Practically perfect in every way.
Except that the Gospel isn't about Mary Poppins-or even Cinderella, for that matter.
I'm not sure when or where this cultural idea of every girl being 'Daddy's little princess' (God's little prince?) originated, but I'm not sure I'm in favor of it. Perhaps it isn't the worst concept in the history of Western Christianity, but I would not call it the best, simply because it contains serious implications that can be quite faltering. It's also seemingly misleading-or at least, without further explanation of what it means to be a spiritual princess or prince it potentially can be.
What message is the author attempting to send, exactly, by calling the reader royalty?
Honestly, I'm sure intentions such as these are good. They probably start off as honest (I would hope). They often do not end out so well, though. There is a danger to this concept of fluffing up the Gospel, so to speak.
Maybe the issue on my heart and mind is not the concept itself but rather the way it is advertised. It is seemingly incomplete of biblical truth. Regardless, I think some clarity is called for, even if it serves as a simple reminder to my and your soul.
Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as King (specifically in the Old Testament). He holds authority, power, majesty-all this and more.
Biblically, the Scriptures call us 'heirs' of the kingdom of God:
'Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory'. -Romans 8:17So, technically speaking, if God is the King and people are supposed to be His heirs, then yes, I suppose you could say every girl is meant to be a princess and every boy is meant to be a prince.
(The words 'supposed' and 'meant' are used here because the kingdom inheritance-salvation by grace through faith-can be accepted or rejected-like any other gift).
However, oftentimes it seems as if our culture substitutes worldly meanings for the words 'princess' and 'prince' in place of the spiritual meanings for them. When I think of a princess as determined by the world's standards, I think of a pampered flawless girl who sits on her throne with servants at her beck and call. She is stunning. She is clean. She is proper.
A princess basks in her riches. A princess gets everything she wants. A princess is perfect.
She is pink, sparkly, and extravagantly overwhelming.
The life of Jesus displays a contrasting picture.
The irony is that He was the King-He is-the King, and yet He came to the earth to show us what it means to truly be an heir of the kingdom of God.
And I'm pretty damn sure He didn't keep all of His riches for Himself.
Instead, He chose to give up every bit of Himself-literally His own life-for scoffers, sinners, mockers, and the unclean.
Jesus-the King-freely gave what was rightfully His to keep.
What kind of King would choose to wear a crown that bleeds-all to save His lost people?
I honestly don't think we can comprehend the riches we have received.
So, what does it look like to be an heir? How does a true prince and princess of God act as such?
Let's put it his way: if the King Himself came to serve and not to be served, then why should we expect to live any other way?
If we have freely received riches that we do not deserve from the only One deserving to have them, then shouldn't we be freely giving them to others without question?
Maybe being an heir is more than simply receiving a glorious inheritance. This picture that we so often set in our heads of being heirs is not wrong, necessarily, but I think it's incomplete, because Jesus does not stop there. Jesus did not simply receive His blessings from the Father to keep them for Himself. He used those blessings to bless other people.
The danger of raising little girls and boys with titles such as 'princess' and 'prince' oftentimes leads to a self-centered mindset. Being royalty implies that we are on the throne-but isn't that where Jesus is supposed to sit?
The Gospel doesn't call people to be gods. The Gospel calls people to be friends with God. It's the story of how the King gathered 'round His sinful subjects for a dinner gathering-a banquet, if you will. He's invited us to be a part of the table of grace.
Perhaps being an heir to the kingdom of God is only experienced once you make someone else a part of it-when you extend your understanding of the kingdom past yourself.
When you grasp that you have been loved-because you are so loved, do not miss this point-by the One True King, then you cannot live any other way than to love other people. Real love received becomes real love extended.
We are children of God most certainly. I believe I am loved, I believe you are loved, and I believe neither of us can ever comprehend that love. I do not believe, however, that said love is meant to be hoarded-stored up in a bottle or a box for me, myself and I. It is vital to grasp that Jesus did not die and rise from the grave primarily for you and you alone. He did what He did for everyone, and He did what He did intentionally.
You are redeemed with and for a purpose: to love God and to love people.
This post isn't about pink, sparkly, extravagant bibles. I really could care less what the outside looks like-of a person, of a bible, or whatever else. The Gospel is and has always been about what's on the inside.
Though consider this: if we are truly living out the Gospel, then we should expect to get our hands dirty. Life is messy. Loving is hard.
One of my favorite pictures of this is Queen Esther. She was placed in the palace not to stay safe inside the extravagant walls, but rather to risk her life for those outside of them.
What drew people to Christ was that He was a King and clear Messiah, but He was humble. His faith in God manifested itself so that every action He performed and every word He spoke was out of love and a pure heart. What was on the inside showed itself to be true and life-giving by the form it took on the outside.
Jesus' idea of being on a throne was to wash the feet of the ones who could never reach it. His idea of being pampered was to eat with tax collectors and sinners. He got everything He wanted by giving up everything He had. He was stunning because the only light He radiated was not of this world. He was simple, genuine, and strangely unattractive in the eyes of the world and in regards to material things. He was bland. He was unexpected.
And He was glorious.
