Translating the kingdom of God for today

Ed Stetzer is raising some important issues regarding the church and the kingdom with his Monday is for Missiology series. Some think the church and the kingdom are synonymous. Others think that they are in conflict. Actually the church is a servant to the kingdom as a sign, a foretaste, and an instrument of the kingdom. This is exciting stuff to think about as we come to understand that the kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God as a dynamic reality in this world but will not reach total fulfillment until the day when Christ returns. This is the gospel and it sounds way better than an eternal insurance policy. The kingdom of God means that God will make all things new and there will be no more war, sickness, poverty, or hatred and guess what-it starts right now and the church is commissioned to live it out. Now this concept of the kingdom is something that gets me excited and makes me want to tell everyone I meet. The issue I have right now is this: In our 21st century world there are very few kings or queens. Monarchy is dead. The whole language of “kingdom” and “king” for some sounds archaic and even threatening to progress and freedom. How do we translate this concept of kingdom of God today? Do we just keep it because it is in the Bible? What are some equivalent words or concepts from our current culture?