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Unarmed Empire: In Search of Beloved Community
Shunned. Condemned. Controlled.
Describing church, believers and nonbelievers deploy stinging terms to define an imperial, culturally privileged, and powerful American force. Church has become synonymous with shame, exclusion, and hostility. This is not the church of Jesus.
American Christians are victims of a deliberate and shortsighted scheme designed to identify and defeat religious, cultural, and sexual Others. From the language of "makers and takers," to "if you're not for us, you're against us," to the continual suggestion that we are soldiers in a constant series of wars--the war on women, the war on the family, the war on Christians, the war on Christmas, the war on terror, and much more--Christians are near the heart of enmity.
The New Testament, however, seeks to create an alternative community--a community devoid of fear, wherein God's love and acceptance are mediated to all people through the grace of Jesus.
In Unarmed Empire, Sean Palmer reclaims the New Testament's vision of the church as an alternative community of welcome, harmony, and peace. Unarmed Empire is for everyone who's been misled about church. It's for everyone who feels blacklisted by believers, everyone who has been hurt. It's for everyone longing for a purer experience of church.
"Sean Palmer has made a beautiful discovery. He discovered a pearl of great price buried in the back yard of Christianity. He wants to share that treasure with you through his new book, Unarmed Empire. If you share in this discovery, you'll discover why he is so passionate about it. You'll want to share it too."
--Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
"Sean Palmer is a skilled storyteller, a deep thinker, an insightful writer, and a faithful follower of Jesus. In Unarmed Empire, Palmer sagely assesses the church--both as it was intended to be, and as it is. While acknowledging the church's faults, flaws, and failures, Palmer nevertheless casts a hopeful vision of the church as it can be, reminding us that no matter how lost we are, we can always find our way Home."
--Sarah Thebarge, author of The Invisible Girls and WELL: Healing Our Beautiful, Broken World from a Hospital in West Africa
"Brilliantly weaving together story, memoir, cultural criticism, biblical exegesis, and theological commentary, Sean Palmer has written the best book about the church I have ever read. By turns pastoral and prophetic, Unarmed Empire is a manifesto for the church, an urgent plea to become God's 'beloved community.'"
--Richard Beck, author, blogger, professor of psychology, Abilene Christian University
"This book is frustrating. It's frustrating because it chafes against our fallen nature's quest for power. It's frustrating because it confounds conventional wisdom's preservation of status quo. Mostly, it's frustrating because it's so biblical and Christ-centered that there's no way for a follower of Jesus to dismiss it. Caveat Lector: Let the Reader Beware! This will not be easy to absorb, but it is necessary if we ever hope to become the beloved community imagined in Scripture."
--John Alan Turner, Church Consultant, Author of Crazy Stories; Sane God
Sean Palmer is a thoughtful, provocative writer, speaker, and podcaster who has been named by Christian Standard magazine as one of its "40 Under 40" leaders. Sean is the Teaching Pastor at Ecclesia Houston, a multi-site church in Houston, TX. You can read more from Sean at www.missioalliance.org, listen to his podcasts, Not So Black & White, and follow him on Twitter (@seanpalmer).
Describing church, believers and nonbelievers deploy stinging terms to define an imperial, culturally privileged, and powerful American force. Church has become synonymous with shame, exclusion, and hostility. This is not the church of Jesus.
American Christians are victims of a deliberate and shortsighted scheme designed to identify and defeat religious, cultural, and sexual Others. From the language of "makers and takers," to "if you're not for us, you're against us," to the continual suggestion that we are soldiers in a constant series of wars--the war on women, the war on the family, the war on Christians, the war on Christmas, the war on terror, and much more--Christians are near the heart of enmity.
The New Testament, however, seeks to create an alternative community--a community devoid of fear, wherein God's love and acceptance are mediated to all people through the grace of Jesus.
In Unarmed Empire, Sean Palmer reclaims the New Testament's vision of the church as an alternative community of welcome, harmony, and peace. Unarmed Empire is for everyone who's been misled about church. It's for everyone who feels blacklisted by believers, everyone who has been hurt. It's for everyone longing for a purer experience of church.
"Sean Palmer has made a beautiful discovery. He discovered a pearl of great price buried in the back yard of Christianity. He wants to share that treasure with you through his new book, Unarmed Empire. If you share in this discovery, you'll discover why he is so passionate about it. You'll want to share it too."
--Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
"Sean Palmer is a skilled storyteller, a deep thinker, an insightful writer, and a faithful follower of Jesus. In Unarmed Empire, Palmer sagely assesses the church--both as it was intended to be, and as it is. While acknowledging the church's faults, flaws, and failures, Palmer nevertheless casts a hopeful vision of the church as it can be, reminding us that no matter how lost we are, we can always find our way Home."
--Sarah Thebarge, author of The Invisible Girls and WELL: Healing Our Beautiful, Broken World from a Hospital in West Africa
"Brilliantly weaving together story, memoir, cultural criticism, biblical exegesis, and theological commentary, Sean Palmer has written the best book about the church I have ever read. By turns pastoral and prophetic, Unarmed Empire is a manifesto for the church, an urgent plea to become God's 'beloved community.'"
--Richard Beck, author, blogger, professor of psychology, Abilene Christian University
"This book is frustrating. It's frustrating because it chafes against our fallen nature's quest for power. It's frustrating because it confounds conventional wisdom's preservation of status quo. Mostly, it's frustrating because it's so biblical and Christ-centered that there's no way for a follower of Jesus to dismiss it. Caveat Lector: Let the Reader Beware! This will not be easy to absorb, but it is necessary if we ever hope to become the beloved community imagined in Scripture."
--John Alan Turner, Church Consultant, Author of Crazy Stories; Sane God
Sean Palmer is a thoughtful, provocative writer, speaker, and podcaster who has been named by Christian Standard magazine as one of its "40 Under 40" leaders. Sean is the Teaching Pastor at Ecclesia Houston, a multi-site church in Houston, TX. You can read more from Sean at www.missioalliance.org, listen to his podcasts, Not So Black & White, and follow him on Twitter (@seanpalmer).
- GenresChurch
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2017
26 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Sean Palmer
27 books20 followersSean Palmer is the teaching pastor at Ecclesia Houston, a speaker, and an executive coach. He is the author of Speaking By The Numbers, 40 Days on Being an 3 (Enneagram Daily Reflections), Unarmed Empire and a contributing writer to The Voice Bible. Sean is vice-chair of the Missio Alliance board. He and his wife, Rochelle, live in Houston, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 27, 2018
I've been following Sean Palmer's work for a while now. I've read his earlier blog posts. I've heard him speak on different occasions and to different audiences. The modern church is blessed to have pastors and authors like Palmer.
In "Unarmed Empire" Palmer lays out a clear, inspiring vision of what the church can be - and is in some cases. Our world seems to be divided and partisan now more than ever in recent history. That division and partisanship has bled over into the church, too. Palmer gives me hope that there is a way out of the political quandary in which we've found ourselves.
If you are a church leader - official or layperson - this book is a must-read. Take it and see how your church stacks up. Are we loving? Are we open and welcoming? Are we living life together? Are we emphasizing community rather than the individual?
The church is going to survive our mess. I am confident that God is faithful in that regard. But if our church leaders don't wake up to the realities of the situation and lay down the weapons of war handed to us by the world, then it's going to be a real struggle in the coming decades.
In "Unarmed Empire" Palmer lays out a clear, inspiring vision of what the church can be - and is in some cases. Our world seems to be divided and partisan now more than ever in recent history. That division and partisanship has bled over into the church, too. Palmer gives me hope that there is a way out of the political quandary in which we've found ourselves.
If you are a church leader - official or layperson - this book is a must-read. Take it and see how your church stacks up. Are we loving? Are we open and welcoming? Are we living life together? Are we emphasizing community rather than the individual?
The church is going to survive our mess. I am confident that God is faithful in that regard. But if our church leaders don't wake up to the realities of the situation and lay down the weapons of war handed to us by the world, then it's going to be a real struggle in the coming decades.
April 17, 2019
I thought this book did an excellent job of laying down one of the most overlooked expectations placed on Christians by Jesus and the gospel. That of loving welcome of all people into the church. Palmer does well blending personal anecdotes, stories told to him by others, and scripture to make his argument that the modern church has lost the sense of community found in the Bible. A community that seeks acceptance rather than tribal organization by theological doctrine or social/political beliefs. He makes the argument that true Christianity is about reconciliation with both God and the other, not about making sure everyone conforms to a strict list of intellectually held beliefs. It is our job to make sure that everyone feels welcome in the church, not just the ones that hold our political or spiritual beliefs.
September 21, 2017
Sean Palmer writes in a way that seriously challenges the church while coming from a place of sincere love and hope for the institution. There is a tone and balance here that is often missing in the conversations we find ourselves having in our society. I really appreciate what Sean has brought to the table here. I think this is basically a book about putting first things first, in a way that I think could bring many people together.
September 16, 2017
I love this book! It is authentic and convicting. It calls us to envision what church is truly called to be. Read it and be challenged to bring about beloved community.
October 4, 2017
This is the book the church needs in 2017. It got right under my skin. I wish I could buy it for every pastor and ministry leader and discouraged Christian I know.
October 24, 2017
Love this book! So grateful to Sean Palmer for writing such a timely, beautiful, challenging book about who we--the church--could be.
November 10, 2017
This is a book the church needs! My friend Sean Palmer has given us an enjoyable and challenging read. There may not be a more timely read published in the last 12 months
April 12, 2024
A wonderful call to the church to lay down power, exclusion, and the ways of empires to become a beloved community that practices love, seeing people behind labels, and radical welcome.
June 4, 2020
Sean Palmer is a competent storyteller and in this book exhibits a large amount of narrative capital he has accumulated as a Black leader in the Protestant Christian church in the deep South of the United States. His generosity of sharing personal story holds sturdy a framework, which allows him step off of and journey into the detrimental predicament deployed; the institutional church is the likeness of Empire and needs to be unarmed.
The personal vignettes bring the reader first-hand accounts of how polarized Christian communities are within the Empire, mimicking the Empire, and saturating themselves in systematic rebuking and rejection of the "Other," disregarding the Gospel (euangelion) message of kindness, love, justice and acceptance, while putting emphasis on individualism, consumerism, heavily fueled by a fear/protection dynamic. However, Palmer delicately threads the book together with prudence given his valid understanding of both counterparts in a divided society, faith, and nation. The author demonstrates experience and study of what it means to be a career pastor and Christian in the Southern Continental United States and move within both sides and between them as well. His perspective gives the narratives and examples an inside look at the incongruences of the institutional Christian church today as its model insists on that of the Empire; the model which crucified its great inspirer, liberator and center- god as human, Jesus.
The stitching is a complex pattern, yet essential to adorn a Christianity aptly if it chooses to be relevant in the World today and tomorrow. In fact, the book shares that it is not adornment, rather nutrition, discipline, and exercise of a subversive faith to what the Evangelical Christian model preaches today as essential. Palmer poignantly takes to task the intricacies with a perceived hope and faith as the book moves along. In doing so he encourages and proposes a new Christian approach. Leading up to the conclusion, he delivers critiques of the Church and, for the most part, offers direction towards improvement despite the daunting and current Christian social and cultural reality. Steps on how the Christian church must seek to be an unarmed empire, if you will. Along with the critiques, however, are mechanisms to soften the blow perhaps to one side or the other. Granted, speaking with two polarized groups is no easy task, but it seems no critique could be released without a sweetener or softener in this book. Maybe an offering to appease whichever polar side would be unsettled? But what seems like appeasement perhaps is empathy, not apathy nor compromise. But because of the length of the book, it was hard to tell. In my opinion, cutting down the size would create a more potent publication. It seems like a lean format was embellished due to factors not centered in Palmer's core focus in the book.
This compilation of short essays have their intense and impactful moments. But, while trying to maintain a balanced critique, which could read digestible critique, for extreme left or extreme right ideological groups by US standards, a few of the truths are ironically disarmed with a rebuttal interjection to dismantle one group, but not too much. Of course, I believe this intent is so that the book can reach a broader audience within the Christian circles and that it maintains a level of entertaining reading. But also, Sean Palmer could be putting into practice the love that dismantles and disarms and which he suggests does exist and keeps the Church alive and thriving. However, the weaker points where pithy interjections of outside story and experience with pop culture, which again in my opinion, waters down the message and call to disarmament- make it hard to know for sure.
The personal vignettes bring the reader first-hand accounts of how polarized Christian communities are within the Empire, mimicking the Empire, and saturating themselves in systematic rebuking and rejection of the "Other," disregarding the Gospel (euangelion) message of kindness, love, justice and acceptance, while putting emphasis on individualism, consumerism, heavily fueled by a fear/protection dynamic. However, Palmer delicately threads the book together with prudence given his valid understanding of both counterparts in a divided society, faith, and nation. The author demonstrates experience and study of what it means to be a career pastor and Christian in the Southern Continental United States and move within both sides and between them as well. His perspective gives the narratives and examples an inside look at the incongruences of the institutional Christian church today as its model insists on that of the Empire; the model which crucified its great inspirer, liberator and center- god as human, Jesus.
The stitching is a complex pattern, yet essential to adorn a Christianity aptly if it chooses to be relevant in the World today and tomorrow. In fact, the book shares that it is not adornment, rather nutrition, discipline, and exercise of a subversive faith to what the Evangelical Christian model preaches today as essential. Palmer poignantly takes to task the intricacies with a perceived hope and faith as the book moves along. In doing so he encourages and proposes a new Christian approach. Leading up to the conclusion, he delivers critiques of the Church and, for the most part, offers direction towards improvement despite the daunting and current Christian social and cultural reality. Steps on how the Christian church must seek to be an unarmed empire, if you will. Along with the critiques, however, are mechanisms to soften the blow perhaps to one side or the other. Granted, speaking with two polarized groups is no easy task, but it seems no critique could be released without a sweetener or softener in this book. Maybe an offering to appease whichever polar side would be unsettled? But what seems like appeasement perhaps is empathy, not apathy nor compromise. But because of the length of the book, it was hard to tell. In my opinion, cutting down the size would create a more potent publication. It seems like a lean format was embellished due to factors not centered in Palmer's core focus in the book.
This compilation of short essays have their intense and impactful moments. But, while trying to maintain a balanced critique, which could read digestible critique, for extreme left or extreme right ideological groups by US standards, a few of the truths are ironically disarmed with a rebuttal interjection to dismantle one group, but not too much. Of course, I believe this intent is so that the book can reach a broader audience within the Christian circles and that it maintains a level of entertaining reading. But also, Sean Palmer could be putting into practice the love that dismantles and disarms and which he suggests does exist and keeps the Church alive and thriving. However, the weaker points where pithy interjections of outside story and experience with pop culture, which again in my opinion, waters down the message and call to disarmament- make it hard to know for sure.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews