
Purchase
THE DIVIDED MIND OF THE BLACK CHURCH By: Raphael G. Warnock
Theology, Piety, and Public Witness
NYU Press
December 2013
On Sale: December 3, 2013
278 pages ISBN: 0814794467 EAN: 9780814794463 Kindle: B00FRHUE84 Hardcover / e-Book
Add to Wish List
Non-Fiction Religion
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 communityβs 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 armβs 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. In Piety or Protest, Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,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 churchβs essential mission.
 Media BuzzTell Me More - January 20, 2014 Tell Me More - January 10, 2014 Tell Me More - January 10, 2014
|