I Pledge Allegiance: A Believer's Guide to Kingdom Citizenship in Twenty-First-Century America

by David Crump

What does it really mean for Christians to live as faithful kingdom citizens in today’s world? Bitter partisan conflict. State-sanctioned torture. Economic injustice. Ethical corruption. Even a cursory glance over daily news headlines shows a stark contrast between the American political state and the kingdom of heaven. Where, then, does the Christian’s ultimate allegiance lie? In  I Pledge Allegiance  David Crump issues a clarion call to Jesus’s twenty-first-century disciples, stirring them up to heed God's word and live out their kingdom citizenship here on earth. Closely examining the ethical teachings of Jesus and his apostles in the New Testament and using real-world examples to illustrate the vital issues at stake, Crump challenges Christians to embrace the radical, counterintuitive, upside-down way of Jesus—a way of living and thinking that turns the world’s values on their head, smashes through stale political and cultural conventions, and welcomes God’s kingdom into the very heart of our shared society. 

262 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2018

Reviews

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well worth the read because it works out a definition of the Kingdom of God, in times when many scholars, Christians, and not can hardly agree about the import of knowing what the Kingdom of God is? Why is it important that Jesus talked of the already and not yet Kingdom of God? It is important to understand this because a Kingdom understanding Christians agree will not sow division, but peace. Not sow discord, but peace. Christians, however, want other Christians to agree with their version of events, politics, and definition of the Kingdom. This book's aim is to get at a biblical understanding of the Kingdom, not our persuasive interpretations, but Christ's understanding of it in his actions and personal behavior, not only his teachings. So often, the already Kingdom becomes mired in Christendom, nationalism, and Americana folklore. For example, Crump in his book, explains using sufficient data and evidence that people have confused Christianity with Republican ideology. Thus conservatism has clouded and mired the gospel of Christ and this is why this book is a clarion call. This is why we should see Jesus living this way of the Kingdom to others and in turn change to living this way to others, after all, it is what repentance means, this is why the book is worthwhile.
It is written well, researched well, and an ethical treatise that is built on waking the Christian to understand calling and faith is not entrenched in American allegiances and wars, but in Christ and his call to discipleship. We are to be strangers and aliens in this land [pilgrims], who herald the need for a Savior and repentance. So, we are to detach from union with the demonic force of nationalism and attach ourselves to allegiance in Christ and the Kingdom of God.

The views are Mennonite, but also Kierkegaardian insight and rebuttals forged from concern for Christians who are in a quagmire of confusion about the church, people who Christians are called to witness to who are in a quagmire of confusion about the Christian faith and church uniting to find means and ways to work together and find solutions to the problems in everyday life. This is the best witness and this is the call of Christ and marks of the Kingdom that are here already.

I read one review that indicates the author has an axe to grind. I find that remarkably wrong about this author and the book. The author is typing words of love and works of love that should get us the reader the Christian, the body moving everyday to bear our crosses as Christ calls.

There is a thorough use of Scripture in this book and it is handled well, by asking the right questions, issuing the right address and challenges all in the effort to resist stagnations and pursue growth. I give the book a four star rating because the author cannot say everything that needs to be said on ethical Christian living, but what he does say and write is thoughtful timely Kingdom truth telling that sows unity in these times of derision.

[Joelendil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book confronts a pervasive problem in Evangelical churches in America: idolizing the US and prioritizing politics (especially conservative Republican politics) above all else. David Crump calls Christians back to remembering that we are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God, called to live according to the (often counter-intuitive) example and teachings of Jesus. The New Testament does not instruct us to transform society by seizing the levers of power, but pictures us as “strangers and foreigners” in the midst of society that will only be transformed when Christ returns. In this, he has hit the nail on the head! Unfortunately, I have many serious disagreements with how he fleshes out and applies his position, finding his handling of Scripture problematic and inconsistent. For example:

- He claims that no one before Jesus has nothing to say about Christian ethics (after all, God sometimes condones violence in the OT)…but makes extensive uses of the poor/welfare laws in the Torah to support some of his social justice arguments.

- He uses some questionable cultural/grammatical arguments to radically reinterprets Romans 13:1-7 so that instead of being primarily about being law-abiding citizens (a face-value reading of the text), it becomes his platform to talk about civil disobedience.

- He interprets Jesus’ teachings on personal non-violence/non-retaliation to a blanket prohibition on serving in the military. He gives some lip service to this being a matter on which Christians disagree, but also paints military service as morally equivalent to helping film a porno or burn a cross for the KKK.

- He all but ignores faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection as the means of salvation (e.g. Ephesians 2:8-9) in favor of salvation maintained by living like Jesus, declaring that “he lived for us to exemplify the way of salvation.”

- While castigating conservative Christians for working together and trying to increase the kingdom via pragmatic politics, he repeatedly brags about being arrested at an anti-NATO rally and states, “disciples can eagerly join hands and collaborate with anyone who shares similar goals for social, cultural, and political transformation.”

…and I could go on. Overall, the basic premise of this book is something that American Christians need to hear and consider (and probably do some repentance), but there is so much cherry-picking, ax-grinding, inconsistency, and other mishandling of Scripture going on throughout the book that I’m not sure if it is worth reading.

[Nate Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. This may take a second. This book. Tttthhhhhhhiiiiisssssss book. Holy. Cow. If you’re comfortable in your faith and feel like there’s no spiritual plateau in your life, read this book. This book will force you to rethink how you live your faith out in 2018 America. There is a distinct difference between an American Christian and a Christian who happens to live in America and this book has zero problem calling out the former according to scripture when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus. As an American, you’ll have every pre-conceived notion and assumption about just how married the cross and the constitution should be (or shouldn’t be). As a Christian, you’ll have some answering and soul searching to do.

This book affirmed some areas in my faith that God has been working on in me. This book convicted me in other areas. And this book seriously, SERIOUSLY, challenged me to break apart my idea of living in two kingdoms and how, at the end of the day, I need to choose who I will serve. There are only one set of stripes by which we are truly healed. And there is only one Banner in which we are to ultimately follow. Jehovah Nissi.

Final Rating: Own it. It took me over a month to read it as it requires critical thinking and honest dialogue and digestion. So carve out some time to repent like I had to.

[Norman Falk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overall, very much in line with anabaptist theology.
But poor eschatology, too separatist, and lacking substantial cultural-mandate/kingdom connections