Imagine: A Kingdom not bound by Theology:

IMAGINE: A Kingdom not bound by Theology:

John Lennon's "Imagine' has always been one of my favorite songs. Most religious folks dismiss this song because Lennon asks his listener's to "Imagine there's no heaven" or "no hell below us." Religious minded folks love the idea of hell fire because it's gives purpose for living the self righteous life. This only leads to judgment and blinds the the "religious ones" to the kingdom right in front of their pious noses. Yet when I hear those lyrics I imagine Jesus' words of "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand", as not being a far distant Xanadu if you will,but a kingdom we can fully experience now. A kingdom that encompasses the entire human condition and where hell can be defined by the wickedness of our own human intentions and heart.

A kingdom where fellow human beings matter and experiencing life to its fullest is best achieved by giving of yourself to other's without any hidden motives being involved. Jesus' message wasn't to make us religious zombies but to release us from the bondage of religious piety and prejudices.

Jesus came to rescue us from more than we ever give any thought too. He came to rescue us from our religious selves. Just maybe setting the captives free meant free from religious oppression and strife bound in a system of law and sacrifice as was the case in his day. Today, we have fashioned that system or more appropriately, the marketing of a gospel message into the form of an organized, free enterprise religious endervor. Jesus simply taught us that love is the key that unlocks the greatest human potential of living a victorious or abundant life. Could his message have been that simple?

Now listen to Lennon's masterpiece, "Imagine." You may still say that I'm the dreamer but use your own imagination in discovering there is more to the message of Jesus than meets the eye, ears or even the nose for that matter.

James Robert Kessler
Because of Him Art Ministry 2009