There are “two great truths of the Kingdom of God,” best-selling author and Duck Dynasty TV personality Phil Robertson told The Stream. “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor.” Phil questions how the world would look if all those who are rioting, looting, and tearing down statues were filled with the Holy Spirit because of their faith in Jesus.  And if “they were representing the Kingdom of God on planet earth. Just think about what [a] difference that would make.”

In Phil’s new book Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America, he writes about how Christians can bring the Kingdom of God on earth right now, and what is needed to make that happen. The first thing to realize is that those on the other side of the current cultural crisis are not the enemy. “We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the powers of this dark world, the spiritual forces of evil. …So, there’s a spiritual war going on.” The book is about approaching life through a spiritual lens.

A Spiritual War

It’s a “spiritual fix” to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, Phil said. “Our warfare is not with guns, and we don’t use the weapons of the world. We appeal to people’s consciences. We preach the Gospel to them, and the ones who say ‘Yes,’ and bow their knee to Jesus the King — He and He only — those are the members of the Kingdom.”

The world doesn’t see the spiritual war, he said. “The reason they don’t see it is that the evil one has taken control of them. And there’s only one thing that will get them out from under it. That’s their faith in the Gospel of Jesus and their obedience to the Gospel. Then they would see [it] clearly. It’s a spiritual war going on. It’s right in front of them but they don’t realize it. So we go out and preach the message to the ones that will obey it.”

A Spiritual Solution

If we’re going to win the spiritual battle we need a spiritual solution, says Phil. “As people of the King, we need a strategy for bringing that spiritual solution ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ …We need a kingdom manifesto.” In Jesus Politics, Phil outlines what America must do, one topic at a time, from religious freedom to guns and sharing the Gospel. This is what he calls “Jesus politics.” We must align our politics with Jesus, not a particular political party. “Don’t buy the lie that one side has it all together. Instead, pay attention to individual politicians and platforms.”

One example of Jesus politics in action is his take on religious freedom. “We must rebuild the foundation of this country, returning to the Word of God and protecting the religious liberty of the citizens of the Kingdom.” How? By voting “for leaders who will promote religious liberty, protect our rights to practice Christianity in every public square, and live lives aligned with Jesus politics.”

Jesus Politics — What It’s All About

But it’s more than just voting, although that is important. Jesus politics is about “loving the King so much that you’d go out of your way to share that love with your neighbors … recognizing the work of Jesus all around you and about acting on that truth. Jesus politics is about serving the King, protecting the King, and offering the love of the King to the world.” He adds, “Ultimately, Jesus politics is about loving God, loving our neighbors, and doing whatever it takes to bring, maintain, and protect his kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America releases on August 4. 

Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.