Woke Church
An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice
An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice
“Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference.” –Frederick Douglass, 1845 The prophets of old were not easy to listen to because they did not flatter. They did not cajole. They spoke hard words that often chafed and unsettled their listeners. Like the Old Testament prophets, and more recent prophetic voices like Frederick Douglass, Dr. Eric Mason calls the evangelical church to a much-needed reckoning. In a time when many feel confused, complacent, or even angry, he challenges the church to: Be Aware – to understand that the issue of justice is not a black issue, it’s a kingdom issue. To learn how the history of racism in America and in the church has tainted our witness to a watching world. Be Redemptive – to grieve and lament what we have lost and to regain our prophetic voice, calling the church to remember our gospel imperative to promote justice and mercy. Be Active – to move beyond polite, safe conversations about reconciliation and begin to set things aright for our soon-coming King, who will be looking for a WOKE CHURCH.
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Short thoughts: I am mixed on the title. There is nothing wrong with it, but those that are in most need of the book are probably those that would be most turned off by the title. Woke has a connotation among people that are skeptical of the need for racial justice and I think I would have titled it differently.
But the book is worth reading. The early sections of history and biographical sketches about how the church has been on the wrong side of injustice, specially racial justice are well done. But I think the strongest sections of the book are about the prophetic role of the church and discussion of the prophetic in the Old Testament.
The final section is about how to be active in the fight against injustice. This is a descriptive look at Mason's church not a prescriptive descriptions. These are all in the line of John Perkins, who wrote an introduction to the book.
My longer thoughts are on my blog at http://bookwi.se/woke-church/
