Kingdom Come: How Jesus Wants to Change the World

by Allen Mitsuo Wakabayashi

God is up to something! And his plans are far greater than you might imagine. Christianity is not merely about isolated individuals going to heaven. It's about God transforming the entire world and making things right. Sicknesses will be healed, sins will be forgiven, injustice will be eradicated, and all creation will be redeemed. But this is not merely a distant future. It's happening now through what Jesus came to establish--the kingdom of God. Allen Wakabayashi reawakens you to the world-changing reality of the kingdom of God. With clear, biblical insight, he unpacks what Jesus proclaimed about the good news of the kingdom and spells out the implications for you today. Focusing on the kingdom of God will revolutionize how you live out your faith, how you think about your world and how you explain the good news about Jesus. Ultimately, understanding yourself as a citizen of the kingdom will empower you to be one of God's change agents in the world. God is at work to restore everything to be the way he intended it to be, and you can be a part of what he is doing! Get a glimpse of the kingdom coming, and experience his will being done--on earth as it is in heaven.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Cultural, Faith

179 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2003

Reviews

[James Housworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really really liked the first half of the book. I’ve always felt pretty confused about the idea of “The Kingdom of God” in Jesus’ teachings. Was it supposed to arrive when he started his ministry? Is it supposed to arrive when he returns? If it’s a little of both, does that mean anything has meaningfully changed on earth at all?

The author does a great job of making this all really clear. The analogy I found most helpful was comparing Christ’s death and resurrection to D-Day: When the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy and won that decisive battle, that was essentially the end of the war against Germany. The decisive victory had been won. However, the Nazis weren’t totally, completely defeated until V-E day. Jesus’ death and resurrection was like D-Day, not V-E Day - it was the decisive victory in the war, and total victory is imminent. That gives us power and hope in our lives in the here and now, despite still experiencing pain, suffering, and doubt until the war is completely over.

Anyway, that was helpful for me. He also was quite honest about how difficult and confusing his life was at the time (his wife was going through a years-long unexpected mental health crisis), which made his message hit home a lot more closely for me. There were some beautiful sections in there about holding onto hope amidst darkness and confusion.

It lost some stars for me in the second half. It seemed like his most groundbreaking thoughts and personal struggles were in the first half, and the second half felt a bit more shallow and obvious. But overall, I still really learned a lot and feel thankful that I stumbled across this book at this moment in my life.

[Stacia Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good overview in kingdom of God theology and thinking. It was a great primer for people who are new to Kingdom if God theology and the nuances it brings to salvation, mission, community, the gospel. I especially loved his parts on individualism vs community in the Kingdom of God. Nothing life changing but a great first read if you are starting into Kingdom theology.

[Alli Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I would hesitate to say this book was life-changing, it was an excellent and quick read, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a boost of inspiration to go all-in in working with the Kingdom of God.

[Bastian G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book starts a very good introduction to Christian thought on the subject of the Kingdom of God and the Church’s role in the world which could be helpful for people with little or no experience of the Christian faith. But for anyone with even a basic understanding of Christian doctrine the book is tedious and at times condescending.

Wakabayashi frequently delves into the same subject multiple times, doing so more deeply and for longer than is valuable. His attempts at humor are half-hearted if not disingenuous while his supposedly profound questions appear to be irritatingly sincere

This is before Wakabayashi even shows his hand; he soon reveals that his desire is to renew the world through religious systematic reform, educational and media control and mindset alterations that Christians ought to use to help integrate the Kingdom.

Somehow this author manages to be regressive on both sides of the political spectrum advocating both for a theocratic police state and a Marxist shame culture that blames society’s problems on invisible or nonexistent systems.

[emmalord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with community group this semester !! (Alli, Alex, Gen, Caroline, Kaitlyn, & Maya)

A really good new perspective on the Kingdom of God and what that looks like in the present age.
Some noteworthy themes/quotes:

“In academics, every subject is somehow connected to the divine Author and Creator who made it all possible.” (40)

Christ bringing the end of the Old Age and the beginning of the Age to Come
- we sit in anticipation and waiting for the full restoration of the Kingdom of God
- In the meantime, we get small glimpses of what the Kingdom will look like —> GIFTS !! from our Heavenly Father
“Jesus’ work on the cross was like the D-Day victory in the war against Satan, sin, and death. It secured the victory” (59)

“We do not experience the completeness of our victory and redemption…at least not yet” (60)
- We look at really good things in our lives and think that is a complete gift and glimpse of the Lord, but it is still to be fulfilled even MORE- that is not the full extent (This is crazy to me!!)
The simplicity of spreading “the fragrance of God’s kingdom” (84-85)

Kingdom Perspective

Jesus voluntarily gave us his position as the Son of God, to make himself human and then die on a cross, letting go of the rights, privileges, and power He deserved so that we might live.

[Jonathan Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a good job of reminding the reader that the kingdom of God is much bigger than just one aspect of redemption. It helps a believer realize that their position here on Earth during the already not yet times is not monochromatic such as be a good church goer or get personal salvation and then wait for the Kingdom to Come. The only complaint I have was to make this point about the multi-faceted mission of God's Kingdom he attacked evangelism with harsher words than were necessary. It could make a reader think that he doesn't consider evangelism as important as broken systems changing or the poor being helped or the homeless being fed and clothed and I don't think he means that due to the rest of his book, but his language is a little too harsh for a cursory reader to gather his fullest intent.

[B Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

- "The Old Testament looked forward to the coming of the kingdom as a creation-wide intervention where God would come and make right all that had gone wrong."
- "The pain is a prelude to glory."
- while proclaiming that people matter to God, we can't neglect the systems that often enslave and oppress them... "systems do matter"
- "Inherent in a message about a king come to reign is the idea that those who come to this king must choose whether to serve him."
- "To have faith in this God is thus to be embraced by such love; to pass such love on to others is the only proof of having received it."
- "Not only was death overcome, but the cross, the very place of pain and agony, was the vehicle by which God's victory was won."

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most would agree that somethings not right with us and our world. I have been exposed over recent years to The idea of “now, but not yet” in terms of the kingdom of God.

This book was helpful and Encourages a balance between personal evangelism and working for peace, justice and reconciliation in The kingdom of God as it exists today!

The world is watching us

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a helpful and easy-to-read book. The ideas weren’t new to me which is why I maybe wouldn’t read it again. But I’d recommend it. Maybe most for college students? Talks about how the Kingdom of God is wholistic. It’s more for the American church.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful for understanding the Kingdom of God and a more expansive view of the gospel.

[Nancy Kendall]

(no audio)

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book flowed well and was a pretty easy read. I'm now fascinated by this kingdom theology that he discusses throughout the book. Although there are many different topics discussed throughout the book, they all all tied together by the fact that they are discussed in light of the kingdom of God and how many common Christian mindsets don't really take into account this facet of our spiritual lives. Between the now-but-not-yet idea of the two ages, a new way of thinking about mission and evangelism, a more holistic perspective on the gospel, and a few new perspectives on the purpose of the church, I found that looking at these things through a kingdom perspective addressed a lot of the small uncomfortabilites that I had with these things when looking at them through the common, prevailing Christian perspectives of today. It also justified a lot of the way that I have learned to look at things during the past few years that existed with an incomplete understanding before. So many things make more sense after reading this book.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this book by Allen Mitsuo Wakabayashi, and it's fantastic. The grandmother I forced to adopt me when I arrived in Urbana suggested it. It's written by a Chicago-area staff worker with InterVarsity and he has an excellent message and interesting approach. So far, the main point has been that modern-day Christians "limit" the gospel message to "get a personal relationship with Jesus to save yourself from hell." He claims that Jesus' followers in the first century were not proclaiming that message! They were proclaiming that God's Kingdom has already come, continues to come, and will finally come. Instead of a one-by-one mentality of the gospel, he seems to advocate for kingdom change here on earth in larger chunks as well as one-by-one, to be completed when Jesus returns. His portrayal of the gospel is authentic to the New Testament and very useful for a Westerner like myself!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

because it was a tamer version of irresistable revolution which i had already read 2 years ago, i don't think it was amazingly influential in my life the way that it was in the lives of those that recommended this book to me (wayne). that being said, one thing that i did come away with a better understanding of is how christianity is not just an individualistic pursuit. also, i'm still a little skeptical of wakabayashi's school of thought that seems to be pushing that social justice >>> gospel even though that is more 'appealing' to me as well.

also, my church's stance: http://www.typepad.com/services/track...

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book exploring the kingdom of God as brought forth through the ministry of Jesus, which Jesus' followers are to continue to advance through their lives in the world today. The book focuses overwhelmingly on the kingdom as a present, "already" reality that is not yet fully realized. Nothing wrong with that, as long as the author and readers alike don't limit their view of Jesus' kingdom to this and forget about or ignore the kingdom that is yet to come when Jesus physically and bodily reigns over the nations of the earth together with the saints.

[Mcarter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book. I just discovered it yesterday and finished it today. It really captures the essence of our theme for this coming Chapel year. I haven't wrote my review yet, but check my website in a couple of days for the complete version.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to Kingdom theology. Well worth the read. This book completely shifted my understanding of Christian faith. This would go on my top five list of books that influenced my faith.

[tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply fab.

[Paula Frances Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most inspirational books and it's practical!!

[Mark Kaech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book on the Kingdom of God and what it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great explanation of kingdom theology with an excellent chapter on evangelism in the 21st century

[Adam Koenig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read, but you have to consider the audience. For a college student it's pretty good, but as a seminary student it's pretty simple.

[Amber Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars