Upside-Down Kingdom, Donald B. Kraybill

Upside-Down Kingdom, Donald B. Kraybill shows that Jesus' teachings were in response to very real social conditions of his day. He argues that Jesus brought a social revolution with him in his teachings. The Kingdom of God that Jesus preached would unfold in human experience if people would practice towards one another what he preached. Kraybill shows how Jesus' teachings addressed the economic, political and religious policies and social conditions of his time. He laid out a whole new system that was exactly the opposite of all the popular ideas and customs of his time. Socially, Jesus turns everything "upside-down."

For example, the scribes who were learned men that had studied the Torah and could explain points of law in it were very highly respected. People stood up when a scribe entered the room. But the Bible says Jesus taught "as one having authority, and not as the scribes." In other words, his authority was higher because it came from God rather than from years of schooling and social status.

In Chapter 5 the author explains what the year of Jubilee was and what the Jubilee system was. Every seventh year was a year of sabbatical (a rest) when farmers were not to plant any crops. As God rested on the 7th day, the land was allowed to rest every seven years, and all debts were forgiven. This helped the poor people who were the ones that usually had to borrow money from the rich. It was difficult for poor people to pay back money they had borrowed, and they were released from paying back whatever they owed during the year of sabbatical. Slaves were also given their freedom. Their owners were supposed to let them go and give them some money to start over with. After seven cycles of sabbaticals (49 years) came the year of Jubilee. During that year (the 50th) land that had been bought was returned to its original owners. The idea was that society would be leveled and some equality would be re-introduced and no single person or elite group of persons would ever get to own everything. The Jubilee system allowed for the wealth to be somewhat redistributed.

In Chapter 6, Kraybill explains how Jesus taught that economic principles of fairness, which are embodied in the Jubilee system, ought to be practiced every day and not just periodically. The rich are supposed to share generously with the needy as God gives love impartially to everyone regardless of social status. "The cares, riches, and pleasures of life" (p. 108) should not be the main focus of our lives. If we allow them to have so much importance, they will choke out spiritual growth and progress so that we cannot fully appreciate what God has for us in the Kingdom. Likewise, we are not supposed to worry about money and whether or not God will supply us with the things we need. Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." In other words when we focus on living the life God wants us to live and treat others as He wants us to treat them -- with honesty, fairness, justice, love, forgiveness, etc. -- God supplies our needs. Jesus tells us to concentrate on the Kingdom.

That doesn't mean we should be lazy, but we are not supposed to concentrate on accumulating a lot of personal wealth either. If we do have wealth, we are supposed to share it with others less fortunate. If your heart is in the Kingdom, money won't attract you that much anyway. If you are rich and do not share, you are not expressing God's love in your daily life and are showing that you are far from the spirituality that should be your goal. ("He who lays up treasure for himself...is not rich toward God" Luke 12:21).

Jesus pointed out that we are to do as God does and be as God is. God has forgiven us, so we are to forgive our neighbor and our enemies. God is merciful and we are to be merciful. God liberated us by bringing us out of slavery in Egypt, and we are to liberate those who are indebted to us or enslaved by the social system. He was friends with sinners and showed them love and compassion. We should do the same in our daily lives.