PDF Summary:Kingdom Come, by Johnny Enlow

In Kingdom Come, Johnny Enlow presents a new perspective on the Kingdom of God. He argues that the Kingdom is not just a future promise, but a reality that is unfolding here and now. Enlow maintains that the principles of the Kingdom, as outlined in the Beatitudes, should shape every aspect of our lives—from our personal transformation to our impact on society.

The book challenges us to become active participants in establishing the Kingdom on earth. Enlow calls believers to be "salt and light," embodying the values of the Kingdom and working towards restoration, justice, and unity in all spheres of life. While acknowledging opposition, he affirms the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom.

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Enlow underscores the importance of thoroughly understanding the core principles and directives that pertain to the Kingdom in order to successfully infuse its true nature into one's personal existence. He argues that it is insufficient to merely understand the principles of the Kingdom on an intellectual level; instead, these tenets should revolutionize our way of thinking, our emotions, and our actions.

The Beatitudes establish the foundational principles and ethical benchmarks vital to the realm of the divine.

Enlow underscores the importance of the Beatitudes in understanding the core characteristics that represent the essence of the Kingdom. He describes these essential beliefs as a pivotal document that outlines the key convictions and principles underpinning the kingdom's foundation. He emphasizes that the wisdom imparted through the words of Jesus goes beyond simple sayings or common spiritual ideas, offering deep revelations that challenge our conventional views and transform our perception of what it means to lead a fulfilling and affluent life.

The domain confers its favors on individuals who conduct themselves with modesty, mourn, demonstrate meekness, and harbor a deep desire for justice and kindness.

Enlow emphasizes that the Beatitudes highlight the fundamental values and principles intrinsic to the Kingdom. It confers advantages on individuals who recognize their lack of spiritual wealth and humbly depend on heavenly direction. The book offers comfort to those grieving the world's brokenness, acting as a balm to their spirits. It advocates for inherently compassionate individuals who challenge the worldwide pursuit of dominance and authority. The realm is structured to completely fulfill the desires of those who passionately pursue fairness and honesty.

In the realm, the genuineness of an individual's motives takes precedence over simple conformity to regulations.

Enlow argues that the true nature of the Kingdom lies in a profound internal transformation and a genuine commitment to aligning one's existence with elevated spiritual goals, as opposed to strict compliance with outward regulations and directives. He underscores the importance of maintaining an untainted spirit, a lesson imparted by Jesus, crucial for a deep encounter with the divine.

We should strive to embed the principles of divine law deep within our hearts, instead of just showing superficial adherence.

The inner change manifests as a profound love and eagerness to satisfy God, influencing actions not from duty or dread of retribution, but from genuine affection and the wish to delight Him. Our affection for Him inherently expresses itself as His commandments take root within us, shaping our actions, mindset, and interactions with others. The emphasis on significant personal growth challenges the idea that faith was merely about following ritualistic acts instead of nurturing a true commitment to align with a greater spiritual purpose.

We are called to act as envoys for harmony and rejuvenation.

Enlow underscores the responsibility of individuals committed to the Kingdom's tenets to act as envoys fostering harmony and mending divisions. This calling challenges our human inclination to be self-serving, competitive, and engage in conflict. He emphasizes the Kingdom's steadfast commitment to nurturing unity, togetherness, and wholeness throughout every facet of life, affecting both personal lives and community collectives.

Our calling involves mending the bond between the Divine and humankind.

This mandate for peace requires active engagement in the pursuit of harmonious resolution, not merely avoiding conflict or taking a passive approach to pacifism. This involves promoting healing, bridging divides, and nurturing understanding between parties engaged in discord. It necessitates an attitude of humility and compassion that prioritizes the cultivation of unity and healing amidst conflict. The call extends beyond individual engagements and includes addressing wider social issues like injustice, disparity, and divisions within society.

Other Perspectives

• The emphasis on internal transformation over adherence to regulations may overlook the importance of structure and discipline that regulations can provide in guiding ethical and moral behavior.
• The focus on the Beatitudes as foundational may be seen as limiting if one considers the breadth and diversity of spiritual and moral teachings across various cultures and religions.
• The idea that the divine realm confers favors based on certain attitudes or behaviors could be interpreted as a form of spiritual meritocracy, which may conflict with beliefs about unconditional divine love and grace.
• The notion of embedding divine law within our hearts assumes a specific religious framework that may not resonate with individuals of different faiths or those who are non-religious.
• The call to act as envoys for harmony and rejuvenation, while noble, may sometimes conflict with the need to confront and challenge unjust systems and practices, which can involve conflict and disruption.
• The concept of mending the bond between the Divine and humankind presupposes a particular theological view that may not align with non-theistic or differently theistic worldviews.

Progress and empowerment within the domain of the divine sovereignty.

Enlow underscores the crucial role that believers play in advancing and nurturing the domain of the divine. He encourages active participation in the expansion of the Kingdom, moving beyond simply watching or engaging in abstract discussions of theology.

Christians are called to be caretakers and bearers of light for the world.

Enlow underscores our duty to extend the influence of the Kingdom worldwide, comparing it to assuming the mantle of "salt and light." He underscores the dual role of salt during the time of Jesus, not only preserving food but also enhancing its flavor, highlighting our responsibility to protect the valuable elements of life and to contribute meaningfully to our surroundings. He goes on to explain that just as light dispels darkness, it represents our responsibility to uncover and defeat evil through embodying the truth and kindness of the divine.

We have a duty to protect and rejuvenate the often overlooked parts of our community by infusing every facet of our cultural existence with the values inherent to the Kingdom.

The essence of being 'salt and light' is to embody the core values of the Kingdom while exerting a significant impact across all societal sectors. It is our duty to cast rays of sacred light into the shadowed recesses, exposing areas of inequality, dishonesty, and malfeasance. Enlow elucidates our duty to safeguard the virtues of truth, goodness, and beauty, while also participating actively in the mending and rejuvenation of societal fractures. This entails living a life filled with divine love, upholding moral values, and delivering truth and fairness to the marginalized and oppressed.

The advancement of the Kingdom is subtle, similar to the action of yeast, which brings transformation throughout the various structures of society.

Enlow illustrates how the Kingdom expands and permeates naturally, similar to the manner in which yeast transforms and permeates dough. We aim to infuse all societal facets with values and principles that resonate with a heavenly blueprint, thereby initiating a subtle yet significant transformation in alignment with the intended celestial pattern. This method is kind and inviting, providing the chance for the profound impact of the sacred to transform our individual existence, guide our interactions with those around us, and affect the frameworks of our society.

Christians have the responsibility to make the influence of the Kingdom apparent in every sphere of society.

Our proactive involvement in disseminating the principles of the Kingdom throughout our families, workplaces, communities, and countries drives its progress forward. He argues that it is our duty to steer whole nations by permeating all societal facets with the divine's principles and truths. We must take an active role in interacting with our environment, working in partnership with the Divine to disseminate His illumination and benevolence throughout every realm of impact.

The Kingdom is fated to triumph in the face of opposition from malevolent forces.

Enlow acknowledges that the Kingdom will persistently face challenges from malicious forces intent on impeding its advancement. He understands the continuous conflict between celestial powers and terrestrial governments. Nevertheless, he emphasizes the assured triumph of the celestial domain, affirming the scriptural promise that the divine plan will prevail and His kingdom will be fully actualized.

Expanding the domain's reach might face resistance and hostility, but the rewards of this progression are significant.

Our determination to expand the realm of righteousness should become firmer, not weaker, when we encounter resistance, as it should intensify our commitment and ignite our zeal for equity and fairness. He underscores the certainty of encountering challenges and hardships, yet assures that unwavering commitment to the Sovereign and His domain guarantees immense rewards. He inspires us to continue our efforts to build the heavenly kingdom, ensuring that our actions greatly contribute to the full establishment of divine rule across the Earth.

Other Perspectives

• The role of believers in advancing the divine domain may be seen as subjective and not universally accepted across different faiths or by non-believers.
• The concept of Christians being "caretakers and bearers of light" may not acknowledge the potential for positive moral and ethical contributions from individuals of other faiths or secular worldviews.
• The duty to protect and rejuvenate the community with Kingdom values assumes that these values are universally applicable or superior to other value systems, which may not be agreed upon by all.
• The comparison of the Kingdom's advancement to yeast suggests a uniform and inevitable spread, which may not account for the complex and diverse nature of societal change.
• The idea that Christians must make the influence of the Kingdom apparent in every sphere of society could be seen as disregarding the importance of a pluralistic society that values diverse perspectives.
• The assertion that the Kingdom is fated to triumph over malevolent forces may not resonate with those who view history and societal development as more cyclical or non-linear, without predetermined outcomes.
• The notion that expanding the domain's reach will face resistance but is ultimately rewarding may not consider the ethical implications of imposing one's beliefs on others who may not share the same convictions.