The time to enter is now.
“Jesus bursts onto the scene with a message about a kingdom.
It is something new.
It is something that has already arrived.
The time to enter is now.
The announcement is called “good news.” It’s so good that the only proper response is to throw a party – a great celebration with lots of food and wine!
The “kingdom” is a new kind of human society. The only qualification required for entry is being a member of the human race. Being human is enough. Leave your titles at the door! Everyone has to enter this new society like a little child, which meant entering as one who had no great title, distinction or clout. It’s a kingdom of nobodies.
This is why Jesus declared that the destitute at the bottom of society were the truly lucky ones. They were already nobodies. They had nothing to lose. Consequently they were overwhelmed by the extraordinary generosity of the invitation. Becoming part of this new kingdom was much harder for those at the top of society. They were as welcome as anyone else, but they had to enter without regard to their titles of honor, wealth or power. They had to enter as little children, as nobodies.
In the new community of the Jesus society there is no discrimination. There are no high ranks or low ranks. No masters and servants. No clergy and laity. No rulers. No chief apostles. No gurus. All skin colors, all ethnic and cultural groups – all are equally welcome and share the same standing. Gender makes no difference because both male and female are equally human.
In this new kingdom there is no hierarchy. No imposed authority; only the authority of love. No groveling to superiors or condescending to inferiors. It’s not a “staff-led” community – it just all people together as one. Just love which knows no up or down, but a laughing, level playing field at this banquet of human liberation.
Religion doesn’t hold weight either. There is no religious test. Whether one believes in baptism by dunking, baptism with a water pistol or none at all is irrelevant. Neither good opinions concerning religion or bad opinions have any bearing on the matter of admittance or exclusion.
Other than the one evil of not being human (forgiving, caring, compassionate, giving, etc.) there is no sin.
The Jesus society shares in a common purpose: to live and die in the service of humanity, to work unceasingly for the liberation of every oppressed human being.”
- Jim Palmer, Notes From (over) The Edge
