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drbobcornwall's review against another edition
4.0
The Black Lives Matter Movement erupted after a series of African American men and women were killed by police (along with the killing of Travon Martin by George Zimmerman). An alternative "movement" arose in response, which took the nomenclature of "All Lives Matter." This so-called movement, like the idea of "color-blindness" was, for the most part, an expression of what is sometimes called "white fragility." In this brief, but illuminating book, two Evangelical Christian leaders, one white and one black, ask the question "Do All Lives Matter?" While they would agree that all lives matter, they also understand quite well that in practice we've reached the point in American society where every life is valued equally.
The authors of this book are two friends, who have worked together in pursuit of reconciliaiton. They served as co-founders of the Christian Community Development Association. John Perkins is an 86 year-old African American man, who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of civil rights and building bridges across ethnic lines. This book follows on his recently published memoir -- [b:Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win|30259169|Dream with Me Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win|John M. Perkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467577533s/30259169.jpg|50731426], which is itself a worthwhile read. Wayne Gordon is a white evangelical pastor who served a congregation in a predominantly African American section of Chicago -- North Lawndale. Together they raise important issues about race, reconciliation, and justice.
There is a very urgent tone to this book. The issues are too important to put off with pietistic platitudes about being color-blind. They understand only too well that things are reaching boiling point. They are especially discouraged by what they see as the unwillingness on the part of the majority of white evangelicals to face the reality of our day, the unwillingness to accept responsibility for the way things are, as well as the history that got us to this point.
So, "do all lives matter?" While all lives do matter, they remind us that "the concept of all people being equal --- and all lives mattering equally -- exists as an aspiration, not as a reality" (p. 19). Until aspiration turns into reality, then it insufficient to make declarations that "all lives matter." As for the Black Lives Matter movement, until we recognize that black lives do matter, then we cannot say "all lives matter." Race still matters.
The book begins with the birth of the Black Lives Matters Movement, and then moves on to the authors sharing their own stories, and then moving on to the story of the United States. It is, as the title states, an invitation to "owning up." Owning up to American history means recognizing the stain of slavery and Jim Crow. It also requires us to recognize the genocide perpetrated on Native Americans. Of course, there is the struggle by women to gain equality. They are not alone. As Wayne Gordon recognizes, "I must admit that at times I feel embarrassed upon realizing my unmerited privilege," a confession I must make as well (p. 43). A chapter titled "Invisible People" raises important questions about how we view each other, and how we can ignore someone, and in doing so demean their humanity. How often does it happen, that a person of color or a woman is ignored during a conversation.
The second half of the book takes up he challenge of laying out a response. They start with common ground -- that is the recognition of people of good will on all sides, including law enforcement officials and Black Lives Matter activists, that the goal is achieving both peace and justice. Upon that foundation, the authors lay out a Christian response to the Black Lives Matter movement. They affirm much of the critque offered by the Black Lives Matter Movement and then lay out a path to reconciliation. In doing so, they note that "reconciliation will not happen as part of a normal course of events. It has to be intentional" (p. 64). In a chapter titled "From Tears to Action, Gordon recounts a worship service in which he took up a passage from Zechariah that spoke of children playing in the streets without fear. As he preached the sermon he broke into tears (both services). He recognized that the tears were a sign of understanding, but that is not enough. Understanding needs to be put in action. One of those actions was the development and training of people within his congregation to move into the community and work to train members of the community in non-violent responses.
The chapter titled "Let Us Sow Love" offers eleven possible responses to the crisis. The responses begin with prayer (specifically the Prayer of St. Francis), and include building relationships across ethnic lines as well as with people who are different in age, education, politics, and more. As they note, it's not about being right or wrong in our views, it is developing the ability to look at life from different angles. It might involve moving into a diverse community. In other words, most of these recommendations push us out of our homogeneous cocoons. They also involve pursuing things like restorative justice and working with police. In their closing chapter they speak of hope and the premise that all lives do matter. Getting there, however, will take a lot of work.
Being that I come to this book as one who lives outside the evangelical world, I could stand above it as if it doesn't apply. I could say, well that's an evangelical issue. But it isn't just an evangelical issue. The same tensions that exist in that community exist within the more "liberal" mainline Protestant world. Being that I am a white male pastor, I must own my privileged place in society. So, even though the authors address the evangelical community, the word here applies equally across the Christian community. The recognition that all lives matter remains an aspiration and not a reality even among those of us who see ourselves as more progressive in our thinking.
There is, therefore, much to commend about this book. Although there isn't a study guide, it will serve as an excellent resource for conversations about ethnicity and faith that need to take place in our congregations.
The authors of this book are two friends, who have worked together in pursuit of reconciliaiton. They served as co-founders of the Christian Community Development Association. John Perkins is an 86 year-old African American man, who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of civil rights and building bridges across ethnic lines. This book follows on his recently published memoir -- [b:Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win|30259169|Dream with Me Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win|John M. Perkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467577533s/30259169.jpg|50731426], which is itself a worthwhile read. Wayne Gordon is a white evangelical pastor who served a congregation in a predominantly African American section of Chicago -- North Lawndale. Together they raise important issues about race, reconciliation, and justice.
There is a very urgent tone to this book. The issues are too important to put off with pietistic platitudes about being color-blind. They understand only too well that things are reaching boiling point. They are especially discouraged by what they see as the unwillingness on the part of the majority of white evangelicals to face the reality of our day, the unwillingness to accept responsibility for the way things are, as well as the history that got us to this point.
So, "do all lives matter?" While all lives do matter, they remind us that "the concept of all people being equal --- and all lives mattering equally -- exists as an aspiration, not as a reality" (p. 19). Until aspiration turns into reality, then it insufficient to make declarations that "all lives matter." As for the Black Lives Matter movement, until we recognize that black lives do matter, then we cannot say "all lives matter." Race still matters.
The book begins with the birth of the Black Lives Matters Movement, and then moves on to the authors sharing their own stories, and then moving on to the story of the United States. It is, as the title states, an invitation to "owning up." Owning up to American history means recognizing the stain of slavery and Jim Crow. It also requires us to recognize the genocide perpetrated on Native Americans. Of course, there is the struggle by women to gain equality. They are not alone. As Wayne Gordon recognizes, "I must admit that at times I feel embarrassed upon realizing my unmerited privilege," a confession I must make as well (p. 43). A chapter titled "Invisible People" raises important questions about how we view each other, and how we can ignore someone, and in doing so demean their humanity. How often does it happen, that a person of color or a woman is ignored during a conversation.
The second half of the book takes up he challenge of laying out a response. They start with common ground -- that is the recognition of people of good will on all sides, including law enforcement officials and Black Lives Matter activists, that the goal is achieving both peace and justice. Upon that foundation, the authors lay out a Christian response to the Black Lives Matter movement. They affirm much of the critque offered by the Black Lives Matter Movement and then lay out a path to reconciliation. In doing so, they note that "reconciliation will not happen as part of a normal course of events. It has to be intentional" (p. 64). In a chapter titled "From Tears to Action, Gordon recounts a worship service in which he took up a passage from Zechariah that spoke of children playing in the streets without fear. As he preached the sermon he broke into tears (both services). He recognized that the tears were a sign of understanding, but that is not enough. Understanding needs to be put in action. One of those actions was the development and training of people within his congregation to move into the community and work to train members of the community in non-violent responses.
The chapter titled "Let Us Sow Love" offers eleven possible responses to the crisis. The responses begin with prayer (specifically the Prayer of St. Francis), and include building relationships across ethnic lines as well as with people who are different in age, education, politics, and more. As they note, it's not about being right or wrong in our views, it is developing the ability to look at life from different angles. It might involve moving into a diverse community. In other words, most of these recommendations push us out of our homogeneous cocoons. They also involve pursuing things like restorative justice and working with police. In their closing chapter they speak of hope and the premise that all lives do matter. Getting there, however, will take a lot of work.
Being that I come to this book as one who lives outside the evangelical world, I could stand above it as if it doesn't apply. I could say, well that's an evangelical issue. But it isn't just an evangelical issue. The same tensions that exist in that community exist within the more "liberal" mainline Protestant world. Being that I am a white male pastor, I must own my privileged place in society. So, even though the authors address the evangelical community, the word here applies equally across the Christian community. The recognition that all lives matter remains an aspiration and not a reality even among those of us who see ourselves as more progressive in our thinking.
There is, therefore, much to commend about this book. Although there isn't a study guide, it will serve as an excellent resource for conversations about ethnicity and faith that need to take place in our congregations.
alangmaack's review against another edition
4.0
When I picked up this book, I was hoping for a little bit more exposition on what the Bible says about the issue that all lives matter. Instead, this book focused on personal stories and experience, which, while they carry a lot of weight to them, are not the basis for why we, as Christians, believe that all lives matter.
I found the explanation of the Black Lives Matter movement informative. But I finished the book, still not understanding why the moment focuses solely on black lives. The beginning of the book argues that all races matter. But then says that Black Lives Matter is the movement to support.
I wish more time would have been taken to unpack what the Bible says about emphasizing the importance of caring for our neighbors. And I wish the chapter detailing the steps to what we can do practically would have been more in depth.
This book seems to be a good start to the conversation, but much more must be read beyond this book in order to understand it more comprehensively. Or, as the book suggests, conversations with those of other races should be engaged in.
I received a copy of this book from Baker Books. This review is my own honest opinion.
I found the explanation of the Black Lives Matter movement informative. But I finished the book, still not understanding why the moment focuses solely on black lives. The beginning of the book argues that all races matter. But then says that Black Lives Matter is the movement to support.
I wish more time would have been taken to unpack what the Bible says about emphasizing the importance of caring for our neighbors. And I wish the chapter detailing the steps to what we can do practically would have been more in depth.
This book seems to be a good start to the conversation, but much more must be read beyond this book in order to understand it more comprehensively. Or, as the book suggests, conversations with those of other races should be engaged in.
I received a copy of this book from Baker Books. This review is my own honest opinion.
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