Come Out My People!: God's Call Out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond - by Wes Howard-Brook (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this sweeping and transformative approach to biblical interpretation, Wes Howard-Brook presents the Bible as a struggle between two competing "religions" not "Judaism" and "Christianity," but the "religion of creation" versus the "religion of empire." Howard-Brook demonstrates how, throughout the Hebrew scriptures, these two religions battled for the hearts and minds of the people in claiming radically divergent views of who YHWH is and what it means to be YHWH's people. In the New Testament, Jesus proclaimed and embodied one of these views--the "religion of creation"-- and denounced the "religion of empire." Though he was killed by the upholders of empire, his resurrection was the definitive vindication of the religion of creation. As a consequence, those who follow his path can accept no violence or domination toward people or creation in his name. While many recent scholars have studied the imperial context of the New Testament, this is the first book to trace this theme throughout the entire Bible. As such, it sets a challenge for the future of biblical studies, while also defining a new framework for radical discipleship in our time.

Review Quotes

Howard-Brook undertakes what few dare anymore: an introductory primer for the whole Bible. . . This book invites disciples to connect the dots, in order to recover our ancient, anti-imperial identity, and to embrace a radical faith and practice that are personal and political. --Ched Myers

A remarkable offering for those who care about the interface of power and faith with all the threats and seductions that go with it . . . . As I read, I felt overwhelmed, both by the mass of data and by the cunning of interpretation. I could not put it down, and expect to continue to be instructed by it. --Walter Brueggemann

Howard-Brook illuminates how ancient empires exercised control and manipulation of people not simply by political and military means, but also through the religion of empire. Throughout he makes clear that the core message of the God of creation is to call people out of empire, to refuse to cooperate with the forces of destruction and domination today" --Richard Horsley

Will become a classic for communities that seek first to receive the gracious gift of God s alternative future to Empire. --Jarrod McKenna

If we who sojourn in America are to be a community that can both name and resist the lure of Empire, we need a story more powerful that the story called America. Wes Howard-Brook knows that the Bible tells such a story. May its story be ours as we're set free from our imperial imaginations to dream with our Creator of a new world here and now. --Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove