Recommended Reading for Those Who Want to Be a Bridge to Racial Justice
WCIU Journal: Social Justice Topic
June 2, 2020
From Be the Bridge
The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity
Amazon’s description: Evangelicalism has long been held captive by its predominantly white cultural identity and history. In this book professor and pastor Soong-Chan Rah calls the North American church to escape its captivity to Western cultural trappings and to embrace a new evangelicalism that is diverse and multiethnic.
Notes from the book:
pp. 40-41: Lacking an understanding of corporate sin, we are unable to feel, perceive or understand the impact of the shame of corporate responsibility. … In The Death of Satan, Adnrew Delbanco laments the loss of the sense of evil in American society. Delbanco alludes to a loss of the corporate sense of evil. While not directly addressing the church, Delbanco’s book is a prophetic work by a secular academic, indicting the church for our lack of understanding of the full nature and expression of sin. We are challenged as a Christian community to engage in a larger dialogue about a corporate sense of son. Our excessive emphasis on individualism keeps us from dealing with the implication of corporate sin it exonerates us from addressing corporate sin that may be evident in our social and political engagement. As Metzger states, “The individualistic orientation of evangelicalism structures the church and makes us blind to negative patterns of consumption and suspicious of structural engagement.”
pp. 161-62: In order to break that captivity, there needs to be an international relinquishing of power and privilege. White evangelicals have the privilege of not engaging with stories outside of their experience. White evangelicals have the privilege of having their experience lifted up as the example of Christian faith. White evangelicals have the privilege of being able to see leaders of their own ethnicity dominate every conference they attend. The reality of white privilege is that very little needs to be done to maintain this position of privilege. Not confronting white privilege is the passive acceptance of that privilege, which equates to an active embracing of that privilege. White privilege continues with even a passive acceptance of the status quo, which maintains the status of white power and dominance. To confront and alter the state of white privilege requires a proactive yielding and purposeful laying down of power by those who are beneficiaries of white privilege. … If one does not have the experience of being in places of powerlessness, even through the simple and basic example of having nonwhite mentors in their life, they have experienced the theology of celebration but have not experienced the theology of suffering. While this state of being is unfortunate under the Western, white captivity of the church, it is a completely unacceptable state for the next evangelicalism.
Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery
by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
Amazon'‘s book description: You cannot discover lands already inhabited. Injustice has plagued American society for centuries. And we cannot move toward being a more just nation without understanding the root causes that have shaped our culture and institutions. In this prophetic blend of history, theology, and cultural commentary, Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah reveal the far-reaching, damaging effects of the "Doctrine of Discovery." In the fifteenth century, official church edicts gave Christian explorers the right to claim territories they "discovered." This was institutionalized as an implicit national framework that justifies American triumphalism, white supremacy, and ongoing injustices. The result is that the dominant culture idealizes a history of discovery, opportunity, expansion, and equality, while minority communities have been traumatized by colonization, slavery, segregation, and dehumanization. Healing begins when deeply entrenched beliefs are unsettled. Charles and Rah aim to recover a common memory and shared understanding of where we have been and where we are going. As other nations have instituted truth and reconciliation commissions, so do the authors call our nation and churches to a truth-telling that will expose past injustices and open the door to conciliation and true community.
Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice
by Brenda Salter McNeil
Missio Alliance Essential Reading List of 2015
Amazon’s Book Description: We can see the injustice and inequality in our lives and in the world. We are ready to rise up. But how, exactly, do we do this? How does one reconcile? What we need is a clear sense of direction. Based on her extensive consulting experience with churches, colleges and organizations, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil has created a roadmap to show us the way. She guides us through the common topics of discussion and past the bumpy social terrain and political boundaries that will arise. In these pages she voices her call to all believers: "It's time for the followers of Jesus to embark on the prophetic journey that leads to reconciliation and transformation around the world. Many of us may already be aware of the need for reconciliation in our own backyards. . . . We cannot ignore the plight of the people around us and as globalization continues its relentless march onward, we cannot turn a blind eye to the world at large either. We have to face the realities here at home and we must also embrace the stories of people all around the world." Each chapter lays out the next step in the journey. With reflection questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, it's ideal to read together with your church or organization. If you are ready to take the next step into unity, wholeness and justice, then this is the book for you.
Still Evangelical?: Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning
by Mark Labberton (Editor)
Allen Yeh (Contributor)
Soong-Chan Rah (Contributor)
Amazon’s Book Description: Evangelicalism in America has cracked, split on the shoals of the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath, leaving many wondering if they want to be in or out of the evangelical tribe. The contentiousness brought to the fore surrounds what it means to affirm and demonstrate evangelical Christian faith amidst the messy and polarized realities gripping our country and world. Who or what is defining the evangelical social and political vision? Is it the gospel or is it culture? For a movement that has been about the primacy of Christian faith, this is a crisis. This collection of essays was gathered by Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, who provides an introduction to the volume. What follows is a diverse and provocative set of perspectives and reflections from evangelical insiders who wrestle with their responses to the question of what it means to be evangelical in light of their convictions.
Referring to oneself as evangelical cannot be merely a congratulatory self-description. It must instead be a commitment and aspiration guided by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. What now are Christ's followers called to do in response to this identity crisis?