Making It Plain: Why We Need Anabaptism and the Black Church

by Drew G.I. Hart

There is an answer to white Christian supremacy that is centuries in the making.
 
For many oppressed and vulnerable people, Western Christianity has been a nightmare. Just centuries after the life of Jesus, the rise of Western Christendom contorted Christianity into an instrument of domination and violence. The church fused with the state, sanctioning empire-expanding crusades, colonization, and chattel slavery. Author Drew G. I. Hart challenges the church to wake up to how this past persists in the present, calling Christians to confront the living legacy of plundered people and lands in the name of Jesus.
 
Making It Plain offers a novel pathway for Christians to live out a decolonial and antiracist faith in the aftermath of the convergence of the radical discipleship of the Anabaptist tradition and the prophetic witness of the Black church. In the witness of Black and Anabaptist Christian communities across time, we find a faith that takes the life and teachings of Jesus seriously. Despite oppression or persecution at the hands of mainstream Christianity, these traditions salvaged a liberating and peacemaking vision of Jesus right under the nose of empire and white supremacy.
 
Weaving together narrative history, theology, and practical guidance, Hart compells readers to engage the best of these faith streams to forge an Anablacktivist faith where everyone belongs, where everyone can thrive, and where everyone matters, especially the last and the least. The shared wisdom of these faith traditions offers signposts towards a Jesus-shaped, Spirit-filled, community-oriented movement capable of surviving and resisting new mutations of white Christian nationalism, antiblackness, and settler colonialism today. 
 

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his latest offering, Dr Hart's brought it all together to deliver a message. Everything he's written, read, discussed & thought about comes together in this prophetic call to a North American Church who mirrors the dominant culture it finds itself in, a culture which is comfortable with its white supremacist colonial history. If you're one whose longing for more from our Church give this a read and let it rekindle your hope.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew Hart’s "Making it Plain: Why We Need Anabaptism and the Black Church" is an excellently written, passionate, encouraging, timely, and boldly honest book that doesn’t hold back. It takes us on a journey that explores the history of Christianity, revealing the ways in which religion has been used to uphold the power of empire and colonialism, as well as the examples of those who chose to courageously follow the radical, peacemaking, subversive Way of Jesus in the midst of that. Specifically, the book focuses in on the history and theology of two faith traditions – Anabaptism and the Black Church. As we learn about the rise of Christendom, the author explores the development of Anabaptism and the Black Church and how the adherents of these faith traditions uniquely responded to Western Christian domination, as well as the oppression and deaths that often occurred as a result. The book also examines the life of Jesus, giving us a deeper look at the sociopolitical aspects of Christ’s movement and vocation, which, the author observes, have often been neglected by the theology and focus of white American mainstream Christianity. By exploring the full Jesus Story along with the historical witness and oppression of Anabaptists and the Black Church under Christendom, the author reveals how these two streams of the Christian faith have exemplified a Spirit-filled, radical discipleship and prophetic witness that faithfully embodies the life and love of Jesus that is rooted in holistic liberation and justice for all people. Hart envisions what he refers to as “Anablacktivism,” a merging of Anabaptism, the Black Church, and Jesus-shaped activism, and invites Christians to courageously live out this inspired way of participating in the upside-down kingdom of the Messiah on earth.

In his examination of both Anabaptist and Black Church history, diversity, beliefs, and practice, Hart also provides honest critiques of each along the way, giving us a more in-depth analysis and further insight as we reflect on these two traditions and what we can learn from them. The book is packed with a wealth of extensively researched history and theology, draws on the work and observations of other scholars and theologians, and includes the author’s own experiences, perspectives and faith journey. Hart brilliantly weaves all of these together in a way that is easy to follow, honest, engaging, and creates illuminating connections that inspire, challenge and motivate. In doing so, Hart does indeed “make plain” the truth of Western Christianity’s past and present and the urgent need for Christians to resist all forms of domination in order to faithfully embrace the radical, peacemaking Way of Jesus that seeks justice for all of God’s creation. Hart also does not shy away from asking the hard questions that follow this call. As the book reveals a history of death-dealing practices of the Christian Church through its present-day status in mainstream American Christianity, along with an honest reminder of the continuing cries for justice among those who have historically been marginalized and oppressed under its influence, the reader cannot help but wrestle with questions of how an inspiration from these two streams of faith explored should inform our everyday lives in today’s political and social climate. This book challenges its readers in a way that is extremely needed, especially right now as we witness the oppression and injustice currently happening in our world, along with a growing disillusionment with Christianity. The book is also a loving invitation, to all who claim to follow Christ, to boldly confront our truths, to faithfully follow in the Way of Jesus that is rooted in justice, holistically heals and liberates, and inclusively loves others as we actively pursue God’s dream for creation here and now. "Making it Plain" is a gift to the Church, and for all those seeking a more faithful way forward in creating beloved community “where everyone belongs, where everyone matters, and where everyone can thrive.”

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We live in a moment when we are reckoning with the influence of Christianity in the West. Christian slogans and images show up on the Capitol on January 6th and in the politics and lives of people doing terrible harm. Christian institutions turn up in innumerable stories of violence, abuse, and white supremacy.

In Making it Plain, Dr. Drew Hart spends some time diagnosing the problems of historic and contemporary Christianity. He tells the story of how the early Jesus movement - a multivocal, mostly radically loving and justice oriented Jewish renewal sect - became the institutional Western church associated with imperialism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, colonial plunder and slavery, and white American Jesus culture.

Dr. Hart then spends more time introducing us to the two streams of counter-cultural, protest Christianity that have most shaped his life and practice - the historic Black church in America, and the anabaptist streams of Christian life and thought. Hart knows these traditions intimately enough to both celebrate their strengths and gifts and to critique their blind spots and problems. But he makes a compelling case that together, these two traditions provide the depth, courage, and resources to help us embrace an authentic, counter-cultural, liberating faith that can meet our moment and help us pass something better to future generations. Those of us looking for a Way of Jesus that is truly good news for all people have a lot to learn from this book.

From the final paragraph:
"Black theology and Anabaptism together can help us navigate the sequel to Christianity's venture into empire-building, racialized slavery, and genocidal conquest, which is expressed through white Christian nationalism today. Two different traditions have each participated in God's salvaging of Western Christianity from within. And maybe disciples of the Messiah who learn from their intergenerational wisdom might once again be able to perceive the Way that is liberating and peacemaking and resembles the life and teachings of Jesus."

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making It Plain moves beyond the mainstream Christianity that has left many feeling disenfranchised and offers another way forward – Anabaptism and the Black church tradition. As Hart notes, these traditions have often existed on the margins of mainstream, western Christianity, which suggests that they have something significant and important to offer in this particular moment.

Hart provides practical historical and theological summaries of these traditions, stating why they can be helpful in our modern day. However, he also offers his own critiques of them and gives suggestions on how they can adapt in order to embody a more faithful witness in light of our current challenges.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an alternative way of understanding and following Jesus.

[Robert Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I sat down you with Drew Hart at Panera so many years ago, I've been on a journey to figure out how to be an Anabaptist but also work towards a more just society. I don't think I'll ever complete that journey but now I have a book as a resource that will help me articulate what I've tried to wrap my head around. This book has given words to my journey that I didn't know I needed.

I will not take on, personally, the moniker "Anablacktivist" because I don't feel worthy of including myself in the Black experience. I will, however, call myself an Anabaptist Activist. For such a time as now, we "cradle" Anabaptists need to rediscover our historical theological and ethical roots. And this book, again, has given me a resource to do so. Thank you.