For hundreds of years the English-speaking world has known the word “utopia” to signify an ideal society or community where the principles of operation dispelled greed and oppression amongst its inhabitants. The result is a community that rises above human selfishness and is characterized by goodwill, kindness, equality, and peace.
The phrase, according to Britannica online, originated with Thomas More who published a book with the word as part of the title. He created the word from the Greek words for “not” and “place”, cynically negating his own thesis that a place governed by reason and order would culminate in an ideal and perfect state.
His conclusion: basically, there isn’t such a place.
And yet…is it possible? As Christians, do we not have a less depressing and fatalistic outlook?
We should. Scripture teaches us otherwise. God declares to us in Revelation 11:15 that “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
So why are we not more hopeful in this world?
A few errors lead us down the path to despair as we look at the world around us. I have to ask myself these questions when anxiety creeps in regarding what I see in the world, and even in our churches where people claim to follow Christ:
#1) Am I expecting a godly kingdom here and now?
#2) Am I expecting the wrong kind of kingdom?
As shepherds of the flock of Christ, we need to lead with the kingdom principles with which He led. When standing, falsely accused, before Pilate, Christ proclaimed that His kingdom was not of this world, that His disciples would have been fighting if it had been (John 18:36).
He came to bring the kingdom into the hearts of men and women and children. His kingdom was about changing the hearts of sinful, rebellious, wayward people that would live out the utopian ideas of which Thomas More could only satirically dream. It wasn’t about overthrowing by force an oppressive regime and forcing a leader on the throne.
There is hope in this kingdom of changed hearts because it shows that how we live out Christ in our local bodies of believers can shine the light to others. We can demonstrate, though imperfectly, and in seemingly small ways, that an ideal society will be possible one day when “the kingdom of this world” does “become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).
Nothing else but a community of hearts changed by Christ will enable a utopian society. In fact, it can’t even be called that because then it wouldn’t be living up to its name of “no place”. It is a place. It’s a place where God’s Spirit reigns in the hearts of those who testify of new birth.
In his first epistle, the apostle John lays out numerous tests to determine who is a true follower of Jesus Christ, and I list just a few here: belief in Christ as the Son of God, loving light and hating darkness, practicing righteousness, confessing sin, abiding in Christ, and loving our brothers. That sounds like a society in which I’d like to live! Then that is the example I should set for the people in our congregation. As a church we should live that true life of testimony, humbly acknowledging our sin and need for Christ’s redemption, and relating to one another in love, joy, peace, and harmony.
Which brings me to my second question: What kind of a kingdom am I expecting? If I’m expecting a certain political system to bring an ideal society or even some religious movement or church influence on a macro-level, then I’ve steered from the focus Christ made clear as He stood before Pilate. His kingdom is not of this world.
It’s found in the hearts of men, living out faith in His saving work. In the meantime, as His church, we are merely a shadow of the reality that is to come when His kingdom – a very, real physical one, by the way – becomes united to the spiritual with the King of Kings and Lord of LORDS on the throne.
So…are we expecting a Christian utopia? In some ways, yes; the ideal for which we all long will come to fruition one day. But in the meantime, I must be sure I’m living out that ideal in my heart and life and leadership in my local fellowship of believers in Christ, in whom is expressed the redeemed ideal to come.
No greater commonwealth will ever exist, and I’m glad I am already a member of that kingdom by faith in Christ’s finished work in me.
That is a charter I can sign and support. My name is written in that book, and there so no surer promise for mine or the world’s future (Revelation 20:12).
May God use each of us to bring all those who are His into that kingdom to come. His will be done. Amen.
Taking It Further:
Where have you steered off the path of Christ’s true kingdom? What goals and attitudes for your church do you need to shift to be more in line with His desire to change hearts and not just bring about a certain political or religious system?
Resources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/utopia