Black and Reformed Seeing God Sovereignty in the AfricanAmerican Christian Experience edition by Anthony J Carter Religion Spirituality eBooks
Download As PDF : Black and Reformed Seeing God Sovereignty in the AfricanAmerican Christian Experience edition by Anthony J Carter Religion Spirituality eBooks 
African Americans have a rich and compelling Christian heritage that stretches back to foundational church figures such as Augustine and Tertullian. Yet too often they are expected to embrace a Eurocentric theology that marginalizes their unique experiences and traditions.
In this pioneering work, Anthony Carter draws black and Reformed theology together, showing how Reformed theology addresses African- American experiences such as the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. He also explores ways that an explicitly black theology can enhance our understanding of God and his Word, no matter our ethnicity.
This retypeset edition of On Being Black and Reformed adds a foreword by Thabiti Anyabwile, an interview with the author, and discussion questions for each chapter.
“As an African American, I am delighted with this book. It will serve as an excellent introduction to Reformed theology for the emerging black Reformed community. I anticipate that it will be a great resource for church planters and anyone else seeking to reach the black community.”
—ANTHONY B. BRADLEY, Author, Liberating Black Theology
“When I met Anthony Carter several years ago, I detected a rigorous mind, a righteous concern for racial justice, and a Reformed vision of God—a rare combination. Since then I have wanted to be a listener. Now this book makes that easier. May the Lord of nations use it to shape a powerful movement of God-centered Christians from all peoples who have tasted suffering.”
—JOHN PIPER, Founder and Teacher, desiringGod.org
Anthony J. Carter (MA, Reformed Theological Seminary) is lead pastor of East Point Church in East Point, Georgia, as well as an author, conference speaker, and guest lecturer.
Black and Reformed Seeing God Sovereignty in the AfricanAmerican Christian Experience edition by Anthony J Carter Religion Spirituality eBooks
Highly recommend this, especially for chapters 3 & 4. Other reviewers have made some excellent comments as to why this book should be read, and anythign I say might be considered plagiarism since I can't say more than they have. As a white conservative, it was enlightening to understand the black response to, "at least in bringing over the slaves, they got to hear the gospel". Carter's understanding of God's sovereignty /reformed theology helps settle this question. While slavery was not a good thing, using it as opportunity to reach these souls was a very good thing. Like, as Carter says, Joseph in the Bible, "you meant if for evil; God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20), the evil of slavery has produced a treasure trove of the gifts the black church has given the USA church--music, preaching, the spirit, etc. There is also a great quote in the book from Frederick Douglas regarding the true damage slave-owning Christians have done. Indeed, as Carter points out, had it not been for God's sovereign work the black community would have no reason for reaching out to Christ, considering the treatment they received from their "Christian" brothers and sisters. Reformed and biblical theology has served the African-American community in helping it create positive strides as opposed to thebitterness fomented by liberal/liberation theology.
Product details
|
Tags : Black and Reformed: Seeing God's Sovereignty in the African-American Christian Experience - Kindle edition by Anthony J. Carter. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Black and Reformed: Seeing God's Sovereignty in the African-American Christian Experience.,ebook,Anthony J. Carter,Black and Reformed: Seeing God's Sovereignty in the African-American Christian Experience,P&R Publishing,RELIGION Christian Theology History
People also read other books :
- Sundown on Top of the World A Hunter Rayne Highway Mystery Book 4 eBook RE Donald
- God Unveiled Our Creator Reveals All His Secrets of the Spiritual and Physical Worlds eBook Mike Kirkpatrick
- Dandelions In The Garden edition by Charlie Courtland Bob Helle Literature Fiction eBooks
- Laugh Until You Die Sunday Sharpe 9781519232656 Books
- The Perfect Gift edition by Caitlyn Norrel Literature Fiction eBooks
Black and Reformed Seeing God Sovereignty in the AfricanAmerican Christian Experience edition by Anthony J Carter Religion Spirituality eBooks Reviews
Best book I've ever read
Incredible work, this is an amazing book. This should be a required reading in all institutions of theological training. I read this at least once a year.
I believe we can summarize Mr. Carter's book with two or three quotes, He says, "We are no more like Christ, then when we forgive." He continues in the Appendix to describe how the members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church responded to the death of their nine congregants, "many wondered how the church would respond to the hateful rage of the young white supremacist who perpetrated the act. Unsurprisingly, the victims' family and the church responded with the love and forgiveness of Christ... the black church has frequently been the target of hate-filled... attacks... And yet her indomitable spirit still presses on because of her history and trust in a sovereign God."
Great book well worth the read!
This book gets to the heart of what many black Christians deal with on a daily basis. It answers questions about how we reconcile our culture and history with our faith. It not only affirms who we are but Whose we are. I recommend it to any reader desiring to bridge gaps between religion, race, and history.
A common push-back against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty (Calvinism/reformed soteriology) is “What about a good person who doesn’t believe in Jesus? Did God want that person to go to hell?”
That is perhaps the most frequent objection that I’ve run into when talking about these doctrines with other Christians. But for many African-Americans that is not the most common question. The most common objection might be more along the lines of “How can God be sovereign over a nation that practiced slavery, especially when many of the slave owners and traders claimed the name of Christ?”
In other words, if you think you have a hard time answering an objection about God’s sovereignty over the death of someone’s great-grandmother, try answering that objection when it touches someone’s entire culture.
This is why there is a need for a book written particularly about the doctrines of God’s sovereignty and how African-Americans should understand them. I’m grateful to Anthony Carter for writing Black and Reformed, because it is that book.
It should be noted that Black and Reformed does more than simply explain how God can be sovereign over an institution as evil as slavery. Carter patiently and succinctly describes the five-points of Calvinism, then distills reformed theology down to three points (God is king, we are sinful, and this points to the need for Christ). He ends with an appeal for his readers to believe reformed theology because it does 2 things it best fits with Scripture and it best explains the African-American experience.
Carter makes it clear that when he is describing reformed theology he is not advocating for confessional theology, any kind of millennial view, or infant baptism—in fact, I believe Carter himself is baptistic, judging by his church’s website. When he uses the term reformed theology he simply means the five points of Calvinism, plus an understanding of God’s sovereignty that is all-encompassing.
Black and Reformed only spends a few pages directly on the five points, but spends much more time dealing with God’s sovereignty beyond just salvation. This approach makes sense because the objection he is arguing against is not necessarily an individual’s election, but a country’s past which is rooted in evil. Carter doesn’t give God wiggle room, or try to diminish God’s sovereignty. Rather he proclaims that God “exercises kingly dominion” over all his creatures, and all his creatures are sinful.
The worse the sin, Carter says, the more evident our need for Christ. The worse the culture, the less education, ambition, sociological manipulation, or economic reforms can be seen as passible alternatives (“If you take a fool who is stealing railroad ties and educate him, he will come back and steal the whole track,” p. 55).
Instead, the doctrine of God’s rule over his sinful creation serves to direct us toward our need for Christ.
The last half of the book is spent on its main point there are three reasons you should embrace reformed theology; it is biblical, it is historical, and it is experiential. All three of these should particularly have a home in an African-American culture.
The biblical argument is self-evident, but the other two were presented in a way I had never thought deeply about before. Understand that the existence today of any strong churches that are predominately African-American is in itself an argument for reformed theology. How else would you explain it? The African-American culture has grown out of a history that forbid slaves from reading, attempted to use Christianity to justify exploiting slaves, and ultimately resulted in several denominations forbidding the evangelism of blacks.
People were afraid that evangelism would lead to emancipation. People were afraid that if converted, slaves would not want to work on Sundays. And many simply believed that blacks were “too bestial” to be educated to begin with.
Despite this, God left a witness in the African-American church. Carter describes some black pastors (some of whom even pastored white congregations), and then he describes the denominational splits that came out of this. Yet 200 years later there is still a strong evangelical presence in the African-American community. The best (only?) explanation for this is the sovereignty of God. Carter writes,
“Why should African Americans embrace a Reformed theological understanding? Because like any segment of the church, African-American Christians should see their experience and existence as being ordained by God, according to his plan and for his glory” (p. 114).
The existence of black Christians in the Untied States today is public proof that “God literally raises his church up from chains” (p. 66).
Finally, Carter says that you should embrace reformed theology because it is uniquely “experiential.” In other words, the basis of salvation is regeneration, which happens to you, and then results in a changed life. Its not simply about an intellectual assent—something that seems to skate by so easily in many predominately white churches—but is rather a faith that requires you to live differently. This emphasis on action fits nicely in an African American culture.
“Reformed Theology sees all of life, every experience, as being in the sovereign plan and purpose of God, and thus for our good and his glory” (p. 116). I think that better responds to objections about God’s sovereignty than any other theological system.
I hope this book is widely read because it presents a convincing case for the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. Carter succeeds in taking an area that many don’t often connect to God’s sovereignty (slavery), and turns it into a compelling appeal for you see God at work in your own life.
I had to stop after Mr. Carter stated that God Ordained slavery and once we are able to accept that fact, racism will no longer exist in the church. I was done. I'll stick to James Cone. Thanks
Highly recommend this, especially for chapters 3 & 4. Other reviewers have made some excellent comments as to why this book should be read, and anythign I say might be considered plagiarism since I can't say more than they have. As a white conservative, it was enlightening to understand the black response to, "at least in bringing over the slaves, they got to hear the gospel". Carter's understanding of God's sovereignty /reformed theology helps settle this question. While slavery was not a good thing, using it as opportunity to reach these souls was a very good thing. Like, as Carter says, Joseph in the Bible, "you meant if for evil; God meant it for good" (Genesis 5020), the evil of slavery has produced a treasure trove of the gifts the black church has given the USA church--music, preaching, the spirit, etc. There is also a great quote in the book from Frederick Douglas regarding the true damage slave-owning Christians have done. Indeed, as Carter points out, had it not been for God's sovereign work the black community would have no reason for reaching out to Christ, considering the treatment they received from their "Christian" brothers and sisters. Reformed and biblical theology has served the African-American community in helping it create positive strides as opposed to the
bitterness fomented by liberal/liberation theology.
0 Response to "[XOU]≡ [PDF] Black and Reformed Seeing God Sovereignty in the AfricanAmerican Christian Experience edition by Anthony J Carter Religion Spirituality eBooks"
Post a Comment