David W. Swanson - Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity

W E LIKED YOU BETTER when you just quoted Bible verses!

Thats what an angry white Christian man wrote to me one day on social media. His comment stung when I first read it, but then I said to myself, I bet you did!

After thinking about it, I believe he posted this comment because Ive become much more vocal about exposing white supremacist ideology. For years, I intentionally avoided speaking out about controversial social and political issues because I believed that if I could convince Christian people that reconciliation was biblical, they would embrace it and pursue it. But that didnt happen! Instead, many of the evangelical Christians who invited me to speak at their churches, colleges, and conferences also voted for an American president who degraded and ridiculed women, people of color, immigrants, and people with disabilities. Thats when I knew I had to speak out more forcefully about the truth of racial reconciliation, which would require directly confronting the issue of whiteness.

It is deeply disturbing that so many Christians think that racial reconciliation is some kind of liberal, politically motivated social agenda that has nothing to do with their faith as followers of Jesus Christ. It is also an indictment on the church that so many Christians are discipled and dont know that the gospel includes reconciliation across racial, gender, ethnic, social, and cultural barriers. Discipleship is an invitation to follow Jesus into a new community. We are called to make disciples who create corporate, social change as a part of a new community that loves the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loves our neighbor as ourselves. Unfortunately, since so many Christians have not heard this message, there is an urgent need for rediscipling in the Christian community.

Thats why Im so excited about this book by David Swanson. David offers a new discipleship pathway by speaking honestly and precisely to white people and elevating the voices and histories of people of color who have been calling for a more honest conversation about faith and race all along. Rediscipling the White Churchis a unique contribution to this discussion because, unlike other white people who keep denying it, David tells the truth about the reality of whiteness in the church and society. He gives language to what many people of color have experienced and felt about the way whiteness functions. More importantly, however, he also is willing to take the hit himself and not just let people of color withstand the worst of the angry attacks from defensive white Christians.

David knows that racism is insidious, and he has chosen to expose how it operates so we can all see it and be healed of its power and influence over us.