The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

Tim Alberta’s The Kingdom, The Power and the Glory is an essential and compelling exploration of the deepening divide in modern America. Blending history, journalism, and memoir, Alberta offers a thoughtful examination of the transformation within the Evangelical Church, seen through his own experiences growing up in the faith. He charts its evolution, highlighting how the universal flaws of human nature—greed, hubris, vanity, and idolatry—have reshaped its very core. Traveling across the country, Alberta provides a window into congregations on both sides of this divide, revealing how a dangerous hunger for power has gripped many religious leaders. The unwavering allegiance to America and a relentless focus on “winning” have normalized behaviors once unimaginable within a church setting. Alberta’s narrative confronts the profound issues driving societal fragmentation. With keen insight and careful reflection, he illuminates the heart of the nation’s division, making this book both timely and deeply thought-provoking.

I'm giving this book four stars because it is well written on a timely subject, but with caveats. The author claims to be a Christian and rightly points the finger at the evangelical Trumpers who have gone mad on the subject of religion in politics. He fails, though to see his own spiritual shortcomings by describing in unnecessary detail the moral failure of pastor and politician, spells out profanity where none is needed, attends the synagogue of Satan on Sundays when he should be in a Christ-centered church (all in the name of journalism) and caters to the Roman Catholic dogma that Peter was essentially the first pope. Thoughtful pastors he interviewed admit that Trump's supporters are shallow in their understanding of scripture and lacking in spiritual discernment, convinced that we must "save America" or all is lost. The author is strong on the social gospel and is quite mistaken that the original sin of the USA was slavery. It was not. It was rebellion against a lawful king. We are now seeing that rebellious spirit again in those who view Trump as the coming Messiah. Frankly, after chapter 17, I had to force myself to finish the book. His take on the SBC is totally flawed. It is through as a faithful organization.