A few months ago, I wrote a post about my journey in better understanding race – I’m a work in progress and I still have far to go in hearing and understanding the space that my friends of color live day-in and day-out. But my heart continues to beat for a Church that truly “gets” reconciliation and reflects what we will experience around the throne of God one day. A Church that is more beautiful exactly BECAUSE of its diversity not in SPITE of it.
In a talk that I gave at a recent retreat with the beautiful Redemption Chapel women, I talked about ways we can respond to the call for racial reconciliation. One intentional way that we can pursue reconciliation is by becoming more educated and exposing ourselves to voices that can mentor us in these truths. I mentioned several books that I’ve found helpful in seeking to develop my own understanding. I list them below along with some other books that come highly recommended by other leaders I trust and are on my way-too-long “to read” list. I’ve put asterisks next to the books I’ve already read.
Christian Living/Theology:
- Beyond Colorblind by Sarah Shin*
- Uncomfortable by Brett McCracken*
- Bloodlines by John Piper*
- United by Trillia Newbell *
- White Awake by Daniel Hill
- Many Colors by Soong-Chan Rah
- Letters to a Birmingham Jail by Brian Loritts
- Divided by Faith by Michael Emerson
- Bridging the Diversity Gap by Alvin Sanders
- Reconciliation Blues by Edward Gilbreath
Historical/Biographical:
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabell Wilkerson*
- Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.*
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
- Let Justice Roll Down by John M. Perkins
- Dream with Me by John M. Perkins
I’m a bit of a book junkie so I realize that a long list might feel overwhelming. If I were to choose just one for you to start with, it would be Sarah Shin’s Beyond Colorblind.
If you’re not much of a reader but still want to grow in this area of discipleship to Christ, I’ll follow-up later this week with a few other resources that are shorter articles or media-driven resources.
I pray that, as we pursue growth in understanding and in our relationships, God might increase our capacity to take risks in genuinely loving others and healing the painful scars that currently divide us.