The Gospel Racial Reconciliation by Russell D. Moore

The Gospel Racial Reconciliation Reviews

• 
  Jacob O'connor

  Malcolm X famously quipped, "If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress".
  
  Moore observes that white evangelicals thought the race issue was over because (a) Jim Crow laws were overturned (b) they don't have bad feelings toward blacks. And yet race matters stubbornly refuse to go away. Could it be that we forgot to check with our brothers and sisters of color? Do they think it's still an issue? If so, then we have work to do.
  
  Moore is one of my favorite voices on Christianity and culture. I could not agree more that the gospel is the principal solution -- along with generous helpings of empathy and listening. Gospel & Racial Reconciliation is quick and helpful. Very good.
  
  
  Notes:
  
  Personal note: Something occurs to me even before starting the book. If white evangelicals are afraid progressives are using race as political leverage, where does something like Matthew 5:40 fit in? Perhaps Christians should be more concerned with mercy than power.
  
  Reconciliation requires truth telling
  
  A heart of humility
• 
  Bob

  I read this in conjunction with taking part in a weekly one-hour conversation with several other believers from Ashland Ave. Baptist Church and Main Street Baptist Church located in Lexington, KY over a six week period in the Spring of 2017. These issues were already an object of concern in my own growth as a follower of Christ. While the information and instruction contained in these pages was familiar to me as well as being Biblical, and thus helpful, what has made the overall experience most beneficial were the conversations that took place and the relationships formed. I now have four foster (update: adopted) grandchildren who are African American. The importance of racial reconciliation increases each day. I confess and repent of many wasted years of wrong attitudes and am grateful for the contribution this book is already making in helping me pursue the greater glory of God.
• 
  Logan

  A very thought-provoking and relevant read. As someone who has been asking questions regarding the topic and only been met with statements akin to "If you have to ask questions, then you're part of the problem", it was incredibly refreshing to read the contributor's articles. If you're new to the topic, or even still wading through it, it's an absolute essential for every born-again Christian.
• 
  Seth

  Very disappointing read. Was hoping for some more specific applications and some grappling with both sides of the issue, instead it is just a very shallow overview of truths any Christian with just basic biblical knowledge would know and agree with along with some questionable statements like this country was "built on" slavery. No one questions that slavery was an abomination and that it played a large role in our countries history but that statement needs to be explained and qualified. One author quotes Jay Z talking about how people looking up to Snoop-Doggy-Dog and going to clubs is one way our nation has healed from racial division. Not sure if that's the way we want to heal racial division as Christians. Another concerning trend was the implication of white guilt. For example one author says "many white evangelicals want to arrive at the destination of diversity without walking the necessary path of reconciliation." Are whites the only ones that have a racism problem? Stats are given as if they clearly support the point being made when there are multiple possible reasons behind the stats (for example less grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods). There was definitely a lot of biblical truth and I agreed with most of the book but I felt like it didn't contribute much insightful or helpful information and just stated the obvious, culturally acceptable solutions instead of getting into some other very important biblical points that are less politically correct.
• 
  Brandon

  A very good and brief book written about Gospel-centered racial reconciliation. It's a series of brief essays by different writers, and it's well-written.
  
  Chapters
  1. What Are We For? (Hays)-- offers a biblical-theological overview of race in the Bible and abuses of Scripture used to promote racism (like Ham's curse, etc). This was generally good, though I had a quibble or two (ex: Moses's second wife being approved of by God. I agree skin color was not a problem, but it was a polygamous marriage which is inherently problematic).
  
  2. What Does the Gospel Say? (Anyabwile)-- Race and a biblical-theology of the image of God.
  
  3. How Should the Christian Live? (Newbell)-- Developing a Christian ethic of racial reconciliation, rooted in love of neighbor.
  
  4. How Should the Church Engage? (Mason)-- The Biblical mandate for pursuing reconciliation. Seeing racial reconciliation as a sanctification issue, a matter of spiritual warfare, and then examples of how not to engage racial issues (note: Mason says in this section that not all churches will be multi-ethnic and that is okay). And then some tips on where to start in initiating this engagement in the local church.
  
  5. What Does the Culture Say? (Hall and Horton)-- The history and reality of racial tension in America, and how we can work to overcome it.
  
  This is a good book, and worth a read.
• 
  Mallory

  A quick listen. I will probably go back and listen to it again and/or get a physical copy to read, as there were discussion questions at the end of each chapter/essay. I've been needing a clear Biblical perspective on the racial divide and racial reconciliation and I found this easily accessible and a great starting point. I will likely seek out further topics in this Russell Moore-edited series as well.
• 
  Jonathan Roberts

  This was interesting to read and had lots of timeless insights. I wonder though had the authors written it this year how they would have approached it differently. What they would change… but beside that this was a good reminder. It did not further my understanding of race and racial issues but it did give me some Biblical foundations that were solid. Recommended
• 
  Jordan

  Eric Mason's chapter was excellent, as was DA Horton's. I was rather disappointed by the other chapters.
• 
  Kenneth Johnson

  Biblical, practical, and extremely helpful when it comes to understanding the intersection of race and the gospel.
• 
  Kevin Figgins

  Excellent resource for the ongoing conversation. A great group of pastor-theologians giving really good insight and very practical steps in the right direction.
• 
  Shane Williamson

  A helpful and brief introduction to the gospel and racial reconciliation. Would make a good small group discussion book (complete with discussion questions!).
  
  I quite enjoyed having a different contributor for each chapter.
• 
  Michele Morin

  A Culture with No Excuse
  
  Three of my four boys are volunteer fire fighters, so when they get together, the stories pile up, one upon another, and the youngest of the three will, inevitably, be reminded (repeatedly) of his lowly status. He’s a “probie,” a probationary fire fighter — new, full of enthusiasm, but not necessarily full of experience or know-how. That’s me on the topic of racial reconciliation. However, even here in rural Maine where we’re a pretty homogeneous bunch, I don’t have to look further than Portland to find accounts of healthy, positive relationships being built by my friend Beth in her work within the Somali Christian community — or further than Lewiston to read accounts of our own tiny refugee crisis. Needless to say, my learning curve is nearly vertical.
  
  Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker have responded to the brother-against-brother of racism with a collection of five essays centered around the theme that “in the Kingdom of God, it is not us against them. The Kingdom of God is us reconciled to one another.” Part of The Gospel for Life Series, The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation is intended as a primer for equipping believers with sufficient background to free us from our fear of engaging in the conversation on race and to motivate us toward action that will make a difference.
  
  J. Daniel Hays traces equality among the races — and the dignity of all human beings — to our creation in the image of God, debunking along the way a good many myths and downright lies about issues such as erroneous views of where the Bible comes down on slavery and interracial marriage. Because God depicts a multi-ethnic congregation from every tribe and language and people and nation at the climax of history, it follows then that the gospel is for all people and ethnicities.
  
  Identity in Christ overshadows all other identities, and Thabiti Anyabwile makes a strong case for the truth that the solution to racial strife will not be simply a matter of re-education, but, rather, change at the “root of man’s being” which results in a longing for equality for all who bear the image of God.
  
  Trillia Newbell emphasizes love — for God and for neighbors — as the driving force behind racial reconciliation. Not only is our service more beneficial when we link arms with a diverse workforce, but, more importantly, the church that demonstrates unity in Christ through the gospel is putting the transforming work of the gospel on display. Coming from an era in which I was encouraged to be “color blind,” I was enlightened by Trillia’s encouragement to “see color” in a celebration of ethnic differences that trumpets God’s creativity. Open conversations about race beat a path away from apathy and its close cousin, racism, and toward open relationships.
  
  There is a theme of reconciliation that permeates the narrative arc of Scripture, and Eric Mason likens the potential for racial reconciliation in the church to the impact that hip-hop music has had on the culture at large, a restoration of friendly relationships (conversations!) based on a shared interest. The unity Paul calls for in Ephesians 4 is an element of the believer’s sanctification. Since, therefore, racism is sin, the believer is directed to war against it.
  
  The quest for diversity within the church must extend beyond Sunday morning, beyond a “reconciliation for hire” approach to staffing, and beyond a forced homogeneity that ignores the beautiful complexity of first-generation realities. Matthew J. Hall and D.A. Horton address the theological influences that shaped our unique, born-in-the-USA-brand of racism, stressing that “if we’re going to get this right, we need to be honest about where we have gotten it wrong.” May God in His mercy allow the church another opportunity to put on display the beauty of redemption and to represent Him well in our approach to racial reconciliation.
  
  By looking at the issues at the heart of racism, listening to the positions of those who are different from us, learning out of a generous position of humility, and living life together in a community that is redolent with the sweet nectar of Spirit-borne fruit, it may be that we can earn the right to speak truth into our culture. In the New Testament, there are no fewer than twenty-two injunctions for believers to love one another, and first-century Christians left their world looking for the reason behind their inexplicable love. What an honor and a miracle of grace it would be if the church could once again engage the culture with the gospel and embody a multicultural, multi-ethnic community that would render present day culture “with no excuse for not pursuing the God who reconciled us to Him and [to] each other.”
  
  //
  
  This book was provided by B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
• 
  Craig Hurst

  In June B&H began The Gospel for Life Series, edited by Russell Moore and Andrew Walker, which connects the gospel message with everyday life issues. Both Moore and Walker serve at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention and, Moore especially, have written and spoken extensively on gospel responses to the ethical issues Christian’s face.
  
  gospel-and-religious-libertyThe books are structured around answering five questions: What are we for?, What does the gospel say?, How should the Christian live?, How should the church engage?, What does the culture say? For example, in answering What are we for?, the authors all begin in Genesis with creation. This starting point intentionally grounds all discussion within the framework of creation which is the beginning of the biblical story line of creation, fall, redemption, and re-creation/consummation. This creation starting point helps us to see God’s intention within these various issues and in turn helps us to see what has gone wrong with them as a result of the fall. Some readers will be challenged by the creational foundations of religious liberty presented by Andrew Walker in the book on The Gospel & Religious Liberty. This was a new concept for me and something I will continue to think about.
  
  Another helpful aspect of this series is how it frames the Christians response within the community of the Church. So, it is notgospel-and-racial-reconciliation enough for the individual Christian to be equipped to respond to the culture but it is the collective witness of the whole Church, the bride of Christ, that should speak loudly to these issues with the truth of the gospel. For example, when it comes to racial reconciliation, the Church needs to have the conversation about it, yes, even all white churches, because, as Trillia Newbell writes in The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation, “The problem is, race continues to be talked about because there continue to be problems. And there continue to be problems because often conversations about race revolve around racism. And these conversations centered on racism happen because people are racist. So, until we see an and to racism, both personal and systemic, we will need to continue this conversation.” (49)
  
  gospel-and-same-sex-marriageOne final helpful aspect of this series is its interaction with the current cultural opinion on these issues. After all, if everyone were living according to God’s plan as outlined in Scripture then there wouldn’t be a reason for these books to exist. For example, in The Gospel and Same-Sex Marriage, Al Mohler Jr. briefly outlines four cultural changes in regards to sexual ethics that paved the way for same-sex marriage: birth control and contraception, divorce, advanced reproductive technologies, and sex outside of marriage. Mohler’s words are biting:
  
  "The marriage crisis is a moral crisis. It did not start with same-sex marriage, nor will it end there. This has all been made possible by a deliberate breakdown in the moral immune system of human society. Western civilization has forfeited its immunity against the breakdown of marriage, the family, and the integrity of human sexuality. We sowed the seeds of the current confusion. To make matters indefinitely worse, the failure of Christian churches to address these issues with the full weight of Christian conviction has created, in the eyes of many, an insurmountable challenge to evangelical credibility on the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Today’s movement toward the total acceptance of homosexual behavior and relationships was only made possible because some heterosexuals first did their best to undermine marriage." (95-96).
  
  The Gospel for Life Series is the perfect primer on a number of current cultural issues that Christians needs to be aware of and ready to give a Christian gospel-informed answer to. The contributors are theologians, cultural experts, and local church servants. We cannot hide our heads in the sand or just let other Christians deal with it. If you are going to obey the command to love your neighbor as yourself then you must be equipped to discuss these important issues. The witness of Christ and His church are at stake.
  
  You can learn more about this series from their website
  www.thegospelforlifeseries.com. Other forthcoming books in the series include:
  
  The Gospel & Abortion (January 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Adoption (January 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Marriage (January 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Parenting (January 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Parenting (April 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Pornography (April 2017)
  
  The Gospel & Work (April 2017)
  
  I received these books for free from B&H for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
• 
  Shaun Lee

  Most of us would not consider ourselves as racists. So no harm in picking up the book so that we can gain some knowledge as it may be useful for ministry. Or so I thought...
  
  This tiny book was outstanding. I appreciate how the application and reflection was built upon a sturdy theological foundation. When a "controversial" or "hush-hush" issue is presented in such a manner, us readers would have no choice but to confront the reality of sin in our own lives. Nobody likes to talk much about such topics, and the book's brevity ensures that we do not feel preached at. The book's format was great - consisting of an excellent compilation of chapters from 5 authors. This fine piece of work makes me curious as to how the other titles in this series are like; if they are of the same style and quality, they could form an invaluable set of resources.
  
  I received this book from the BH/Lifeway Publishing Group's Blogger Team Program for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.
• 
  Ronni Kurtz

  I had high expectations for this short work, it surpassed all of them. In a short amount of pages editors Russell Moore and Andrew Walker have packed in a host of helpful resources. Due to multiple authors, there is a bit of overlapping material, and some chapters are stronger than others. Yet, as a whole, this was encouraging, convicting, and helpful. I especially benefited from the chapter written by D.A. Horton and Matthew J. Hall. Encourage all to read.
• 
  Zach Williams

  Excellent Gospel perspective on a very important topic. All Christians need to read this.