses scattered throughout the Gospels. He offers parables about mustard seeds and yeast (Matthew 13:31–33). He shows us what the Kingdom looks like by feeding more than 5,000 people, with leftovers to spare (Luke 9:10–17). He heals the sick so that people find physical and emotional restoration (Mark 2:1–12; Luke 8:40–56). Forgiveness is extended, and social divisions are erased (Luke 19:1–10; John 8:1–11).
Taken together, these stories give us a picture of the Kingdom of God — one that probably deserves more attention than we give it.
Why does understanding the Kingdom of God matter? Because it offers Christians hope and a vision of how God intends the world to be.
We are living in a time when Christian nationalism and “no kings” protests are part of the public conversation, alongside heartbreaking unrest, mistrust and tension between citizens and government. Amid all this, it seems worth reminding ourselves that our ultimate loyalty and security lies with God and the Kingdom of God — not to a country, a political party or an ideology.
Related reading: “‘No Kings’ should include Jesus” by Jimmy Hoke
Last fall, my church’s fourth- and fifth-grade Sunday school class waded into the biblical and theological waters of the Kingdom of God. Here are some of the questions we explored.
What is the Kingdom of God?
What pictures come to mind when you hear the word “kingdom”? Perhaps castles and villages, knights with swords, kings and queens.
But what comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Kingdom of God”?
If nothing immediately appears, it can help to look at the realms God creates at the beginning and the end of the Bible. When we consider Genesis 1–2 and Revelation 21:1–7, stark differences emerge between our worldly ideas of kingdoms and God’s vision.
Imagining how things might look in God’s Kingdom becomes a hopeful and joyful exercise.
In God’s Kingdom, we might imagine there are no torture chambers in dungeons, but there are churches and hospitals. No rivals are fighting with swords, but people live together in peace. There may still be rulers, but all people are equally valued and cared for.
God’s Kingdom will certainly be different. Dare we say better?
What does it mean to be citizens of God’s Kingdom?
Much of childhood involves forming a sense of identity, and refining that sense of self continues throughout adulthood.
If you ask children to describe who they are, they might say they are sons or daughters, students, athletes or musicians. Adults often define themselves by profession, family roles, volunteer work or hobbies.
Yet beneath all of these identities lies something deeper: we are children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of God.
That means each of us is part of a larger whole. Our actions affect others, for good or for harm. Being citizens of God’s Kingdom means we are responsible to one another — not only in theory, but in practice.
How does that citizenship affect how I live?
Being citizens of God’s Kingdom is not a hat we put on only when we enter a church building. It is an identity that shapes how we live in every relationship and every community we are part of.
From families to classrooms to workplaces to online spaces, we can contribute to God’s Kingdom through our actions and attitudes.
The Bible offers many stories about the early church living out the Kingdom vision Jesus gave them (Acts 2:43–47; Acts 3:1–16; Acts 11:1–18). These stories challenge us to consider how we might do the same.
We can also draw inspiration from the fruits of the Spirit and consider how to embody those virtues in our communities. When we internalize and live out this citizenship – in partnership with the Holy Spirit – God’s Kingdom becomes a little more visible through each of us.
How does that citizenship relate to my national citizenship?
What connection does our citizenship in God’s Kingdom have to our citizenship in a nation? Are they competing loyalties?
Exploring that question can be a fruitful and encouraging exercise. Consider how the actions we take as citizens in a democracy might also contribute to the Kingdom of God.
- Respecting free speech allows every voice to be heard, even when we disagree. It takes self-control and kindness to resist “canceling” someone for their opinions, but doing so affirms that all people are children of God who have value and are loved.
- Honesty and truth-telling build trust between people and within institutions. These practices strengthen relationships and reflect the goodness that will surely characterize God’s Kingdom.
- Participating in democracy with actions like voting or running for office allows people to help shape our collective life together. It also gives people of faith opportunities to promote policies they believe will help care for others and reflect Kingdom values.
As we think about how our national and heavenly citizenships intersect, an important distinction remains. Living out the Kingdom of God is not the same as promoting Christian nationalism — the idea that a nation should formally adopt Christian laws or identity.
Related reading: “Orthodoxy, not heresy, is the root problem of Christian nationalism” by Jimmy Hoke
Instead, the Kingdom of God invites us to imagine something different: what might happen if people chose to live according to God’s ways out of devotion to God. Such lives could bless the places we currently inhabit, even as we keep our eyes on the fuller reality of God’s coming Kingdom.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are invited to see the world from God’s perspective, trusting that God has a vision for how the world could be. With God’s grace and help, we are invited to participate in bringing that vision to life.
Understanding the Kingdom of God is not simply a theological idea. It shapes how Christians live, love and participate in the world. If our deepest loyalty belongs to God’s Kingdom, how might that influence the way we act as neighbors, citizens and followers of Christ?
God’s Kingdom awaits. And the more of us who claim our citizenship and try to live into its vision, the more that Kingdom becomes visible in the world.
