There is also a powerful prayer and discussion questions at the end of every chapter. This was a very eye opening and thought provoking read. As the author mentioned throughout the book, the commandments were given to the Israelites as a way to steer them away from empire, live in community, rest, and respect creation. The way of empire is to work more, buy more, and consume more. The way of empire is allegiance to oppression, injustice, conformity, and compliance. The way of empire is the way of selfishness, greed, possession, power, and authority. The seduction of empire is a call away from Christ centered living. The point of the book is that bigger, richer, and better is not necessarily the Christian way but the way of empire. The author also uses modern day examples of mega churches with enormous budgets which have become empires all to themselves. There are also examples of the Israelites’ hunger and thirst for empire as outlined in the book of 1st and 2nd Kings. Some of these examples include God’s call to Abraham, The Exodus from Egypt, The birth of Jesus and his practice of non-military civil disobedience. There are some excellent biblical examples in the book about how God’s relationship with the Israelites and the first century Christians was a call to defy empire. It’s so easy to give in and follow the ways of empire and mammon.īy empire, the author doesn’t only point to military dominance but moreover the materialism, consumerism, and injustices that plague our world which people are drawn to. I personally feel this book should be taught in seminaries and bible classes everywhere.
This is a very powerful book about how church members and congregations should see the bible as a personal, historical, and communal guide to challenging the abuses of empire. By empire, the author doesn’t only point to military dominance but moreover the materialism, consumerism, and injustices that plague our world which people are drawn to. It’s so easy to give in and follow the ways of empire and mammon.
Richard Rohr, Author and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (New Mexico, USA) In fact, without this wisdom and frame, the Bible has often ended up being a tool of oppression instead of a gift for liberation.”
“For those who still live in ‘empire’, a book like this is extremely helpful and important. Taking us on a journey through scripture, he draws together familiar texts (and some unpopular passages) to demonstrate that the Old and New Testaments coalesce around two central themes: personal spirituality and social justice.įollowing God’s call to Abraham and Jesus’ call to his disciples, we are called to a higher truth-the Kingdom of God-whose equality, peace and love seems foolish to the world, including, sadly, many Christians. In this book, Graham Turner confronts many of our comforting assumptions about the story of God’s people. This is how the world in which we live dominates and oppresses so many people, venerating the gods of retail, economics and culture. Ann Morisy, Community Theologian and AuthorĪs human beings we are continually seduced by the thought of appearing more impressive and successful in the eyes of those around us. Allow your faith to be energised and made passionate by reflecting on the insights that are brought to you in this book.” “An accessible, radical and rare example of the aliveness and relevance of both the Old and New Testaments. Allow your faith to be energised and made passionate by reflecting on the insights that are brought to you in this book.” - Ann Morisy, Community Theologian and Author As human beings we are contin Foreword by Michael Woolcock (World Bank Lecturer at Harvard University) Foreword by Michael Woolcock (World Bank Lecturer at Harvard University) “An accessible, radical and rare example of the aliveness and relevance of both the Old and New Testaments.
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