In The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory, Tim Alberta writes about the divisions tearing apart American Evangelicalism. As the son of a pastor himself, Alberta uses his perspective to explore how a faith rooted in eternal principles has become entangled with political power. He traveled across the country, interviewing a variety of American Evangelicals, from prominent televangelists to local pastors, revealing a movement increasingly defined by partisan animosity and political idolatry rather than biblical teachings. Alberta argues that the rise of Christian nationalism has not only tarnished the church's reputation, but also accelerated its decline, leaving many believers disillusioned and forcing a reckoning with its core purpose.
Our group discussed how politics in our country and the Evangelical Church have been increasingly meshed together. There no longer seems to be a separation of Church and State. It’s believed that government leaders are chosen by God. In Russia, Putin uses the Russian Orthodox Church in much the same way to stay in power. Project 2025 policies were defined by Christian Nationalist and religiously conservative ideals.
In every chapter, Alberta travels to a different city and then uses the last quarter of the book to pull it all together. The Evangelical Church leadership doesn’t support people who don’t share the Church’s definition of Christian values. They demonize groups of people who are different from themselves. Jimmy Carter left the church because women were treated as lesser than the men. Rick Warren was kicked out because he let a woman preach. Members are no longer allowed to have empathy for LGBTQ people. Tim Alberta himself is very religious and is concerned that Evangelicals are self-destructive. The group felt that if we label people we’re all losing. The only thing that overcomes hate is love.
Our next meeting is October 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Highland Park Library . We’ll discuss the book Dodge County Inc.: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America. We’re even expecting the author, Sonja Trom Eayrs, to join us.
