In Kingdom Citizen: Your Role in Rebuilding a Broken Nation, Tony Evans presents a compelling case for renewed emphasis on the relationship of God in culture. Moreover, he shows how, in our misguided pursuit of buildings and turnkey programs, we have forgotten a call to disciple believers and remember God as utmost in our lives. I was provided a review copy of the book and am sharing my observations and thoughts in this post. Kingdom Citizens is a quick read, drawing on scripture using the Message translation to help readers connect with topical content. Because of its brevity, the appendix content is nearly as robust as the narrative. It includes a “Three-Part Plan for National Cultural Transformation, which encourages the church to get serious about transformation and move its emphasis on membership to one of discipleship. It’s a framework that all churches can apply to “work together on common goals that benefit their communities.” The second appendix includes several “Prayers for America,” which contains prayers penned by the likes of Joni Eareckson Tada, Gary D. Chapman, Anne Graham Lotz, Jim Daly, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., and Dr. Tony Evans. The third appendix contains 4-6 questions about each chapter to help the readers better ponder the ideas presented. Finally, the fourth appendix is “The Urban Alternative,” a compendium of observations for inspiring us to a new level of action for broadcast media, leadership training, community impact, and resource development.

Relationship of God in Culture

In short, the narrative of Kingdom Citizens is about a relationship of God in culture. As Evans says, “we must understand the relationship of God to His own people within that culture as His kingdom representatives - His kingdom citizens.” And, for us to represent and act as citizens of the kingdom, we must apply the principles of heaven to the concerns of our culture. Why does it matter? For starters, it’s the only way in which our broken nation can be restored. Because culture has departed from God, as with any culture where this happens, our sociology is deteriorating. With our absence of God in culture, we’re lacking a Godly worldview. Said simply, we may be kingdom minded, but our minds are not of God’s kingdom.

A Kingdom Without a King

Among the things Evans teaches in Kingdom Citizens, is a model of futility that existed in ancient Israel. It’s a model that we, in the United States, are tragically repeating. As Evans shares, three things were largely missing in Israel and they are largely missing in our culture today. Those things are are 1.) the true God, 2.) the teaching priests, and 3.) God's law/principles. Like the Israelites, we’re pursuing a convenient God that we control. Our preference is for God be okay our plans instead of us fulfilling His plans. Evidence of this futile model is further provided in Evans oft-mentioning of the book of Nehemiah, which he says is “about a community gone bad.” Why is this a problem? First, if “preachers and teachers no longer teach truth in love, there is no standard of rightness anymore.” Without standards, we further distance ourselves from God. With that increased distance, we keep him from taking on the control center of our world. “Thus, unrighteousness will rule and wreak havoc.” The answers, Evans urges, are found in ourselves and how we frame our hearts in serving God. “You and I cannot be responsible for everyone else,” he says, “but we are responsible for ourselves as well as the people we can influence.”

Settling for Buildings and Programs

The church universal is settling for programs and mega complexes instead of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. It’s resulting in prioritization of capitalistic approaches and a deterioration of basic human understanding. “As believers, our lack of understanding and empathy for people and their problems in our nation has much to do with the pulpit’s failure to make Jesus’ example the centerpiece for all we are. Rather than grab basins and towels, we’ve built buildings and brands. Rather than promote humility and compassion, we’ve made platforms and honored pride.” It’s interesting that Jesus (and the Bible in total) say very little about a “church” building, yet “instead of seeking to promote the kingdom, we have focused on planting churches.” And in those churches, we have pursued the goals of membership and growth at the expense of discipleship. Today, we have more churches than ever before. And those churches are larger than ever before. Sadly, though, there is less of “God's presence, power, and authority than ever before.” Evans points out that, “this failing to clearly demonstrate the solutions of the Kingdom for the critical issues of our day.” Blame then gets placed on programs rather than people. Further, we fail to realize we’re creating these broken systems. It’s time we recognize and remember that the church was not established for making us “feel good.” No, it came as a means for prevailing against the gates of Hell. How do do that? “Through developing kingdom disciples.”

A Kingdom Agenda for God in Culture

“I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. I couldn’t find anyone. Not one. So I’ll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they’ve done. Decree of God, the Master.” - Ezekiel 22:30 MSG

By drawing on Jeremiah 5:1 & Ezekiel 22:30, Evans shows that, in his words, “God’s problem never relates to systems. God’s problem always relates to people,,, God searched for a servant, not a system. He looked for a person, not a program.” The main theme throughout scripture is the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom. We are to be the “visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of our lives.” That’s discipleship.

Less Surface. More Substance.

It begins with love in the form of social action. It isn’t some special event or food drive. No. “Love is foundational to fulfilling the purpose of the church as intimated by the heart of God. It is a result of god’s people becoming one through being what God has called us to be, and participating in what He has called us to do - reflect His light through love.” As Evans says, it’s sorely missing in our country. Moreover, “the devil is winning much in our society and culture today because God’s kingdom citizens are not functioning in concert with the covenant… not seeing God come through for us as a culture because, by and large, we have forgotten and neglected the terms of His covenants.” To be one nation under God, we have to first be one church under God. As, Evans contends, “God is calling his church back to Himself to be what he created us to be and no longer to be some anomaly of religion in our culture.” To do so, we’ve got to align ourselves under his covenantal rule. God has got be our lifestyle. Our mind-set and our very heartbeat itself.

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