In recent years, evangelical Christianity has been on trial for its alleged complicity with slavery and racism. A puzzling question remains: Why didn’t Christian leaders question the institution of slavery for almost 1,800 years?
These three men who have long been sainted in the history of evangelicalism have a tainted past with slavery. The author McGever has conducted years of extensive research in historical and theological archives and organized them into a highly readable and engaging narrative. He also reminds the reader that today’s evangelical Christians, himself included, should own this embarrassing part of history. As he put it, “The lives of John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, and George Whitefield provide us a wealth of insight about navigating our lives today as we own what happened in the past in order to own our decisions today.”
By examining these three Christian men’s influences, participation by slaveholding, inaction, and action (Wesley later spoke against slavery), McGever weaves a rich yet engaging tapestry of social and religious landscape change of that time. By offering new historical details and theological discussions, he presents how slavery was embedded in the founding of white evangelicalism.
“Ownership” as a title is an appropriate pun, hinting at slavery as well as the author’s call to action toward readers of this book. In fact, the last chapter “Ownership Today” reiterates the need to “own white American evangelical Christian history.” The author carefully crafted this chapter to include guided questions that might be used for self-reflection and group discussion. For ministers and congregations that want to push themselves further on the racial justice journey, this book is a must-read. (IVP)
About the Author
Mary Li Ma is a member of Plymouth Heights CRC church in Grand Rapids, Mich. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and now works as a research analyst for a national research center on education equity.