The Tangible Kingdom Movement is a Christian movement that emphasizes living out the principles of God’s kingdom in practical, tangible ways in the here and now. The movement has its roots in the teachings of Dallas Willard, NT Wright, and other theologians who have advocated for a more embodied faith that transforms individuals and culture.
At the heart of the Tangible Kingdom Movement is the belief that God’s kingdom is not just a future hope, but a present reality that followers of Jesus are called to make concrete in the world. This stands in contrast to versions of Christianity that are focused primarily on the afterlife and view this world as disconnected from eternal spiritual realities.
Those involved in the Tangible Kingdom Movement believe that when Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God 2000 years ago, he unleashed a new social, political, economic, and spiritual reality that will one day fill the entire earth. In the meantime, they see the church’s mission as spreading this kingdom by living out its values–values like justice, beauty, healing, reconciliation, generosity, and equality.
So rather than waiting for God’s kingdom to arrive in some future apocalyptic event, Tangible Kingdom Christians actively work to transform culture in the here and now by applying kingdom principles. This plays out in a variety of practical ways:
- Pursuing justice by caring for the poor and marginalized
- Promoting reconciliation between divided groups and people
- Establishing church communities that operate as new kingdom societies
- Using arts, media, and creativity to make the world better reflect God’s beauty and truth
- Starting businesses for social innovation and cultural renewal rather than just financial profit
- Engaging government, education, and other spheres with an eye toward structural change
- Generously sharing resources like time, money, and abilities for the common good
Tangible Kingdom practitioners point to Jesus’ life and teachings as their model for this engaged way of life. When Jesus walked the earth, he gave his followers glimpses of what God’s reign looked like through tangible acts like healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and befriending the outcasts of society. The way he lived was an embodiment of the kingdom come to earth. Similarly, his parables often focused on practical aspects of kingdom living, like serving one’s neighbor, seeking justice, celebrating community, and cultivating shalom.
Modern Tangible Kingdom Christians aim to carry on Jesus’ kingdom-centered way of life in their own context. This leads them to start nonprofits that address local needs, leverage their vocations for greater cultural influence, participate in civic affairs, support artists and social entrepreneurs, care for their neighborhoods, and generally seek the prosperity of their cities.
Leaders associated with the Tangible Kingdom Movement include:
- Dallas Willard – Author of The Divine Conspiracy who advocated for making spiritual disciplines more practical and focused discipleship training on doing God’s will on earth now.
- NT Wright – New Testament scholar who has written extensively on the idea of inaugurated eschatology, meaning Jesus launched God’s kingdom at his first coming before it will be fulfilled at his second.
- Scot McKnight – Author and theologian who coined the phrase “kingdom vision” to describe living all of life under God’s reign.
- Greg Boyd – Pastor and theologian whose books like The Myth of a Christian Nation distinguish between worldly kingdoms and God’s kingdom.
- Shane Claiborne – A leader in the New Monasticism movement which seeks to build new forms of kingdom-focused Christian community.
- Andy Crouch – Author of Culture Making who has written extensively on creating culture that reflects God’s kingdom.
There is diversity within the Tangible Kingdom Movement, with some focusing more on inner spiritual formation and others emphasizing structural change. But in general, they share a desire to make God’s kingdom real and visible in the world through active engagement. This sets them apart from stances that see the kingdom as only a future reality or as limited to personal morality.
Critics of the Tangible Kingdom Movement sometimes accuse it of over-realized eschatology – making it sound like God’s kingdom has fully arrived before Christ returns. Advocates respond that they are simply taking Jesus’ mandate to seek first God’s kingdom seriously in the incomplete form it takes prior to the new heavens and new earth. They acknowledge that full kingdom reality awaits consummation at the Second Coming.
There are also questions about what exactly constitutes kingdom values and practice. Christians from across the theological spectrum likely agree that Jesus’ kingdom encompassed notions of justice, beauty, and shalom. But applying those broad principles to complex social issues today often surfaces disagreement.
Additionally, some Christians take issue with language like “building” or “spreading” the kingdom, believing those activities imply humanity establishing something God alone can bring to fruition. Advocates counter that the Bible consistently calls Christians to an active role as kingdom citizens carrying out the King’s will, while fully acknowledging that true progress ultimately depends on God’s sovereign power.
Despite such concerns, the Tangible Kingdom Movement continues to gain influence, especially among younger evangelicals disillusioned with over-spiritualized Christianity. It provides a framework for engaging every sphere of life with the comprehensive vision Jesus modeled – seeking justice, beauty, healing, community, and prosperity for all people everywhere God’s reign increases.
The Tangible Kingdom Movement still represents a minority voice in the broader Christian landscape. But its emphasis on embodied practice versus just theory provides a provocative prompt for Christians of all stripes to consider what living Christ’s kingdom to the full might look like in their own place and time.
