Maintaining the holiness of God’s kingdom is not merely an aspirational goal. It is a sacred mandate. This mandate is entrusted to kingdom disciples. This holiness reflects the character and love of Christ. It stands in direct opposition to the dark patterns of the world. Preserving the sanctity of the kingdom means rejecting the ways of worldly kingdoms. This includes distorted versions of Christianity that have compromised the gospel’s life-changing power. It is a call to embody the radical, Calvary-like love that Jesus demonstrated. This is a love that refuses to conform to worldly ambitions of power, self-preservation, or dominance.
Matthew 6:9 is the opening verse of the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible, where Jesus instructs his followers on how to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (NIV). This verse sets the tone for prayer as a personal yet communal address to God, emphasizing reverence for His holiness and acknowledging His heavenly authority.
Key Aspects of Matthew 6:9
- The Context: Jesus speaks this as part of the Sermon on the Mount, specifically teaching how to pray properly, avoiding the performative, long-winded prayers of hypocrites.
- “Our Father”: Highlights a relationship with God as a loving, personal, yet divine parent
. It is plural (“Our”), stressing community.
- “In Heaven”: Indicates God’s sovereignty, majesty, and transcendence above earthly matters.
- “Hallowed Be Your Name”: This petition requests that God’s name be treated as holy, revered, and set apart, acknowledging Him as the most valuable and sacred authority.
- Usage in Worship: This verse serves as the foundation for the Lord’s Prayer, widely used in Christian liturgy, daily prayer, and as a model for structured, sincere communication with God.
The full passage, often known as the Lord’s Prayer, continues through Matthew 6:13, instructing believers to seek God’s kingdom, request daily provision, ask for forgiveness, and seek protection from evil.
Christ saw it needful to show his disciples what must commonly be the matter and method of their prayer. Not that we are tied up to the use of this only, or of this always; yet, without doubt, it is very good to use it. It has much in a little; and it is used acceptably no further than it is used with understanding, and without being needlessly repeated. The petitions are six; the first three relate more expressly to God and his honour, the last three to our own concerns, both temporal and spiritual. This prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that all other things shall be added. After the things of God’s glory, kingdom, and will, we pray for the needful supports and comforts of this present life. Every word here has a lesson in it. We ask for bread; that teaches us sobriety and temperance: and we ask only for bread; not for what we do not need. We ask for our bread; that teaches us honesty and industry: we do not ask for the bread of others, nor the bread of deceit, Pr 20:17; nor the bread of idleness, Pr 31:27, but the bread honestly gotten. We ask for our daily bread; which teaches us constantly to depend upon Divine Providence. We beg of God to give it us; not sell it us, nor lend it us, but give it. The greatest of men must be beholden to the mercy of God for their daily bread. We pray, Give it to us. This teaches us a compassion for the poor. Also that we ought to pray with our families. We pray that God would give it us this day; which teaches us to renew the desires of our souls toward God, as the wants of our bodies are renewed. As the day comes we must pray to our heavenly Father, and reckon we could as well go a day without food, as without prayer. We are taught to hate and dread sin while we hope for mercy, to distrust ourselves, to rely on the providence and grace of God to keep us from it, to be prepared to resist the tempter, and not to become tempters of others. Here is a promise, If you forgive, your heavenly Father will also forgive. We must forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. Those who desire to find mercy with God, must show mercy to their brethren. Christ came into the world as the great Peace-maker, not only to reconcile us to God, but one to another.
Repudiating the Dark Side of Church History
As kingdom disciples, we must confront the uncomfortable truths of our collective history. At times, the church has been involved in violence and oppression. It has pursued “power over” others—behaviors antithetical to the heart of the gospel. Non-Christian critics often point to these dark chapters as evidence against the credibility of the faith. While their critiques may be sharp, kingdom disciples must be equally outspoken in repudiating such histories. This is not an act of self-condemnation but one of truth-telling, humility, and repentance.
Defending a religious kingdom shaped by worldly ambitions means misunderstanding the true nature of God’s kingdom. This applies whether the kingdom is Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, or Marxist. Kingdom disciples are not called to protect flawed human constructs. Instead, they should critique these constructs boldly. This is especially true when they hinder the call to advance the kingdom of self-sacrificial love. Preserving holiness requires us to examine how we might perpetuate these harmful legacies. We need to evaluate this as individuals and communities. Then, we must actively work against them.
The Temptation to Conform
History reminds us that the temptation to conform to the world’s patterns is ever-present. Romans 12:2 warns us against this subtle pull, urging believers to remain transformed by the renewing of their minds. Yet, the forces of greed, nationalism, racism, and violent triumphalism are pervasive, infiltrating even the air we breathe. These demonic gods, as they are aptly described, seduce believers. They morph the radical gospel of Christ into a self-serving and Americanized version of the kingdom of the world.
This temptation has profound consequences. By succumbing to worldly influences, we risk desecrating the holiness of God’s kingdom. The mission of Christ demands vigilance. We must constantly be aware of how our actions, decisions, and priorities reflect the values of the cross. They might fail to reflect those values. Remaining holy requires us to continually recalibrate our hearts, aligning them with the self-giving, servant-hearted love of Christ.
The Radical Calling of Jesus
Jesus’ teachings center on preserving the holiness of the Father’s name and advancing the kingdom that manifests “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9–10). This prayer captures the core of kingdom discipleship. It is about living and acting in ways that mirror the divine love and justice of heaven here on earth. Yet history shows how easily humanity—American Christians included—can stray from this calling.
The unique holiness of the kingdom of God is not a Christianized adaptation of worldly systems. Instead, it is an choice entirely set apart from them. This distinction is paramount, and kingdom people must guard it with vigilance. The kingdom of God rejects the violence, self-centeredness, and oppression of worldly kingdoms. It offers a radical, life-changing love. This love serves as a beacon of hope to the world.
Resident Aliens: Living Behind Enemy Lines
Kingdom disciples are “resident aliens” in this world. This phrase captures our unique position. We belong to God’s holy kingdom while living midst the brokenness of worldly systems. Our mission is to embody the love and character of Christ. We are like soldiers stationed behind enemy lines, tasked with reaching a rebellious, self-centered, and violent world. This calling is not optional; it is the very essence of discipleship.
To fulfill this mission, we must resist the temptation to assimilate into the culture around us. The gods of wealth, nationalism, and triumphalism aim to distract us from our holy calling. They tempt us to exchange the radical gospel for a diluted version. This version serves our personal or cultural agendas. But as kingdom people, our allegiance lies solely with Christ. We are called to look like Jesus. We must reflect his humility, mercy, and sacrificial love. This reflection is crucial even when it defies the norms and values of the world.
Minister A Francine Green
March 2026
afrancinegreen.com 