The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety, and Public Witness

Raphael G Warnock

Des. 2013 · NYU Press

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An “altar call to action” from the U.S. senator and senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church (Publishers Weekly).
 
What is the true nature and mission of the church? Is its proper Christian purpose to save souls, or to transform the social order? This question is especially fraught when the church is one built by an enslaved people and formed, from its beginning, at the center of an oppressed community’s fight for personhood and freedom. Such is the central tension in the identity and mission of the Black church in the United States.

For decades the Black church and Black theology have held each other at arm’s length. Black theology has emphasized the role of Christian faith in addressing racism and other forms of oppression, arguing that Jesus urged his disciples to seek the freedom of all peoples. Meanwhile, the Black church, even when focused on social concerns, has often emphasized personal piety rather than social protest. With the rising influence of white evangelicalism, biblical fundamentalism, and the prosperity gospel, the divide has become even more pronounced. This book traces the historical significance of the rise and development of Black theology as an important conversation partner for the Black church. Calling for honest dialogue between Black and womanist theologians and Black pastors, this fresh theological treatment demands a new look at the church’s essential mission.
 
“An informative work for historians, theologians, and humanities scholars interested in debating what the Black Church needs to be doing in the 21st century.” ―Journal of African American History
 
“As a person who is not Black, reading this book provided a learning experience for me . . . I could also see this book serving as a way to spark discussion involving all ethnic groups as to how we can all, as fellow Christians, blend the goals of saving lost people and moving the culture toward equality for everyone.” ―Ministry
 
“Well-written and meticulously researched.” ―The Christian Century

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Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock is a United States Senator for Georgia. He previously served as Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, Georgia).