I have found Karl Barth a wise counsellor these past weeks, and at this point in the life and history of our world. What on earth, what on this God loved but disordered earth, am I to think and believe and do in a world spiralling so dangerously towards disorder and the chaos of political power resorting to violence?
According to Barth, the second petition of the Lord’s prayer is the beginning of an answer, a response of revolt against disorder – to pray, with “sighing, calling and crying,” Thy Kingdom come.”
“The decisive action of [Christian] revolt against disorder, which, correctly understood, includes within itself all others, is their calling upon God in the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer: Thy Kingdom come.
The Kingdom of God is awaited and comes from God, from above, from heaven. It is the universal and definitive revelation of the righteousness of God which judges and establishes humanity. It is the institution of his perfect lordship in human relations and inter-connections. It is the setting up of his salutary order in human life and fellowship.
The Kingdom of God is God Himself in the act of normalizing human existence. It is thus God Himself in the victorious act of overcoming the disorder which still rules humanity.
Christians have the freedom to pray that God’s Kingdom, God Himself in this act, will appear and come — will come to us, from heaven to earth. Their use of this freedom, their sighing, calling and crying “Thy Kingdom come,” is, when they say it and mean it comprehensively,their demanded revolt against disorder.”
(Page 236)
Perhaps the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer is all we have the energy and will to say watching the madness of our times playing across our screens; Thy Kingdom come. Not as passive resignation, but as revolt against disorder, as hope defiant of despair, and as faith in God’s victory in Christ over the powers that sow disorder in God’s created order. “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Amen.
And having prayer that vertically, then to go looking for ways to redeem the disorder closest to us by acts of kindness, justice, compassion, forgiveness, cherishing human life in each person God brings our way.
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