Living for a Different Kingdom

When Love, Unity, and Humility Matter More Than Being Right

By Ashley Thomas

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God” (Matt. 5:21-24, MSG).

If we are being honest, it has been another difficult year to intentionally be a “good neighbor.” Many of us have found ourselves stuck on a side, or stuck somewhere in the middle hopeful of not saying the wrong thing. Stepping outside of our front door has been a pretty vulnerable thing because we are unsure of who or what we are going to be met with. We want to be heard, we want to be right, and (really) we want others to be like us, but it has come at a pretty high price.

Recently I sat across from a close friend and had the conversation—you know the one that touches on every hot button topic of the present. Both of us knew going in the angle the other would take—and we were prepared with passionate opposition to each point made. The conversation got intense, voices raised, and when I was on the brink of shutting down out of frustration—this question was posed: What kingdom are you a part of?