Product Review

The kingdom of God was the prevalent theme of Jesus’ teaching and that of the apostles. And yet, it is not the prevalent theme of American Christianity. For many Christians, it is not even a strong concept. Why is that? And what are the implications of this conceptual deficiency? Wayne Barrett’s book is a call for renewal of kingdom thinking and kingdom living among Christ’s people—particularly those in America. He advocates for Christian living that is informed by a worldview of two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Topics include: What is the kingdom of God? Who is in it and who is excluded? How should the kingdom of God advance, and what does that advancement look like? How does a Christian discover his or her role in God’s kingdom? Barrett also discusses how a Christian’s own “script,” relating to how one should live or even relating to one’s church involvement, can prevent him or her from functioning as a kingdom citizen. The book is both a challenge and an appeal to American Christians to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.