Popularized end-times teachings present a theology of pessimism and destruction that is at odds with historic Christianity. This distorted eschatology, which permeates much of American evangelicalism, considers the work for peace and justice to be irrelevant and outside the sphere of concern for Christians. In order to reclaim the passion for social justice that once characterized evangelicalism, we must redefine, reclaim and recapture the "kingdom of heaven." The kingdom of heaven-seen not as a future kingdom, but as the present/future kingdom-is the starting point for establishing an eschatology of hope that empowers the church for ministry to our world. To make this paradigm shift, which is theological and hermeneutical in nature, the preacher does not try to dismantle a belief system. Rather, he or she offers an alternative narrative, inviting people into an ongoing dialogue that takes place in the shared life of the congregation. It is possible to work as a theological change agent while maintaining or even enhancing the unity of the congregation. The shared journey toward hope empowers ministry and brings joy to kingdom work.
