Overview

We love ragtag rebels who defeat the empire in films we watch and books we read. But living in centers of the world's wealth and power, do we recognize that we are participants in today's version of empire? Most of the Bible is written for and by people under threat or under the thumb of a variety of empires. The question faced by the children of Israel and the early followers of Jesus was how to live for the kingdom of God while powerful empires demanded full obedience. Does living with affluence and influence change the way we read and understand that story? Are we likely to miss the way the Bible critiques our use of wealth, weapons, and walls? What do Abraham, Moses, and Daniel teach us about living in the heart of the empire and reaching for something better? What can Paul teach us about using the resources of the empire to spread the message that Jesus is Lord, not Caesar? What do the birth and death of Jesus teach us about how God is redeeming the world of empires? Is our citizenship in the empire a temptation, or an opportunity?

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9781666716283

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Reviews

Kingdom and Empire confronts us with the stunning reality that Christians in the West are enculturated into the ways of a dominant empire. This book thoughtfully explores the tension between living as God's kingdom people whilst embedded in a society that first seeks to perpetuate its own power and affluence. Let this be a wake-up call for churches to reimagine how truly embracing the values of the kingdom can transform lives, communities, and our world. --Jennifer Lau, Executive Director, Canadian Baptist Ministries Many voices today talk about 'empire, ' but far too often they read as if they come from and are written for those in an ivory, academic tower. Kingdom and Empire is a welcome exception. Tempelmeyer combines biblical fidelity, pastoral sensitivity, and keen cultural and theological insight wrapped in the elegance of an artist. This is a book we in the world's wealthiest nations desperately need. Read it. Apply it. Have your heart, mind, and life changed. --Jeff Crosby, editor and compiler of Days of Grace through the Year Templemeyer expertly exposes the allure of empire and how empire opposes the coming of God's kingdom on earth. Templemeyer challenges believers to be in the empire yet not allow the empire in them. His book is a prophetic vision of what seeking God's kingdom has always looked like, what it looks like today, and the discomfort that seeking God's kingdom requires. --Benjamin Reynolds, Professor of New Testament, Tyndale University Tempelmeyer's imagination, for the church, brings about both shame and hope. His revelation of what the church has become, matched with the challenge to strive for an imaginative faith, should motivate every Christian to examine every nook and cranny of their lives and step forward on a journey of change. All this for the hope of the church and for the cause of Christ, the one we ought to know. He's right: 'what the church believes is real.' My feelings and questions have both been evoked. --Tim McCoy, Executive Minister, Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

Kingdom and Empire confronts us with the stunning reality that Christians in the West are enculturated into the ways of a dominant empire. This book thoughtfully explores the tension between living as God's kingdom people whilst embedded in a society that first seeks to perpetuate its own power and affluence. Let this be a wake-up call for churches to reimagine how truly embracing the values of the kingdom can transform lives, communities, and our world. --Jennifer Lau, Executive Director, Canadian Baptist Ministries Many voices today talk about 'empire, ' but far too often they read as if they come from and are written for those in an ivory, academic tower. Kingdom and Empire is a welcome exception. Tempelmeyer combines biblical fidelity, pastoral sensitivity, and keen cultural and theological insight wrapped in the elegance of an artist. This is a book we in the world's wealthiest nations desperately need. Read it. Apply it. Have your heart, mind, and life changed. --Jeff Crosby, editor and compiler of Days of Grace through the Year Templemeyer expertly exposes the allure of empire and how empire opposes the coming of God's kingdom on earth. Templemeyer challenges believers to be in the empire yet not allow the empire in them. His book is a prophetic vision of what seeking God's kingdom has always looked like, what it looks like today, and the discomfort that seeking God's kingdom requires. --Benjamin Reynolds, Professor of New Testament, Tyndale University Tempelmeyer's imagination, for the church, brings about both shame and hope. His revelation of what the church has become, matched with the challenge to strive for an imaginative faith, should motivate every Christian to examine every nook and cranny of their lives and step forward on a journey of change. All this for the hope of the church and for the cause of Christ, the one we ought to know. He's right: 'what the church believes is real.' My feelings and questions have both been evoked. --Tim McCoy, Executive Minister, Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

Author Information

Gene Tempelmeyer spent over four decades as a Canadian Baptist pastor. Having retired as lead pastor of Spring Garden Church, Toronto, in 2019, he remains active in the Canadian Baptist community. Gene is also an award-winning artist whose paintings have appeared in galleries, shows, and publications across Canada.

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