A few months ago, in the middle of the lockdown during this COVID-19 pandemic, I became aware of a book study that was taken place with people from literally all over the world. They would be reading the book, “Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the way the Church views racism” by Drew Hart. Having talked to Drew a few times, and having a desire to read the book, I jumped at the chance to be in the book study. It was an incredible time of learning, growing, and having life changing and formational conversations with people all over the world
It was during this book study that I became aware that Drew was working on his next book “Who will be a witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance”. So when give an opportunity to become part of the book launch team, to read and review the book, I jumped at the chance.
You see one of the big reasons that I wanted to read and review this book is because of the questions that I was left with after reading his first book. The questions being: what now? what am I supposed to do? What next steps can I take in confronting racism in my own life and in the life of people around me? What practical, hands-on tools and ideas can I take and apply. What next?
After reading this book, I have some of those questions answered. Drew has provided me with some tools to put in my tool-belt (so to speak). Some next steps to take in my own life, and in working with the Veritas.
As I reflect back on the reading there are 5 chapters that stood out to me the most. First, chapter 2 and Drew’s insightful exploration into what he calls Liberating Barabbas. The faithful exegesis he does in this chapter confronts the way that many Christians read the story of Barabbas and the connection to Jesus death on the cross. As if the only way to read the story is that Jesus takes Barabbas’s place (and therefore our place).
Chapters 6, 7, and 8 gave me handles on ways to move forward to work for justice in the world, to confront my own brokenness, racism, and sin, and ideas on how to help the Veritas Community to partner together in the Kingdom work of racial justice. These chapters have stretched my imagination and challenged me to broaden my thinking and ideas on how to apply what I have been learning.
But probably the best chapter (and honestly the most surprising chapter in the entire book) is the last chapter, chapter 9 entitled “The Politics of Love” where Drew talks about the importance of the ethic of love in the work of being a witness to God’s justice, love and deliverance. He does an amazing job of calling Followers of Jesus to love people- even their enemies- as Christ calls us to. At times it is very easy to forget that our enemies aren’t against flesh and blood, but against the powers and the principalities. And Drew reminds us, that as we close the book, begin working for justice in the world, to not forget the most important tool in our tool belt, as people seeking to live and be like Jesus, is love. And that is probably the most challenging call of all.