Separate No More: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your Church - Softcover

Peart, Norman Anthony

9780801063374: Separate No More: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your Church

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080106337X ISBN 13: 9780801063374

Publisher: Baker Pub Group, 2000

Even though our society has made great strides forward since the civil rights era, racial reconciliation remains an unresolved issue in the church. Norman Peart, founding pastor of a multiracial church and a sociologist, argues that reconciliation is basic to the church's purpose, even though the church has consistently viewed the topic as peripheral to its ministry. Peart shows through Scripture that, far from being optional, racial reconciliation is at the heart of the church's mission.

Aimed at pastors, church leaders, and concerned Christians, Separate No More focuses on three areas: the historical basis for America's race problem, the biblical message of racial reconciliation, and suggestions for change in the church.

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From the Author:

Hi! I'm Norman Peart and I am glad that you are considering my book Separate No More: Understanding and Developing Racial Reconciliation in Your Church. I enjoyed writing this book and I believe you will enjoy reading and interacting with it as well. My motivation for writing this book comes from my observation that although our society has made great strides forward since the civil rights era, racial reconciliation remains an unresolved issue in the church. Even though the Bible teaches the oneness of Christians, churches in America have not succeeded in practicing this reality. My observation has turned to a strong conviction that the heartbeat of God is to see the oneness of all those in Christ lived out in their daily lives. This conviction has led me to pastor a multiracial church, and to teach on race relations in both seminary and university settings. These experiences were used of the Lord to show me that racial reconciliation has not been realized in and between churches in America because this ministry is wrongly viewed as optional, or peripheral, to the purpose and ministry of the church. This condition can and must be changed to reveal the great power of the gospel to heal human divisions. There are three important points presented in the book that I believe will benefit you in considering this subject. First, the church in America has historically mirrored rather than transformed the racial divide that exists in this country. Second, racial (ethnic) reconciliation is central to Christ's life and ministry, and to the basic nature of what it means to be Jesus' Church. Third, we can evaluate the role our churches and our personal lives have in the ministry of racial reconciliation, as well as identify effective steps for improvement. I have included a lot of personal insights, and practical steps for highlighting this ministry in your life and church. This book is written for pastors and concerned Christians who seek a biblical basis for, and a better understanding of the ministry of racial reconciliation. If you choose to purchase this book my prayer is that it will benefit your life and ministry. Again, thank you for your time and consideration of this book.

From the Back Cover:

Even though our society has made great strides forward in social justice since the civil rights era, there remains a disturbing racial divide in our churches and among Christians. In Separate No More, Norman Peart argues that, although racial reconciliation has been viewed as a peripheral matter by the church, it should be at the heart of the church's message and mission.

Through this book, you will be encouraged to actively participate in the ministry of racial reconciliation and to lead your local church in pursuing the goal of being separate no more.

"I am particularly pleased to commend [this] volume to you for it furthers my vision for reconciliation and equips the church of the twenty-first century to resolve this issue for the sake of Christ's church. I wholeheartedly encourage you to read and apply its message." -John M. Perkins (from the foreword)

"Separate No More is a fascinating history of the problem of racism that defines exactly why we need reconciliation, and gives some of the best concrete suggestions so far on how to break the impasse." -Craig Keener, coauthor, Black Man's Religion and Defending Black Faith

"Dr. Peart's premise is absolutely correct in saying that racial reconciliation is viewed as optional. This project can be part of a movement to change that view." -Glen Kehrein, director, Circle Urban Ministries

"Here is one of the few books on the critical issue of race relations that confronts racism in the right way, in remarkable fairness, and for the correct reasons. Dr. Peart's argument, based as it is on the biblical basis of reconciliation, could scarcely be more cogently argued." -Paige Patterson, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

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