At first I wondered what John Piper was doing writing a book on Race, the Cross and the Christian. I would not have thought that this topic was still a hot bed of thought for the American Church today. But as I read I was very encouraged that Piper took on this task and presented us with a book that is blunt, accurate, reflective and at the deepest level should cause each of us to step back and look at our lifestyle and our thought process about people of other Ethnicity.
John is just a bit older than I am, which means that we both grew up during the era of Civil Rights demonstrations and people such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Where we are different is this. John grew up in the South, I grew up in California. John grew up in a place and during a time when African Americans (Blacks) were segregated from almost everything. They couldn't drink from the same water fountain as a white person, they couldn't go to the same church as the white person, they couldn't even go to the same college as a white person (and this was in the "Christian" community.)
I on the other hand grew up in Southern California in a church that was multi-ethnic. We had White, Black, Asian, Latino and Native American all attending the same church. The majority was white, but 1%, but the mix was astounding. My problem, I didn't know there was prejudice in our country. I saw no difference between races because my parents lived out the Gospel of Christ in a loving community of mixed races within our church.
Further, I joined World Impact at the age of 18 to serve in the inner-city of America amongst Black and Hispanic populations. I didn't know that I should be prejudice. Boy was I naive. I grew up quickly living in the inner-city and ministering to those who were oppressed.
So, back to John's book. With the end of the Civil Rights movement didn't prejudice and segregation cease in America and the American Church? The answer is no. And it is still alive and well in today's culture.
John brings to us personal history for him on how he grew up, how the prejudice of his culture influenced his life and how he has come to understand that the Gospel of Christ breaks down all racial barriers.
You will find a very compelling read regarding the Gospel and Culture, the Gospel and Race, the Gospel and Racism. Piper will give you a history lesson, a Theology lesson and point out the current thinking among 'critical' thinkers today. Not everyone is on the same page in regards to racism in America. There are those who believe the answer lies in Welfare and Welfare reform. There are those who believe it lies in attitude adjustment, fair housing, fair job markets, etc. There are those who believe it lies in the way we view education and making it available to all people regardless of race, finances or religious preference.
John gives us the Biblical answer to the situation. He points out how the Gospel is the answer. He points out how the Cross is central to the answer and that the only way for this issue to be changed is for individuals to turn their lives over to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to effect a change in their lives from the inside out.
This book is a must read for all Christians. It is a must read for anyone who is concerned about racism in America. Even if you are not a Christian this is a must read because it will help you understand better how the Christian and thus the Church should view different ethnicities and how we should strive to live in harmony and unity. This book tells you how God views the issue.
If you don't want to read the entire book then look for the chapters that interest you. Pay careful attention to the Appendices as they give good documentation to the issue being discussed.
I believe you will not be disappointed in this read, even if you disagree with Piper you will enjoy his honesty and learn more about his view on scripture and how it effects our view of Race and Racism.
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