Reparations: a Christian Call for Repentance and Repair between white and black communities

Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair by Duke L Kwon and Gregory Thompson is a call to the Church, in particular white Christians to be awakening to the legacy of racism in America. The public cry and conversations regarding the issues of racial division and inequalities have been in the forefront recently. The authors feel it is an overdue response. As Christianity has the view of reconciliation has its sole purpose but are at a loss as to offer a solution for their black neighbors, the authors offer a new perspective on the Church’s responsibility for the deep racism at the heart of American culture and what it can do to repair that brokenness. The book’s main goal is to make a compelling historical and theological case for the Church’s obligation to provide reparations for the oppression of blacks. The authors focus on the church’s responsibility for its promotion and preservation of white supremacy throughout history, the Bible’s call for repair, and offer a vision for the work that needs to be done at the local level. Are they successful? 

For most of the book, the authors focus on how white supremacy was created in our system and the why it still persists. It wasn’t until about 57% into the book, do they talk about reparations. They focus more on community repair than just cutting a check and handing it over. They use the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 as the Samaritan chose to help the injured Jew in love with his eyes, his heart, his hands and his resources. The authors do their best to make a compelling case for reparations; however, at times I felt like they were talking in circles. And while they make a case that white churches need to share the wealth to help repair balck churches and communities and add black voices to the conversation, they don’t really offer how with specifics. They talk about the obstacles that white supremacy has created for the black community, again without saying specifically what the obstacles are, just ways they can be overcome. Overall, I recommend Reparations is a place to start the conversation. 

Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

Holy Disunity: there is something good and useful about our differences

Holy Disunity: How what separates us can save us by Layton E. Williams is a call to “let go of the idol of unity and see the holiness in disunity” as stated by Diana Butler Bass in the foreword. Ms. Layton, a bisexual ordained Presbyterian minister, who sets out to show how we are unified in Christ and holy unity is not ours to create or to destroy. She sets out to argue for holy disunity and how we can faithfully coexist without being unified with each chapter dedicated to a challenge that we all face such as fear, doubt and tension and how it divides us and how we can use it in the Church. Through Biblical text and her own personal struggles and journey, she presents how we should embrace our differences in our life experiences, our abilities, our limitations and in our failures, so we can further the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

When I picked this book, I was intrigued by the idea of holy disunity. Ms. Williams makes a very convincing case of how the goal of “peace on earth” is not our mission. Holy Disunity is a very interesting read and while I disagreed with a few of Ms. Williams’ assertions, I found myself agreeing with her main points and thinking about how to use our differences as we strive to spread the Gospel. Just as Paul states in Romans 12:3-8 and in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, we are all one part of the a greater whole and each with different gifts and different roles. At the end of the book, she presents questions for reflection and discussion. They were thought provoking and allows the reader to apply the ideas presented in each chapter. I would have liked to see the questions at the end of each chapter so that the reflections can be done after reading the designated chapters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and Ms. Williams is heartfelt and honest in her arguments and examples for holy disunity. It is a book I will read again in the future. I recommend Holy Disunity.

Holy Disunity:

How what separates us can save us

Is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The End of Protestantism: one man's plan to unite a divided church

The End of Protestantism Pursuing Unity in a Fragmented Church by Peter Leithart is a deep look into the history and origins of Protestantism in the world and in America. Mr. Leithart lays out a plan to reunite all churches and Christians in one church as Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. He suggests church reforms which are more biblically based than in tradition. His plan, Reformational Catholicism, had four movements or points. First, a vision for a reformational catholic church which expresses a biblical and a reformational paradigm for evangelical unity. Second, he argues the pros and cons of denominational Christianity. Third, he presents evidence that the divided church is dissolving. Finally, his plan for a united church and the demolishment of denominational identity. 

The End of Protestantism is an interesting historical and modern evaluation of the function of the Church. While I didn’t agree with all of Mr. Leithart’s assertions, he does present great insights into the church and how Christians can move forward in an ever-changing world. If you are interested in a brief history of the church, how it has functioned and a plan for its survival, I recommend The End of Protestantism.

The End of Protestantism

Will be available October 18, 2016

In hardcover at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

My thoughts on Toxic Christians: part 1

I recently came across an article “10 Toxic Christians in the Church Today” by Frank Powell.  You can read the full article here: http://www.faithit.com/10-toxic-christians-in-the-church-today/ Toxic is defined as harmful. People who are often referred to as toxic can be destructive in our lives. What happens when toxic people are also Christians? I would like to give my thoughts on this article. While the author has some valid points, I feel I need to address a few of his labels. His labels focus on personality traits that you can see in everyone and just because certain people are Christians doesn’t mean that the personality traits change. I feel his label as “Toxic Christians” leads to the belief that these types of people are not true Christians.

1. The “Always Cynical” Christian: This person is always distrusting or hates in anything which is non-Christian. I’ve seen many Christians do this and what I found is that sometimes they are not giving their opinion why something is bad, they are merely repeating someone else’s opinion. I often asked “have you read that book?” or “have you seen that TV show or movie?” If they answer no, then you cannot really hate something if you don’t know what it’s about. I’ve come to realize that just because something is labeled “Christian” does not make it automatically good and Biblically correct just like something non-Christian is not automatically evil. You cannot judge a book by its cover. I remember when I worked in a Christian bookstore and a customer rejected Lord of the Rings because it had wizards and magic despite the fact it was written by an author who was Christian. From this experience and others, I’ve learned to explore and research someone or something before forming my opinion and I will not rely solely on any one person’s opinion as my own.

2. The “Back Row” Christian: According to Mr. Powell, this is the Christian who keeps God at arm’s length and his or her life isn’t informed by God. My question is how do you know if someone is keeping God at arm’s length? And how do you know if his or her life isn’t informed by God? Just because you do not see their involvement in your church’s outreaches, does not mean they are not doing one on their own. They may feed the homeless, mentor to those in need without your knowledge and without recognition. In Matthew 6:3, Jesus says “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know that your right hand is doing.” Do so without acknowledge or personal glory. Just because you think this “Back Row” Christian isn’t contributing to your church does not mean he or she is not contributing to the Church.

3. The “World is Caving In” Christian: These people can be annoying with all talk of doom and gloom but this in not exclusive to Christians. You see it every day in the news. Mr. Powell states that “the phrase “do not fear” appears hundreds of times in the Bible.” In my research, I’ve been able to find the phrase appears approximately 110 times. However, fear does not mean a lack of faith. Fear is a natural emotion that God has given us. It is what we do with our fear that matters. Do we run and hide? Or do we trudge on despite our doubts and our fears with faith on our Lord’s promise? I fear many things and many times in my life, it does not mean that I have any less faith in God. Jesus felt fear. In the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:38 says he was “troubled” and Mark 14:33 says he was “deeply distressed.” He worried and fear what was to come because the time had arrived. Did He walk away from this fear? He prayed that God could find another way but He knew there wasn’t one.  Fear does not make you a bad or “toxic” Christian, it makes you human.

4. The “Follow the Rules” Christian: This is one I agree with Mr. Powell on. I know many people like this and sometimes they push away great people because of this attitude. It makes people feel as if they do not belong. However, the “rules” they are often following are the rules the church has made. It is the doctrine that a group of people created using the Bible as their guide. The some rules are correct and others not so much. The thing about humans is that sometimes we are going to fail and despite our best efforts. Some Christians forget that we are still human. Christ only gave his followers two commandments to follow: 1) to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind and 2) to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:35-40). As long as we focus on these two commandments, all other rules should fall into place.

5. The “Political” Christian: I hate politics to begin with. I’ve tried to be largely engaged in the political debates and questions in our world, I just…well, it’s not that I don’t care. It’s more because there is so much going on that my brain cannot wrap around everything.  I get stressed out when it comes to politics. I really dislike elections years. I know that God is in control. I am a dutiful citizen of the United States, I research all candidates and propositions on the ballot before I vote. Does that mean that a Christian who is passionate and active in the political process bad? I don’t think so. I think God gives certain people the energy and the know-how to be active in the political realm. I think churches needs someone who can easily understand what is going on in order to help others understand and make an informed decision. 

to be continued...