The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety, and Public Witness

Religion, Race, and Ethnicity Series

by Raphael G. Warnock

What is the true nature and mission of the church? Is its proper Christian purpose to save souls, or to transform the social order? This question is especially fraught when the church is one built by an enslaved people and formed, from its beginning, at the center of an oppressed community's fight for personhood and freedom. Such is the central tension in the identity and mission of the black church in the United States.

For decades the black church and black theology have held each other at arm's length. Black theology has emphasized the role of Christian faith in addressing racism and other forms of oppression, arguing that Jesus urged his disciples to seek the freedom of all peoples. Meanwhile, the black church, even when focused on social concerns, has often emphasized personal piety rather than social protest. With the rising influence of white evangelicalism, biblical fundamentalism, and the prosperity gospel, the divide has become even more pronounced.

In The Divided Mind of the Black Church, Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., traces the historical significance of the rise and development of black theology as an important conversation partner for the black church. Calling for honest dialogue between black and womanist theologians and black pastors, this fresh theological treatment demands a new look at the church's essential mission.

The Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock serves as Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, Georgia). In the Religion, Race, and Ethnicity series

"This contribution to the enduring subject of piety and protest in black theological discourse is of special importance because it is written from the vantage point of one who stands in the gap—a competent theologian with a pastoral vocation—validating his craft in the trenches of social justice advocacy and community transformation."
-Cheryl J. Sanders, Howard University School of Divinity

Genres: Theology, Religion, Christianity, Race, Nonfiction, History, Spirituality

276 pages, Hardcover

First published December 6, 2013

Reviews

[Kevin Rosero · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title may sell the book short. This is a book about the black church, but it is a fine meditation on the meaning of Christianity, the role of the cross in any church, the role of a church in any society. It's a book about black theology, but its scope is not narrow and it is not just about race. Warnock describes the historical origins of black theology, and this achieves something valuable. He shows us that black churches of the past, certainly in comparison to white churches, were not producing many active theologians; that this made it easier for the black church in America to be shunted aside as unsophisticated and inconsequential; that black theology arose in the wake of the civil rights movement, and the black power movement, to fill this historical void: to give a fuller voice of God-reflection to black Christians. All this, without Warnock having to say so, means that black theology was not, as some might have chosen to characterize it, merely race-talk in a Christian guise; it was nothing more than black Christians doing systematic theology almost for the first time, and simply doing what whites had always done.

I call this invaluable because it sets the stage to ask questions that all Christians must ask. Whites and blacks, rich and poor, men and women, all may have varying answers; but the questions are universal to any Christian, and really to any person. Is faith in God a matter of individual piety, collective social action, or both, and in what ways? What is the relation between piety and protest? Is a church to be otherworldly or counterworldly, or both, and how? Can any Christian be concerned exclusively either with the "slavery of sin" or the "sin of slavery"? What is the meaning of the Exodus story for our time? What does the cross signify, and how are suffering, beaten communities to see it? Are they to see the self-sacrifice of Jesus, unto death, as the thing they must imitate in quiet and suffering obedience; or are they to see the damage done to Christ's body by the instruments of power and the governments who wield that power? What does God intend for us to see in the cross?

Theology may seem like an abstract field, but it is nothing more than discussing, for example, the meaning of Jesus' cross; and it's obvious how that meaning has real-life implications on the ground for all communities.

There is a great deal covered by this book, and to be appreciated in it, even for non-theologians and non-Christians. Race is the central theme but it moves on to womanist theology, and ends with a call for a black theology that is self-critical as well as critical; worshipful and not merely intellectual. The historical perspective, again -- describing race, slavery, church history and the civil rights movement -- was for me an invaluable feature of the book.

I studied at Union Theological Seminary at the same time that Raphael Warnock was there, though I do not recall if we ever met. Now that he is a recently elected U.S. Senator to Georgia, I can only salute his ongoing ministry, and highly recommend his book, if for nothing else, the questions it stirred in me.

[Simon Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raphael Warnock legt ein ganz besonderes Buch vor. Er beschäftigt sich nicht nur mit der Black Theology oder der Black Church, sondern mit beidem. Er untersucht in dieser Dissertation das Verhältnis zwischen beiden Strömungen. Greifen schwarze Pastoren/Pastorinnen die Entwürfe von schwarzen Systematikern/Systematikerinnen überhaupt auf? Wenn ja, was? Wenn nein, warum? Haben die theologischen Entwürfe eigentlich die Black Church als Zielgruppe? Diese und viele weitere Fragen werden beantwortet. Ich konnte viel mitnehmen. Sehr kluges Buch!

[Jens Hieber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read after Esau McCaulley's 'Reading While Black' and Reggie L. Williams' 'Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus'. They each in their own way were addressing a tension not only in the black church but within Christianity as a whole. It's been very illuminating to read and learn about this tension with regards to a context that I'm less familiar with. Warnock's book is probably the most academic of the three, but definitely still accessible and readable. I particularly liked his inclusion of womanist theologians and the contributions they bring to the discussion.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A theological history of the Black church and its relationship to liberation theology. 

If Raphael Warnock had not been my Senator, I am not sure I would have picked up The Divided Mind of the Black Church. I am interested in the history and theology of the black church, but there is also a reputation for pastors who are writing, and it is a mixed bag. Many pastors are writing versions of their sermons or lightweight content that can be helpful but not essential. This is a serious book of theological history, and I was surprised at how good it was. I cannot think of another politician with a serious theology book.

That being said, there are going to be many who will not be fans of this book and its conclusions. The central thesis is that what Warnock calls Black Theology did not arise until the start of the civil rights era and, even then, did not fully develop until what he calls the fourth stage of development of Black theology, the rise of Womanist contributions. Warnock is part of a progressive wing of the Black Church, and he is pointing to Black Theology as a liberationist theology. He is not denying the Christianity of those whose gospel is now primarily a liberationist theology. Still, he is saying that the focus on liberation has made what is now called Black Theology distinctive. In his third stage are James Cone and others writing a theology that fully embraced liberation and God's priority for the poor and marginalized.

I am not new to the history of the Black church, but the history and nuance between groups within the Black church that were the primary focus here were very helpful. I am wary of a narrow definition of Black theology that would exclude many in the early 20th century and before. However, I understand the distinction he is attempting to make. If you are brand new to the history of the Black church, I recommend starting with a more general history. But I also think that many more traditional Black Church leaders likely would take real exception to the Divided Mind of the Black Church because they believe that the Black Church has a history of standing with the marginalized and oppressed. But also because Warnock points to the fifth stage of Black Theological development that fully embraces sexual minorities in all areas of church leadership, many parts of the Black church are not on board with that step.

And that is where Warnock sees the divided mind. There is tension between social activism, cutting-edge prophetic liberation, and the personal piety of the Black church. Both are included in many expressions of the Black Church, but with different levels of emphasis. And there are real theological differences between those holding to male-only senior pastorates and those rejecting the full embrace of practicing gay and queer members within the church.

That being said, even if you are part of the more traditional Black Church, I think this is a helpful book because it teases out the tensions between the more progressive and more conservative/traditional wings of the Black church in helpful ways. And if you are not part of the Black Church, there is real value in understanding the discussion because other areas of the Christian church also have similar tensions, even if the lines are not quite the same.

originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/the-divided-mind-of...

[Delwyn Campbell Sr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Theological tail wagging the theological dog

He writes well in defense of a theology that has a flaw. Salvation in the Scriptures is NOT rooted in the exodus of Israel out of Egypt. It is rooted in the disobedience to the command “Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” the embrace of the serpent’s lie, “God knows that you will NOT die. You will become like God, knowing good and evil.”
Racism was no more America’s “original sin” than homosexual or transgender “phobia” is its current one. Failure to obey God’s commandment is sin; it reveals itself in various ways, which can include the dehumanization of other sinners. The woman caught in adultery was rescued from a death sentence that did not include her partner. She was also told to “Go and sin no more” - cease from her adultery.
Racism is a sin against God’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” So is encouraging the slaughter of infants, the destruction of the biblical definition of marriage and family, the denial of the distinctive alongside the unity of “male and female,” and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ breaks down the walls of partition that enable people to falsely claim that they are intrinsically holy and anyone who is not like them is intrinsically unholy. It does through the proper distinction of Law and Gospel: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23).
God is on the side of the poor, not because being poor is noble, godly, or righteous, but because men make being poor the mark of its opposite. Since whatever we DO possess is a gift of God, in relation to Him, we are ALL poor when we are disconnected from God, and rich only to the degree that we possess the true riches of His lovingkindness and tender mercy, “for His MERCY endures forever.”
As an African American, marked by my DNA which is evidenced by my complexion, and who wears glasses because of another DNA characteristic, I take comfort in the promise of our Lord’s return, “when this mortal will be clothed in immortality “ (1 Corinthians 15:53). On that day, I will still have a brown complexion, but I will no longer need glasses. In like manner, every nation, tribe and tongue will be represented in the Kingdom of God, with no one despising or denigrating another, and no one will be bound in behaviors or desires that are contrary to God’s revealed and perfect will. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. To God alone be the glory.

[Jon Bauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, as a white pastor of a predominantly white church, I don’t have any direct experience in this divide that is addressed. However, in reading James Cone and other voices of black theology in seminary, and in listening to predominantly black preachers when I listen to sermons for edification, I noticed a bit of the divide that was mentioned. But in fairness, I also bought this volume because I was curious about a book a politician wrote who also happened to be the pastor at MLK’s previous church.

Second, this is a wonderful historical exploration of the movement of black theology within and apart from the Black Church. This is a highly academic work that is full of quotes to help the reader engage with source material as the author walks them through the comparison and contrasts of the black church and black theology.

Overall, the book compares and contrasts voices within black theology and the black church, gives commentary to all sides, and ultimately leads the reader to a message of gleaning from each some things, but also leading to intersectionality in advocating for the oppressed voices of women via black womanist theology and those in the LGBTQ community because of the black churches, and black theology’s, emphasis on following a God of the oppressed. Critically, I felt that the concluding chapter wasn’t as robust as the others, but that the others were too slow in pace.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warnock's thesis surveying the situation and relationship of the Black church and Black theology.

This book likely generates more attention now that Warnock is a U.S. Senator from Georgia, but even if he had never graced the Senate, this is an important work surveying the historical situation of the Black church and Black theology.

Warnock identified four movements in the history of Black Christianity in America: the first encounter with the Gospel among the slave communities; the establishment of Black churches; MLK Jr. and the civil rights movement with a liberation emphasis; and now the fourth movement, the development of Black theology. Warnock explores the history of each and the crisis catalysts which led to the formation and development of Black theology. He considers the major characters in Black theology and their contributions to the field.

Warnock laments the divisions between the Black church and Black theology, the primarily individualist-focused church and the liberationist-focused theology, along with its neglect of womanist theology and the value of women in the Black church. He spoke of how he would like to see the Black church do better at absorbing and manifesting the insights provided by Black theology.

I'm an outsider to these conversations but found them interesting and historically relevant. Worthy of consideration.

[Antona Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in advance of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference held in Richmond, Virginia. As a seminarian, I read it with pen in hand, noting the similarities of my lifetime of experience in the Black church set against the theological studies from a majority European perspective. It is a great read for anyone interested in Black Theology, it was originally part of Dr. Warnock's dissertation. He has great resources at the end and ultimately invites more research into where the stalwarts of the Black Church - AME , AME-Zion, CME, National Baptist, and COGIC - will stand as we move closer to the second decade of the 21st century. Is the institution still relevant and influential? Is patriarchy a hindrance to a new generation? What about the new (old) social issues? This is a good study to explore these issues, especially for those in theological studies or Black church leadership.

[Roderick Pounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Church is at a crisis point in America and in the verge of societal institutional death. This book explores both the symptoms of such sickness and offers a solution for its restoration to health and viability.

I was inspired by this book and would highly recommend it to every Black pastor. We must embrace black theology both pietistically and liberatingly in order to develop a black conscientization necessary for ecclesiastical relevance and personal survival. Overcoming the divided mindedness in our Church will replace our steps back upon the path that leads to social uplift and societal transformation.

[Brianna Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words i learned from raphael warnock (thank u, senator)

Not even close to a comprehensive list somehow…

- nascent
- deleterious
- avers
- androcentric
- inimical
- dialectical
- concomitant
- immiseration

Anyway this one was not an easy read, as it is the book form of his doctoral dissertation. He delves into black theology, MLK, James Cone, womanism, the balance between personal piety and social liberation, and more. It was important work, and I’m better for having read it! (As is my vocabulary!)

[Graydon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Dr. Warnock traces the history of the Black Church by identifying four stages (liberating faith, liberating church, liberating movement, and liberating theology) and calls for a fifth stage of critical self reflection. His interpretation is guided by the juxtaposition of piety and protest, (the two competing values of the Black Church that form the “divided mind”) and he does a great job outlining the context of the Black Church and Black Theology.

[Anthony Mays · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book which challenges biblical loyalty

There is much sound historical research published in this work. However this book gives sanction to sinful practices which clearly contradict the plain statutes of God's Word. The Unity of piety and protest is commanded of God, but we cannot protest that which is established by God.
It is for this reasoning and more that I only give 2 stars.

[Chris Osantowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't live in Georgia, but I would have a hard time interacting with this thoughtful and nuanced book and not voting for this man. He speaks with compassion towards those he disagrees with and taught me many things I didn't know.

[Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a bad book, but it seems more geared to those in school/academia. Thus, the content is valuable to share in the church, but it is not a good book choice to do a church-wide Bible study on imo UNLESS the principles are taught without requiring the members to read the book.

[Kenneth Jackson Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Observation

Dr Warnock did a great job of displaying the schism of faith and intellectualism . inveterate racism, classism and sexism still plague the black church. This is a must read as a catalyst toward reconciiation in the black church.

[Tim Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful work assessing the origin of black theology and its implications on the mission of the black church in the present.

[Cathy Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordy and repetitive but for those unfamiliar with the Black church, the development of Black theology and womanist theology, an informative and nuanced treatment of those topics.

[Kari]

Read for class. Rev. Dr. Senator Warnock is so thoughtful. Some of his colleagues in the Senate are beneath him.

[Jamie Rottnek]

Absolutely fantastic overview of Black theology, the history of the Black Church, and the place of that theology within that church

[Marcus Singleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this important book on the Black Church and the state of Christianity. Warnock provides a way forward while considering the past and present realities. An alarm clock we must answer if we are to be true to Jesus' message of liberation.