SEPARATE NO MORE: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your ChurchNorman Anthony Peart Baker, 203 pages, $14.99
No one’s going to accuse Norman Peart of mincing words: “A primary reason that Christianity’s power is not able to heal the wounds of racism,” he writes, “is that many evangelicals do not understand. … the race problem from a biblical perspective.”
With that, the author sets out to help concerned Christians discover “their role in the ministry of racial reconciliation,” a ministry that he believes is too often viewed by evangelicals as optional.
Peart, a pastor and sociologist, combines a meat-and-potatoes exposition of Scripture, interviews with church leaders, and a survey of the church’s often tainted track record on matters of justice and race. He gives evangelicals an insightful kick in the pants.
As a sociologist, Peart acknowledges that race can be seen as a social construct. But, he writes, “Because race is an aspect of how we view ourselves and also shapes our social interactions with others, we cannot trivialize the concept’s significance and still minister effectively to the whole person.”
He contends that real biblical reconciliation is a working of the Holy Spirit and not the result of carefully crafted strategies. Nevertheless, “Those who wish to pursue it must do so intentionally.” This book is a good start.
Edward Gilbreath is an associate editor of Christianity Today.
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere:
Separate No More can be ordered at Christianbook.com and other book retailers.
Baker Book House has a page on Peart’s book.
Previous Christianity Today articles on racial reconciliation include:
Lost Common Cause | Christian focus on racial reconciliation is set back after Cincinnati’s riots. (June 14, 2001)Awakening Liturgies | With the latest census figures, the worship wars move beyond guitar vs. organ. (May 29, 2001)Divided by Faith? | A recent study argues that American evangelicals cannot foster genuine racial reconciliation. Is our theology to blame? (Sept. 9, 2000)Color Blinded | Why 11 o’clock Sunday morning is still a mostly segregated hour. (Sept. 9, 2000)Catching Up with a Dream | Evangelicals and Race 30 Years After the Death of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan. 17, 2000)“We All Want Unity” | Black churches, racial reconciliation take center stage at St. Louis Graham crusade. (Nov. 8, 1999)Perkins Keeps Son’s Ministry Alive | (Dec. 7, 1998)Reconcilers Fellowship Folds | (Oct. 5, 1998)Playing the Grace Card | Christians hold the missing key to racial reconciliation—but it won’t be popular. (July 13, 1998)Breaking the Black/White Stalemate | Jesse Miranda and William Pannell discuss the next step in racial reconciliation. (March 2, 1998)The ‘Jackie Robinson’ of Evangelism | When Howard Jones broke the race barrier on Billy Graham’s platform, he faced rejection from both sides. (Feb. 9, 1998)After the Hugs, What? The next step for racial reconciliation will be harder. (February 3, 1997)Racial Reconciliation Emphasis Intensified (January 6, 1997)
