Thy Kingdom Come?
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Thoughts on Kingdom language provoked by Martin Scott’s challenging version of the Lord’s Prayer.
Iona Community
Heading to Iona
Saturday, May 10, 2025
I’m in Glasgow, catching the train to Oban on the way to Iona. This is the first time I have been since I was accepted onto the New Members Programme of the Iona Community. My involvement with the community has been a huge influence on my life over the last couple of years and I’m excited to have the opportunity to join. I’ve been interested in community life for many years, but this is the first time that a community has felt right for me.
I am grateful for the Iona Community‘s “fierce solidarity” with the trans community.
In a world of ecclesiastical fence sitting, the clarity of this statement is a balm to my soul.
Martin Scott is helpfully provocative on the language of kingdom:
The time has come to bring an end to kingdom language. The time has come to listen carefully to the Gospel story, especially as John tells it (Jn 15:12-17), to find a real radical heart which places shared community rather than individual values at the centre.
What we need today is both an expression of Christian faith and a world order based on friends being in relationship (Jn 15:15) rather than servants of a glorious king; on community rather than kingdom; on justice, love and peace rather than kingdom, power and glory.
However, the first step is talking about this at all. A Christianity of individual salvation alone would not be recognised by its founder.