What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gospel In Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Parents
How Should We Talk To Kids About Race, Racism, and Reconciliation?
Racism is a painful, complex issue, and can be challenging to explain to children. As Christians, we're called to view all things through a gospel lens, and that's why it's so important that we have honest conversations about race with our kids.
The Gospel in Color — For Parents is written specifically to equip parents to provide their children with a biblical perspective on race and racism, while celebrating the gospel’s power to bring about reconciliation.
Through rich illustrations and approachable text, this book helps parents present their kids with big ideas in an engaging way.
Racism is a painful, complex issue, and can be challenging to explain to children. As Christians, we're called to view all things through a gospel lens, and that's why it's so important that we have honest conversations about race with our kids.
The Gospel in Color — For Parents is written specifically to equip parents to provide their children with a biblical perspective on race and racism, while celebrating the gospel’s power to bring about reconciliation.
Through rich illustrations and approachable text, this book helps parents present their kids with big ideas in an engaging way.
108 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2018
3 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 10, 2021
This book is an attempt at merging the biblical truths of the gospel and reconciliation and some of the primary tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT). The main problem with this attempt is that these two worldviews are completely contradictory. The gospel teaches that Christ came and died for sinners in order that they be redeemed to God that they are now justified in Christ, their sin no longer condemns them, and they are granted eternal life in heaven with God. CRT is a worldview with no redemption, salvation or forgiveness. It twists history in order to meet its own current political aims and places an unbearable burden on individuals. The authors incorporate this ideology into their premise through the inclusion of the false historical narrative that CRT preaches by placing the blame of the sin of slavery and racism primarily on the shoulders of western European nations. This is a complete ignorance towards the rest of human history where the sin of slavery and racism has reared its ugly head virtually everywhere. The authors ignore the horrors of the Arabian slave trade or even the fact that Africans enslaved other Africans for centuries before Europeans began the trans-Atlantic slave trade and even still practice slavery in many parts of Africa today. Now, the authors wanted to make this book brief so I know they couldn’t go into great detail but to place the blame on western European nations with the sin of slavery and racism and to ignore the fact that it was those same western European nations that outlawed slavery and even went to war in foreign lands to end the practice only continues the lie of CRT that racism is only a “white man’s problem”.
Another issue I had with this book was its casual references to systemic racism today. This is also a pillar of CRT. The authors provide no evidence to this and simply state it as if it was an accepted fact by everyone. The ideology of CRT believes that the institutional principles that founded western civilization, which were primarily biblical principles, are fundamentally racist and can’t be redeemed, only torn down. The authors don’t state this in their book but they also provide no solution to systemic racism today, they merely place the guilt on our shoulders for it.
What the authors do get correct is the only solution to the sin of racism, which is the gospel. True reconciliation is possible only when people come to faith in Jesus Christ for their salvation and learn to love others the way God has loved us. Without the gospel, there can be no forgiveness for racism as there is no forgiveness for any sin. This, of course, is an individual level solution and the one that I would agree with, but the authors do not address any of the systemic issues of racism that they claimed to exist earlier in the book. It’s just unfortunate that this message of the gospel comes out a little shallow at the end due to the underlying principles of CRT in this book.
Another issue I had with this book was its casual references to systemic racism today. This is also a pillar of CRT. The authors provide no evidence to this and simply state it as if it was an accepted fact by everyone. The ideology of CRT believes that the institutional principles that founded western civilization, which were primarily biblical principles, are fundamentally racist and can’t be redeemed, only torn down. The authors don’t state this in their book but they also provide no solution to systemic racism today, they merely place the guilt on our shoulders for it.
What the authors do get correct is the only solution to the sin of racism, which is the gospel. True reconciliation is possible only when people come to faith in Jesus Christ for their salvation and learn to love others the way God has loved us. Without the gospel, there can be no forgiveness for racism as there is no forgiveness for any sin. This, of course, is an individual level solution and the one that I would agree with, but the authors do not address any of the systemic issues of racism that they claimed to exist earlier in the book. It’s just unfortunate that this message of the gospel comes out a little shallow at the end due to the underlying principles of CRT in this book.
June 14, 2020
Book 31/52 for 2020: The Gospel in Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Parents
I absolutely loved this short book. It firmly grounds racial reconciliation in a Creation - Fall - Redemption - Reconciliation narrative, first pointing out the goodness of Racial difference and briefly tracing the history of the lie of racism. It provides a clear and comprehensive view of the Gospel and how it applies to the very real issues of racism, all in a readable and helpful format. The book also includes questions for parents to consider, along with discussion points to use with children. Definitely on my recommend list.
I absolutely loved this short book. It firmly grounds racial reconciliation in a Creation - Fall - Redemption - Reconciliation narrative, first pointing out the goodness of Racial difference and briefly tracing the history of the lie of racism. It provides a clear and comprehensive view of the Gospel and how it applies to the very real issues of racism, all in a readable and helpful format. The book also includes questions for parents to consider, along with discussion points to use with children. Definitely on my recommend list.
June 17, 2020
This is such a beautiful book. It is steeped in scripture, it will make you think and process and open your eyes, it will leave you longing for Heaven! I loved how it walked through racial reconciliation in terms of the gospel narrative - creation, fall, redemption, restoration. You can easily read through this short book in one sitting, or take your time to really process through the scripture, the questions, and the guided prayers. I actually wish it was twice as long because the authors seem very knowledgeable on the subject!
June 4, 2020
Such a beautiful, insightful, important book to share with families. Seriously stunning artwork. And a message which is unfortunately incredibly relevant today. Our goal is always for reconciliation.
September 21, 2018
I had high hopes for this book, but it surpassed by expectations. It is so clear and concise. He speaks the truth about racism in our world today, but also connects the Gospel to racial unity. I ended up buying 100 copies to share with people at our church. I haven't found anything that compares to this book. It will be a go to for sure. I love the action steps given in the book so it is more than just a read and forget type of book. I will tell every parent or person who has influence on the next generation to read this book.
November 22, 2020
Racial reconciliation is a Gospel imperative
***
This companion book to a volume of the same name for kids attempts to introduce gospel themes at play in conversations of racial reconciliation. The effort is admirable, but I felt it to be a bit lacking in focus and drive. I think it's probably a help introduction for folks who are oblivious or reluctant to the conversation. And it's probably helpful for parents who genuinely want to have the conversation with their kids -- which I suppose it the point of the book, but wasn't my immediate impetus for reading it.
***
This companion book to a volume of the same name for kids attempts to introduce gospel themes at play in conversations of racial reconciliation. The effort is admirable, but I felt it to be a bit lacking in focus and drive. I think it's probably a help introduction for folks who are oblivious or reluctant to the conversation. And it's probably helpful for parents who genuinely want to have the conversation with their kids -- which I suppose it the point of the book, but wasn't my immediate impetus for reading it.
June 6, 2020
Quick, easy-to-read book that simplifies the biblical meaning of race, gives helpful definitions, uses history and Scripture to invite the reader into reconciliation with people of all ethnicities. And I’m not even a parent! Highly recommend.
June 18, 2020
I HIGHLY recommend this book for any parents looking for ways to talk with their kids about racial injustice. Clear scriptural references, beautiful illustration, and amazing insights from people who are living what they’re teaching. So grateful for this book.
May 10, 2022
This book is a great start on how to have conversations with your children about racial reconciliation, and also a good intro for anyone who doesn't know where to start to learn about it as well. I have not read the companion kids book, but highly recommend this to parents.
January 7, 2023
Pros: short and digestible, lots of scripture.
Cons: very surface level and lacked depth. Was hoping for something a bit more meaty. Felt like I could’ve just used the kids version and didn’t need the adult book.
Cons: very surface level and lacked depth. Was hoping for something a bit more meaty. Felt like I could’ve just used the kids version and didn’t need the adult book.
January 4, 2019
Really wonderful resource to guide parents in talking with kids about race. We have the kids book and will be going through it as part of our Bible time in our homeschool
Read
September 9, 2018Together with the kids' version (which I read a few days ago), this set works to equip families to combat the effects of racism on both the injured parties and the perpetrators. I wasn't expecting the extra art in the parents' guide. Stunning work! The beautiful layout just adds value to the content, though, which is clear and on point.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews