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How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible Says, and the First Christians Knew, about Racial Reconciliation
Why must everything be so black and white? Like many of us, Derwin Gray is weary of the racial divide in our society. He longs to see hurts healed, wrongs corrected, and trust replace distrust.
The good news is that the Bible has a lot to say about how to heal our persistent racial divides. In this book, popular Bible teacher Derwin Gray walks us through Scripture, showing us the heart of God—how God from the beginning envisioned a reconciled multiethnic family in loving community, reflecting his beauty and healing presence in the world. This message is central to the gospel itself.
After reading this book, you won’t read the Bible the same way again—and you’ll want to walk through this eye-opening scriptural journey with your friends or small group.
As founding pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic church located in the Charlotte metro area, Derwin knows firsthand the hurdles and challenges to the reconciliation that Scripture commands. That is why he carefully outlines in this book how to establish color-blessed discipleship in your own church.
Together, we can become the change that God yearns to see in this world.
The good news is that the Bible has a lot to say about how to heal our persistent racial divides. In this book, popular Bible teacher Derwin Gray walks us through Scripture, showing us the heart of God—how God from the beginning envisioned a reconciled multiethnic family in loving community, reflecting his beauty and healing presence in the world. This message is central to the gospel itself.
After reading this book, you won’t read the Bible the same way again—and you’ll want to walk through this eye-opening scriptural journey with your friends or small group.
As founding pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic church located in the Charlotte metro area, Derwin knows firsthand the hurdles and challenges to the reconciliation that Scripture commands. That is why he carefully outlines in this book how to establish color-blessed discipleship in your own church.
Together, we can become the change that God yearns to see in this world.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2022
59 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
About the author
Derwin L. Gray
26 books68 followersDerwin L. Gray is the founding and lead Pastor of Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, mission-shaped community with two campuses in South Carolina (Indian Land and Rock Hill), both just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Transformation Church (TC) was recognized as the 2nd fastest-growing church by percentage in America for 2010 by Outreach magazine. In 2011 and 2012, TC was again recognized again as one of the top 100 fastest-growing churches in America.
Pastor Derwin and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 21 years and have two children: a daughter, Presley, and a son, Jeremiah.
After graduating from Brigham Young University, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God's faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Click HERE to find out about the "Naked Preacher" who told him about Jesus!
Pastor Derwin and Vicki began an itinerant speaking ministry in 1999-One Heart At A Time Ministries-and Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, with a concentration in Apologetics. But following God's call on their lives and their desire to shepherd people towards transforming their world through the mission of Christ, the Lord transitioned Derwin from his primary role of itinerant speaker to being the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in January of 2010. Coupling his dynamic speaking style with a shepherd's heart, his intense passion for seeing lives and culture transformed is both contagious and inspiring.
In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Pastor Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide and is recognized by many as the "Evangelism Linebacker." He is the author of Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart, published in 2010, and Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future, to be released September 3, 2013.
Pastor Derwin and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 21 years and have two children: a daughter, Presley, and a son, Jeremiah.
After graduating from Brigham Young University, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God's faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Click HERE to find out about the "Naked Preacher" who told him about Jesus!
Pastor Derwin and Vicki began an itinerant speaking ministry in 1999-One Heart At A Time Ministries-and Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, with a concentration in Apologetics. But following God's call on their lives and their desire to shepherd people towards transforming their world through the mission of Christ, the Lord transitioned Derwin from his primary role of itinerant speaker to being the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in January of 2010. Coupling his dynamic speaking style with a shepherd's heart, his intense passion for seeing lives and culture transformed is both contagious and inspiring.
In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Pastor Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide and is recognized by many as the "Evangelism Linebacker." He is the author of Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart, published in 2010, and Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future, to be released September 3, 2013.
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January 11, 2022
Growing up, I thought that racism was a thing of the past. Like, I understood it was recent past. My (white) mom talked about how a Black family she babysat for in the late 70s was surprised she would take their kids out in public when she babysat. But I thought that we’d pretty much healed that divide, right? It was a new generation. We knew better now. And then I grew up. I first began to suspect that racism was still a big problem with the election of Barack Obama. On one hand, a Black man had been elected President. On the other hand, certain factions were burning him in effigy. And then I moved out of my nearly all-white rural town into a pretty diverse city. And took a ministry position where I was one of three white people in a congregation of 200. And then I adopted two Black children.
The biggest factor is my own journey toward being an advocate for racial reconciliation was simply awareness and relationship. I had people around me to share their experiences, to teach me, and be my friend. That sort of relational awareness is what’s at the heart of Derwin Gray’s How to Heal Our Racial Divide. Gray calls readers to go beyond hashtag activism or performative wokeness and develop a Holy Spirit-generated love for other people
In the introduction, Gray contends that racial reconciliation is not peripheral to the Gospel, but central to Christ’s mission and God’s plan.
The first part of the book takes a look at race in Scripture. Derwin takes a look at the way Scripture portrays ethnicity (correctly noting that how we current define race is a social, not biological or cultural construct) and makes the case that God has always been for inclusion and unity. In one chapter, he highlights Jesus’s interactions with Gentiles and how he went out of his way to invite non-Jews into God’s family. He presents the early church as a model of how to recognize and heal racial tensions and divides. How to Heal Our Racial Divide adeptly takes us on a sweeping journey through the racial divides of Scripture and shows us how we can learn from their examples to put within our current contexts.
The second part of the book moves from the theological to the applicational. Gray challenges believers to move from a colorblind ideology that overlooks ethnic identity to a color-blessed ideology that sees people in all their vibrant beauty and seeks to love everyone in all their diversity. In this, Derwin challenges the common evangelical belief in a gospel that’s too individualistic and consumeristic and instead points toward the early church’s gospel of community and conciliation.
Each chapter in the book ends with a prayer, a list of things to think about, discussion questions to either answer for yourself or as part of a group, and a challenge to do something practical. It’s easy to read a book. How to Heal Our Racial Divide prods us to go a step further and critically engage with the content and actually do something as a result. For so many who have recently awakened to this racial divide, however you came to it, you might be wondering what you can do. Derwin provides readers with a solid, biblical introduction to racial reconciliation that’s accessible for everyone.
Derwin also understands that a lot of his audience probably trends toward conservative evangelicalism. If you’ve been scared off by James Cone or Willie James Jennings, Derwin Gray might be a good point into the conversation on racial reconciliation. With so many outside voices lambasting evangelicalism (rightly!) for its subtle or even overt racism, Derwin is a calm, inside voice whose criticism is valid, clear, and compassionate. How to Heal Our Racial Divide is rooted in Scripture and worked out in the experience of Gray’s ministry. It’s a call to change, to reconstruct, rather than destruct; to believe that we can have a small part of the Kingdom now, rather than simply focusing on heaven; and to take seriously God’s call to be a multicultural and unified body.
As Derwin closes How to Heal Our Racial Divide, he writes: There is no better time than now to be a healer and reconciler. There is too much at stake for us to indifferent or complacent. Reconciliation matters to God; therefore, it must matter to us. We need more conservative evangelical theologians and pastors who think this way. It’s necessary for the future of the American church and it’s necessary for the flourishing of the Gospel. Derwin offers the evangelical church some prophetic words. Time will tell if they will be heeded.
The biggest factor is my own journey toward being an advocate for racial reconciliation was simply awareness and relationship. I had people around me to share their experiences, to teach me, and be my friend. That sort of relational awareness is what’s at the heart of Derwin Gray’s How to Heal Our Racial Divide. Gray calls readers to go beyond hashtag activism or performative wokeness and develop a Holy Spirit-generated love for other people
In the introduction, Gray contends that racial reconciliation is not peripheral to the Gospel, but central to Christ’s mission and God’s plan.
The first part of the book takes a look at race in Scripture. Derwin takes a look at the way Scripture portrays ethnicity (correctly noting that how we current define race is a social, not biological or cultural construct) and makes the case that God has always been for inclusion and unity. In one chapter, he highlights Jesus’s interactions with Gentiles and how he went out of his way to invite non-Jews into God’s family. He presents the early church as a model of how to recognize and heal racial tensions and divides. How to Heal Our Racial Divide adeptly takes us on a sweeping journey through the racial divides of Scripture and shows us how we can learn from their examples to put within our current contexts.
The second part of the book moves from the theological to the applicational. Gray challenges believers to move from a colorblind ideology that overlooks ethnic identity to a color-blessed ideology that sees people in all their vibrant beauty and seeks to love everyone in all their diversity. In this, Derwin challenges the common evangelical belief in a gospel that’s too individualistic and consumeristic and instead points toward the early church’s gospel of community and conciliation.
Each chapter in the book ends with a prayer, a list of things to think about, discussion questions to either answer for yourself or as part of a group, and a challenge to do something practical. It’s easy to read a book. How to Heal Our Racial Divide prods us to go a step further and critically engage with the content and actually do something as a result. For so many who have recently awakened to this racial divide, however you came to it, you might be wondering what you can do. Derwin provides readers with a solid, biblical introduction to racial reconciliation that’s accessible for everyone.
Derwin also understands that a lot of his audience probably trends toward conservative evangelicalism. If you’ve been scared off by James Cone or Willie James Jennings, Derwin Gray might be a good point into the conversation on racial reconciliation. With so many outside voices lambasting evangelicalism (rightly!) for its subtle or even overt racism, Derwin is a calm, inside voice whose criticism is valid, clear, and compassionate. How to Heal Our Racial Divide is rooted in Scripture and worked out in the experience of Gray’s ministry. It’s a call to change, to reconstruct, rather than destruct; to believe that we can have a small part of the Kingdom now, rather than simply focusing on heaven; and to take seriously God’s call to be a multicultural and unified body.
As Derwin closes How to Heal Our Racial Divide, he writes: There is no better time than now to be a healer and reconciler. There is too much at stake for us to indifferent or complacent. Reconciliation matters to God; therefore, it must matter to us. We need more conservative evangelical theologians and pastors who think this way. It’s necessary for the future of the American church and it’s necessary for the flourishing of the Gospel. Derwin offers the evangelical church some prophetic words. Time will tell if they will be heeded.
July 3, 2022
This is a timely book written in a style that is simple but sparkles.
April 12, 2023
A book that truly opens a person’s eyes to the brokenness in our churches: specifically with the undermining tone of racism that flows throughout the western hemisphere. This book was hard to read, but also was very encouraging. We as Christ followers are one multiethnic family that come from Abraham’s seed. Because of the blood of Jesus, we get to be apart of a color blessed discipleship; along with partnering with God and each other to be salts and lights for the kingdom. Must read (:
August 14, 2022
Very sincere in tone, from a loving and gospel-focused standpoint.
The first half of the book is an excellent study on the struggles of the early church in handling the spread of the gospel under the great commission. The author is careful to explain that while "race" was not the same issue that it has become in modern times, there were many instances of reconciliation (and bigoted behaviors toward individuals and people groups) when one examines scripture and understands the context of Jewish culture of the time. For this alone, I do recommend the book.
The second half of the book is more personal commentary on the part of the author/pastor, using his own experiences within the scope of the "multi-cultural" church that he heads. (I was perhaps not the target audience to find this aspect revolutionary, as I've never not attended churches with a membership ratio that represented a cross-section of the diversity found within the surrounding community. I would be very concerned about the spiritual health of any church that did not.)
Readers hoping for the author's perspective on Critical Race Theory will likely be disappointed. There is a glossing over of the topic. (From what I gathered in listening to a podcast featuring the author, he regards the teaching of CRT as a sort of non-issue boogeyman. Which is perhaps more related to the fact that his children are adults, and so not encountering this more recent bent in public school curriculums.) If someone has read more on this from Gray, please correct me.
The first half of the book is an excellent study on the struggles of the early church in handling the spread of the gospel under the great commission. The author is careful to explain that while "race" was not the same issue that it has become in modern times, there were many instances of reconciliation (and bigoted behaviors toward individuals and people groups) when one examines scripture and understands the context of Jewish culture of the time. For this alone, I do recommend the book.
The second half of the book is more personal commentary on the part of the author/pastor, using his own experiences within the scope of the "multi-cultural" church that he heads. (I was perhaps not the target audience to find this aspect revolutionary, as I've never not attended churches with a membership ratio that represented a cross-section of the diversity found within the surrounding community. I would be very concerned about the spiritual health of any church that did not.)
Readers hoping for the author's perspective on Critical Race Theory will likely be disappointed. There is a glossing over of the topic. (From what I gathered in listening to a podcast featuring the author, he regards the teaching of CRT as a sort of non-issue boogeyman. Which is perhaps more related to the fact that his children are adults, and so not encountering this more recent bent in public school curriculums.) If someone has read more on this from Gray, please correct me.
June 18, 2023
What a great and much needed book…written with both truth AND grace. After reading this book, you will never again find yourself asking (or agreeing with) the question, “What does race have to do with the gospel anyway? Just stick to the gospel”. It has EVERYTHING to do with the “Good News” of King Jesus’ unified, multiethnic family planned from the first pages of the Bible. And, as much as I was unaware of it before, it is a frequently addressed topic of both Paul, Peter and other NT writers if you pay attention. If our goal is to “preach the Bible” then this is an important topic we must address…especially considering the current state of racial tensions in both society and the church in this country.
I loved this paragraph - “Like the early church, we must familiarize ourselves with, and internalize, God’s story of redemption. The American church has co-opted God’s story and shrunk it to an individualized, reduced salvation of Jesus dying only for my sins. But Jesus died for your sins, my sins, and the world’s sins, SO THAT a forgiven, reconciled, regenerated, righteous, holy, loved, unified, and Spirit-indwelled family could be given to Abraham. Somehow we have been deceived into thinking that loving our brothers and sisters of a different ethnicity, political party, socioeconomic class, or gender is optional. Loving and living in unity is not optional. Reconciliation is intrinsic to the gospel of our King.”
It’s a must read for our current churches and even offers group discussion guides and a 4-part RightNow Media video series. (Don’t just do the video series though! It’s good but you’ll miss SO MANY important details if you skip the book) Good stuff.
I loved this paragraph - “Like the early church, we must familiarize ourselves with, and internalize, God’s story of redemption. The American church has co-opted God’s story and shrunk it to an individualized, reduced salvation of Jesus dying only for my sins. But Jesus died for your sins, my sins, and the world’s sins, SO THAT a forgiven, reconciled, regenerated, righteous, holy, loved, unified, and Spirit-indwelled family could be given to Abraham. Somehow we have been deceived into thinking that loving our brothers and sisters of a different ethnicity, political party, socioeconomic class, or gender is optional. Loving and living in unity is not optional. Reconciliation is intrinsic to the gospel of our King.”
It’s a must read for our current churches and even offers group discussion guides and a 4-part RightNow Media video series. (Don’t just do the video series though! It’s good but you’ll miss SO MANY important details if you skip the book) Good stuff.
April 17, 2025
*assigned for my Multicultural Diversity in Counseling class*
This was a very solid read that I appreciated being assigned for this semester. Gray effectively challenges the problem of racial division in the church by highlighting, among other things, how God’s redemptive plan for humanity must be and has always been multiethnic. It’s possible I don’t agree with every single stance expressed, but overall I thought this was strong and I was especially grateful for how he called attention to the damaging tendencies of hyper-individualistic faith in our culture in terms of its relationship to prejudice and racism. “As the multiethnic, redeemed family of God, we must see not only ourselves as being in Christ; we must see each other as being in Christ.”
This was a very solid read that I appreciated being assigned for this semester. Gray effectively challenges the problem of racial division in the church by highlighting, among other things, how God’s redemptive plan for humanity must be and has always been multiethnic. It’s possible I don’t agree with every single stance expressed, but overall I thought this was strong and I was especially grateful for how he called attention to the damaging tendencies of hyper-individualistic faith in our culture in terms of its relationship to prejudice and racism. “As the multiethnic, redeemed family of God, we must see not only ourselves as being in Christ; we must see each other as being in Christ.”
July 14, 2023
4.5 - This book is great! It’s biblically rich, faithful, practical and hopeful. He faithfully and methodically walks through the storyline of Scripture, showing that in Christ, God was faithful to giving Abraham a multi-ethnic offspring. He demonstrates from Scripture, how ethnicity is all over the Bible, and that through the death and resurrection of Christ, God brought about unity God and man and between an ethnically divided people—Jew and Gentile.
The 2nd part of the book is more practical. I loved the book!
The 2nd part of the book is more practical. I loved the book!
November 15, 2022
Fantastic book. Deals with racial reconciliation in a truly biblical way. Traces the desire of God for a peoples made of all the peoples of the world. Moves from the biblical basis to a biblical, practical way to deal with the racial divide within the church. This is an important read for today's church
December 5, 2025
It was okay. Kinda felt like it was trying to convince me that Racism is bad (um, yeah) so I don't think I was the target audience. If anything, it could have been more radical.
April 22, 2023
Derwin Gray has a doctorate in New Testament and has pastored a multiracial church. He is uniquely qualified to write this book. Dr. Gray uses a lot of scriptures on unity from the NT, particularly from Ephesians, my favorite of the Pauline epistles, and anecdotes on drawing whites and blacks towards racial reconciliation. He reaches out to whites in a way that's not inflammatory. He cast the NT church as innovative for integrating both Jews and gentiles.
As someone sick of the hostile political climate in this country, he hit the spot when he called out parishioners for leaving the church because of conservative or liberal views. That's just dumb. He also admonished everyone to subordinate their ethnic identities to their identities as Christians. My church has done something similar and received a fair amount of backlash.
As someone with dreams of uniting the global LDS Church through making everyone BYU women's soccer fans, I believe this book serves as a great supplement.
This book avoids all the divisive and inflammatory language used when discussing race issues today. It's also great for African-Americans with the aim of getting whites to care about police brutality and other social injustices.
There's a chapter titled, "Collectively Mourn Injustice." There's nothing in the Bible that expresses that, but we Latter-day Saints have "mourn with those that mourn" as a baptismal covenant in the Book of Mormon. We have an advantage as far as that goes.
Finally, Dr. Gray is a former BYU and NFL football player. As a BYU alum, I am damn proud that one of our football players became a successful pastor and New Testament scholar, and wrote such a wonderful book.
As someone sick of the hostile political climate in this country, he hit the spot when he called out parishioners for leaving the church because of conservative or liberal views. That's just dumb. He also admonished everyone to subordinate their ethnic identities to their identities as Christians. My church has done something similar and received a fair amount of backlash.
As someone with dreams of uniting the global LDS Church through making everyone BYU women's soccer fans, I believe this book serves as a great supplement.
This book avoids all the divisive and inflammatory language used when discussing race issues today. It's also great for African-Americans with the aim of getting whites to care about police brutality and other social injustices.
There's a chapter titled, "Collectively Mourn Injustice." There's nothing in the Bible that expresses that, but we Latter-day Saints have "mourn with those that mourn" as a baptismal covenant in the Book of Mormon. We have an advantage as far as that goes.
Finally, Dr. Gray is a former BYU and NFL football player. As a BYU alum, I am damn proud that one of our football players became a successful pastor and New Testament scholar, and wrote such a wonderful book.
June 9, 2022
This is an important book for the church and followers of Christ.
Here’s a quote, “There is no better time than now to be a healer and reconciler. There is too much at stake for us to be indifferent or complacent. Reconciliation matters to God; therefore, it must matter to us. For such a time as this, God has brought this book into your life.”
Excerpt From
How to Heal Our Racial Divide
Derwin L. Gray
https://books.apple.com/us/book/how-t...
This material may be protected by copyright.
Here’s a quote, “There is no better time than now to be a healer and reconciler. There is too much at stake for us to be indifferent or complacent. Reconciliation matters to God; therefore, it must matter to us. For such a time as this, God has brought this book into your life.”
Excerpt From
How to Heal Our Racial Divide
Derwin L. Gray
https://books.apple.com/us/book/how-t...
This material may be protected by copyright.
April 9, 2022
Derwin writes as a fired up theologian ready to break the divide of race all over the world. One of the best combinations of both historical accounts and biblical exposition on how followers of Jesus are called to be unified and bring the broken divided world back to God.
April 14, 2022
Much like a few other books I've read recently (like The New Reformation: Finding Hope in the Fight for Ethnic Unity or Redemptive Kingdom Diversity: A Biblical Theology of the People of God), Gray covers a lot of biblical ground from a theologically conservative viewpoint in order to argue that orthodox Christians need to care about racial justice. While not particularly new or profound for those familiar with biblical racial justice work, I really appreciated this book for its arguments about why racial justice work is gospel work. Gray highlights plenty of Scripture and history to show that caring for marginalized peoples is integral to the Good News of the Christian gospel. I thus recommend this to those interested in learning why racial justice is a part of the gospel, either for themselves or for their skeptical friends.
July 25, 2022
A must-read for Christians of all denominations and ethnicities. Without guilting or shaming, Pastor Gray walks readers through the Biblical basis for diverse Christian communities and explains how American Christianity has fallen short of that goal. He then details what "color-blessed discipleship" looks like and how we as individuals and communities can move toward a more Scriptural version of church life.
These two quotes from Pastor Gray stood out to me in our current cultural moment, "Every human bears the image of God and is worthy of love, respect, and dignity. I do not have to agree with you to love you. Love does not require agreement, just compassion." Also, "Entering pain that was not inflicted upon you is a great measure of maturity that blesses your brothers and sisters who are suffering."
A challenging, but rewarding read. Highly recommended!
These two quotes from Pastor Gray stood out to me in our current cultural moment, "Every human bears the image of God and is worthy of love, respect, and dignity. I do not have to agree with you to love you. Love does not require agreement, just compassion." Also, "Entering pain that was not inflicted upon you is a great measure of maturity that blesses your brothers and sisters who are suffering."
A challenging, but rewarding read. Highly recommended!
January 16, 2023
A readable, relatable book aimed at Christians. The book is in two parts. The first part makes the case for God intending from the start that his people, his Church, be multiethnic- beautiful in its diversity. We are one family through the blood of Christ.
The second part gets down to living it. It’s not a nuts and bolts how-to. Gray stays pretty theological but at the end of each chapter is a lot of useful material, including challenges to the reader.
A couple of Derwinisms I liked: gracism (as versus racism), and the new race of grace (the idea that when we receive the gift of faith we become new creatures- part of a new race).
Gray is relentlessly optimistic which we need in this time when the failures of Christians and the Church are all too on-display.
The second part gets down to living it. It’s not a nuts and bolts how-to. Gray stays pretty theological but at the end of each chapter is a lot of useful material, including challenges to the reader.
A couple of Derwinisms I liked: gracism (as versus racism), and the new race of grace (the idea that when we receive the gift of faith we become new creatures- part of a new race).
Gray is relentlessly optimistic which we need in this time when the failures of Christians and the Church are all too on-display.
September 27, 2023
I generally need a palate cleanser book or two to read after absorbing one about racial reconciliation. The topic comes with heavy ramifications, especially for those wanting to change realities in the culture around us. In contrast to that tendency, I finished reading Derwin Gray’s book with hope and inspiration. He didn’t pen a woke manifesto or a conservative defense. These chapters don’t play to partisanship or divisiveness. A winsome man in a mixed marriage leading a multicultural church just walks through Scripture, showing the heart of Jesus to demonstrate his creativity through diversity and unity through a shared mission. He made passages of the Bible come alive with cultural details I’d never previously read or heard.
July 4, 2022
A very well researched and written book that is so incredibly important in today's world where divisiveness and hate seem to rule the day. Derwin builds a map, using the foundational teachings of Jesus, that if we follow we can truly heal and truly come together as humans.
Is this book for me? The answer is a resounding YES.
As a white male, and practicing Buddhist, this is one of the most important books that i have read. This is the kind of book that you want to buy multiple copies of and share with people in your community.
“Enough is enough. We are going to heal the racial divide. This is our divine birthright as sons and daughters of God.” ~Derwin L. Gray
Is this book for me? The answer is a resounding YES.
As a white male, and practicing Buddhist, this is one of the most important books that i have read. This is the kind of book that you want to buy multiple copies of and share with people in your community.
“Enough is enough. We are going to heal the racial divide. This is our divine birthright as sons and daughters of God.” ~Derwin L. Gray
September 30, 2022
The title of this book drew me in and I am happy that I came upon it and read it. As a Christian we are to "love God and love one another". Pretty simple commands, but yet we still fail at loving others. Our churches are still segregated and we don't understand or know people of varying ethnicities. My own church is slowly becoming more diverse, but in regards to our surrounding population we have a long way to go. I love that Derwin's church focuses on being diverse and would love to attend there.
This easy to read book, has reinforced how vitally important it is to follow Christ's words and build relationships in order to accomplish racial reconciliation.
This easy to read book, has reinforced how vitally important it is to follow Christ's words and build relationships in order to accomplish racial reconciliation.
February 23, 2023
Derwin was an amazing football player back in the day. Changes his made is his life are remarkable and the influence he is having on others as a Christ-like individual are something I look up to.
His research to write this book was very in depth and I loved how he referenced much of the book with the bible. To hear his personal experiences and how they relate to today were very telling of what a blessed life I live. There is much learning and understanding that needs to take place on EVERYONE's part. Ultimately it is up to me to be Christ-like and treat others as He would treat them and in turn heal any racial divide.
His research to write this book was very in depth and I loved how he referenced much of the book with the bible. To hear his personal experiences and how they relate to today were very telling of what a blessed life I live. There is much learning and understanding that needs to take place on EVERYONE's part. Ultimately it is up to me to be Christ-like and treat others as He would treat them and in turn heal any racial divide.
August 4, 2022
This book read very much like a sermon. While I do not subscribe to the author's religious beliefs, I can appreciate that he is attempting to discuss issues of racism within the church. However, it ultimately fails to convey the magnitude of the issue and its entanglement with other forms of oppression. Additionally, it fails to acknowledge the full extent American protestant Christianity's complicity in racism. However, I could see this being a good starting place for those who have not yet had a hard look at themselves, their institution, and the harms they perpetuate.
January 3, 2023
This is such a solid and balanced book. Even in areas where you might disagree the tone in which the book is written encourages conversation, wisdom, and grace. All of which are often not found when discussing race in this day and age. Ultimately the book is solid because it spends the majority of the time arguing for the supremacy of Christ and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant in the bringing of people from every nation and tongue into Gods eternal family.
July 23, 2022
Fantastic book that brings Jesus’ words and the teachings of the Bible to life as an anti-racist text, and then gives action items for Christians and church communities to go forth with “color-blessed discipleship.” I wish I lived closer to where Derwin Gray preaches because I really loved what he wrote in this book and would love to attend his church.
February 1, 2023
This is a fantastic and important read for all Christians. Dr Gray does a fantastic job laying out the history of racial division in this country and how we move forward by centering our hearts on Jesus. In doing so we can recognize the ways we have failed and the ways we have progressed as a people.
October 4, 2024
I'm adding this to my "Must read" category...
Especially if you claim Jesus as your Lord.
It's eye opening and sheds light on racism in ways and areas that you may not have recognized before.
Derwin speaks clearly and said multiple things, in ways that just hit my heart differently.
He brings a fresh and powerful voice to this hot topic, and it's so needed.
A powerful book.
Especially if you claim Jesus as your Lord.
It's eye opening and sheds light on racism in ways and areas that you may not have recognized before.
Derwin speaks clearly and said multiple things, in ways that just hit my heart differently.
He brings a fresh and powerful voice to this hot topic, and it's so needed.
A powerful book.
April 19, 2022
Bravo Dr Gray, BRAVO! What an insightful inspiring book. The way you laid out so wonderfully God’s truth on the topic was a delight. A must read for us that been struck by the reconciliation mess and desire to be an agent of change. Truly awesome!
May 1, 2022
This book is so good!!! I don’t know what more I could say. Read it and share it. Derwin Gray says what needs to be said to the church with so much love and grace that I can’t imagine anyone reading this and walking away not challenged.
May 24, 2022
A powerful read - I appreciated most how Dr. Gray highlights the scriptural basis for a multiethnic church and brings deeper meaning to familiar stories about the early church.
We are the body of Christ - and to quote the book, ‘Diversity is God’s University’.
We are the body of Christ - and to quote the book, ‘Diversity is God’s University’.
May 28, 2023
Gray relates modern day racism to Jew and Gentile relations in the early church. While there are some key differences there, his arguments are sound and compelling and able to be digested by Christians of all backgrounds.
November 11, 2023
This was a tremendous book. Scripturally sound. Challenging those in Christ to be part of the healing of the great racial divides into one multiethnic and multicultural family of Abraham. Thank You Jesus!
December 10, 2023
I should not have done the audio version of the book, although I appreciate hearing an author read the book. There’s so much I wanted to write down and underline. This is a great look at the topic of racial reconciliation for the Christian.
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