5 min. read
If you happen to be part of typical North American organized church you have rather limited options for activities to engage in that announce God’s Kingdom: weekly “worship services,” maybe some Bible study classes, perhaps a big service project once in a while. You might sense some things are missing. You’re right.
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There’s nothing inherently wrong with this way of doing church. But Jesus called us to be the church, not go to church, nor do church.
Here are three small suggestions on how to live in God’s Kingdom — what’s called incarnation — in small ways, with a peek at how each of these activities also develop the life of the mind.
Eat :: Turn Strangers into Neighbors
How many meals a week do you eat at home? At least one? What about just on the weekends? Could you turn one of these meals a month into a backyard grill out or neighborhood potluck?
It’s not as difficult as it might seem. Start by picking 3-6 friends who don’t live in your neighborhood and mix in some neighbors who live right next door, on your street, or in your apartment/condo complex.
You can even print up little cards that invite them to your place on a specific night to hang out and have dinner. Let your friends know about the dinner.
Now, this may be the most difficult step, especially if you aren’t practiced in this whole incarnation thing. You must go to the door of the neighbors you are inviting, hand them the card, introduce yourself, and invite them. Maybe they come, maybe they don’t.
Doesn’t matter. The hard part is over.
Have them bring a dish or something to slap on the grill. Maybe you want to provide sides or not. Maybe you want to provide juice for the kids and water, soda, and beer for the adults. Maybe not. Do what works for you and your budget.
On the night of the neighborhood dinner, don’t worry about making your house or yard look immaculate. Just be you. Be comfortable. Hang out. Eat good food, drink good drink. And get to know your neighbors. That’s it.
This may turn into an oasis for you and your neighbors each month.
The metaphysics of this monthly activity will expand the life of the mind. Because you will hear personal journeys and individual life viewpoints that you aren’t familiar with. And in this setting, it’s all about opening yourself up to a broader horizon. There’s no debate, no arguing. Just listening, sharing food, and sharing life.
Why Eat with My Neighbors?
Because Jesus did.
Many times he goes into a town or village, finds the biggest potluck, grabs some food and drink, and hangs out. In fact, the religious people of his day thought it was a weakness of his that he would so often eat and drink with all kinds of people.
But Jesus came proclaiming his God’s Kingdom. And what did it look like? Eating and drinking with others!
Listen :: Turn Prayer into a Conversation
How often does your prayer begin with, “Dear Father” or “God” or some other moniker for our Creator and ends with “Amen”, and you haven’t stopped talking once?
Yeah me too.
It’s easy to feel pressed for time and try to get in some thanks and praise and requests and wrap up the prayer and move on. But that’s not the kind of prayer we’re invited into as children of the Living God.
Prayer is intended to be a conversation. That means we need to shut-up once and while and listen for the quiet voice of God. It’s not easy. Starting out it’s seemingly impossible.
Try this ::
Carve out 5 minutes for prayer each day for the next week;
Pray as you normally would, but limit yourself to 2 and half minutes;
Now shut up!
Sit quietly listening for the remaining 2 and half minutes;
Add 5 total minutes the next week, and continue until you get a rhythm that works for you.
Bottom line: this is active meditation, a practice that benefits anyone, regardless of their view of divine things.
Will there be earth-shattering revelations from the divine? Likely not. But doing this in prayer will get us into a rhythm of listening for God’s voice all the time.
This practice expresses itself metaphysically, because it is centered in the life of the mind as both its content and context.
Why Listen for a God Who Doesn’t Speak Audibly?
As I’ve practiced this, I find God speaking in the most unexpected places through the most surprising people: homeless guys at a shelter, my young children, with a guy who I wouldn’t call a friend over a beer, with a disgruntled friend over a cup of coffee.
And here’s the kicker: as we become better at listening for God’s voice, we’ll become better listeners around everyone. You’ll be amazed the glimpses of God’s Kingdom we get when we are genuinely listening to broken, hurt, and imperfect people: people just like you and me.
Re-Create :: Turn Downtime into Authentic Leisure
How many hours a week do you work? For most of us, 40 hours is the minimum. We regularly work 10-12 hour days, work weekends, check email at all hours of the night, etc.
It’s a crazy performance-driven world we live in. And if the Kingdom of God is anything, it’s counter-cultural.
What if we checked out of work more often, deliberately and intentionally? What if you told the boss “No” once a week and instead spent time playing with your kids, going to a movie with friends, taking a day-trip with family?
“I’d be fired!” you say. Maybe. Maybe not. More than likely you will have unnecessary guilt to deal with. Because our society rewards performance and results, we have gravitated to finding our love and worth in what we do.
Perhaps we could stop doing so much and start being who we are in the presence of God! This is a metaphysical practice that eventually turns leisure time and activity into a state of mind. At some point, we learn to engage in leisure to expand the life of the mind, even apart from strict leisure time.
Why Work Less?
Working less is the most tangible way to re-create more. Out of the restored and renewed sense of who we are in God’s eyes that we only get in times of rest and recreation, we can return to work as more of the people God dreams for us to be.
It’s counter-intuitive, I know. And this is an area I struggle with greatly. But if I don’t resist the pull to always work, I plunge into a dark place. I’m not restored or renewed. My family suffers. My friends suffer. And my work suffers.
So one day a week, try to not check email, don’t answer the phone (except for emergencies), and attempt to not think about work. Instead spend time with family, or friends, or alone. Read an old book, see a movie, drink a cup of coffee slowly, get outside, workout, play, create.
The metaphysics of eating, listening, and leisure expands the life of the mind, opens us up to God’s Kingdom right now, and makes us more human.