A Burning House: Redeeming American Evangelicalism by Examining Its History, Mission, and Message

by Brandon Washington, Eric Mason (Foreword)

Despite the civil rights progress he fought for and saw on the horizon in the 1950s and '60s, Martin Luther King Jr.—increasingly concerned by America's moral vision, admitted—"I've come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house." In A Burning House , Brandon Washington contends that American Evangelicalism is a house burning in the destructive fires of discrimination and injustice. The stain of segregation remains prevalent, not only in our national institutions, but also in our churches, and this has long tarnished the witness of Christianity and hampered our progress toward a Christ-like vision of Shalom—peace, justice, and wholeness—in the world. Common doctrine may unite black and white evangelicals, but rifts such as social ethics and cultural influences still separate us. Throughout this challenging but reconciliatory book, Washington gives a historical and theological appraisal of American evangelicalism to understand how we came to be where we are and what our response should be. Instead of calling the movement to become something new, he challenges it to live into what it has always been in Christ and strive for deliberate and sacrificial integration—the unity of believers of all ethnicities. A Burning House is a rallying call to a waning movement whose most public leaders have often turned a blind eye to, or even justified, the sin of racism—a movement whose theology is sometimes compromised by a secular anthropology. This is a call to both white and black evangelicals to better understand our past so that we can better embrace the unifying and comprehensive message of the gospel we preach.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Church, History, Faith, Race

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Kendra Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully diverse work (don’t skip the footnotes) explores the history of Evangelicalism and it’s defining features (orthodoxy and orthopraxy) in a successful attempt to identify whether Evangelicalism is worth saving. Brandon Washington is honest and striking in his analysis and yet compassionate despite his own real experiences of hurt by Evangelicals. Brandon has done a magnificent work of humbly and graciously calling American Evangelicals to repent of our neglect of the Gospel and to “reorient ourselves toward the king and his kingdom.”

[Tanisha Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written 💙

This book appealed to my interests because I read that it had a heavy sociological and historical focus. Half of my educational background is in sociology, particularly research involving Blacks in society, and I am always interested in learning more about history and how certain things came about that helped shape the "whys" of where we are today.

I started reading this book after I had heard tons of great feedback from others who had already read it or were starting it themselves. My interest continued to build until I finally dove in.

Needless to say, I was blown away by the level of care that the author put into the research and production of this book. It was so masterfully written it at times felt poetic. The author has truly established his voice as an evangelical while providing a comprehensive definition of the term as well as the current issues and solutions thereof for evangelicalism as a whole.

There were numerous quotes that jumped off the page for me, but here are a couple I want to note for this review:

"American culture is still reeling from the effects of the [black] inferiority myth."

This is seemingly a simple statement but I felt it should have been written in all caps to emphasize just how much it permeates our society. This is resoundingly true which is deeply unfortunate and even more so that it is taking place in the realm of many circles within Christianity.

Another quote:

"Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Phyllis Wheatley, and Olaudah Equiano were eloquent and convincing while identifying slavery as grossly ungodly. There was no dearth of antislavery voices. But their appeals did not align with the corporate assumption of a racial hierarchy, so their voices were unheeded."

This quote speaks for itself and sheds more light on the disappointing predicament we often find ourselves in when it comes to social justice. Many would rather ignore the plights of the unfortunate, and/or pick and choose those they support, and/or dilute the message to somehow make injustice acceptable.

Voices like Washington's and others need to continue to raise.

I think this book will be appealing for seminary students, as well as students of church history and sociology. It also should be offered in church bookstores and made available for Christians on both sides of the unfortunate racial divide we face in this country.

Multiple voices have made serious attempts to chip away at the problem over time, and if we keep pushing forward, hopefully one day we can truly break through the mold.

I highly recommend this read.

[Shonny Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rift amongst evangelicals surrounding social justice and racial reconciliation along with the exodus of many from evangelicalism has left me and many others as theological pariahs. On the one hand we are chastised and even deemed heretical for daring to stand up in the face of injustices in the nation and on the other we are ridiculed for daring to hold to an orthodox understanding of the Christian faith. Rhetoric from both extremes have become the loudest in public discourse, yet I find no home amongst them. A Burning House immediately appealed to me because it’s thesis was in line with where I, and many evangelicals find ourselves. It promised to bring to reckoning the quagmire in which we exist yet propel us toward the blessed hope that is ours.

Pastor Brandon Washington exceeded my expectations with this work. Not only did he carefully and succinctly define terms so that he and the reader have the same foundation, but he also evaluates American evangelicalism, historically, sociologically, theologically, and ethically. With great care and nuance, he takes us on a journey chronicling evangelicalism’s relationship with race and the culture that developed over the decades. He was honest on his appreciation of Europe’s spread of Christianity to the New World, and forthright on how European cultural supremacy morphed into the white supremacy that made its way into the American church. He rightly diagnosed that evangelicalism was co-opted by fundamentalism resulting in the manufacturing and dissemination of a truncated gospel that emphasized personal salvation and ignored the temporal relevance of the gospel message. Even in the midst of this, Pastor Brandon highlighted, that prophetic voices echoed through the world the requirement for believers’ allegiance to the mission of the church and the comprehensive gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in this regard, that he draws his conclusion on how we can put out the fire that is steadily ablaze and return to the true mandate of evangelicalism.

This book has inspired me in so many ways. Pastor Brandon’s diverse vocabulary and extensive historical and theological references were a joy to engage. There were so many moments in the book where I was challenged and inspired to read globally and explore how varying cultures and nations have contributed to the faith. This book also encouraged me to continuously examine myself and what I believe, not as a means to reject Christianity but as a faithful steward of ensuring I remain consistent with the faith given once for all. I am also encouraged to ensure that I am not simply holding to theological truths and mental assents but that my allegiance to Christ is demonstrated in the way I live my life. That I truly embody a saying I learned some time ago “Hear me walk and see me live.”

No matter where you find yourself in this divide, I challenge you to lay your pre-suppositions aside and with an open heart and mind read this book. It is my opinion that this book be a must read for the church and the academy. I truly believe years from now it will stand as prophetic witness to the culture and a beacon to the church to reorient itself back to the kingdom work, we have been assigned.

[Jody Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been the wife of a pastor for over 20 years. I grew up in an Evangelical church. Over the past five years, I have pursued and completed both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from an incredibly liberal University. (As you can imagine, my Facebook friends list is eclectic, to say the least.) I have a heart for social justice. I don’t subscribe to any particular political party. I love Jesus and I have found myself hiding in the closet of evangelicalism for a while now. Why? Because I feel like a round peg being forced into a square hole. The Gospel I cling to feels at odds with American culture, specifically American Evangelicalism. And for my friends outside the church, how they perceive the Gospel feels at odds with my faith. I have not known how to navigate the waters of American Evangelicalism that have wounded marginalized people in the name of Jesus and political power. It’s a lonely place to be and I have to believe I’m not alone in feeling this tension. I sat down with A Burning House hoping to make sense of some of these tensions.

A Burning House has helped me tremendously in my pursuit of the necessary framework to one, understand the fullness of the Gospel and how we can live it out. And two, it has provided me with an important framework for much-needed conversations (with evangelicals, ex-evangelicals, and non-evangelicals). More importantly, it provided me the freedom to come out of the closet once again to proudly proclaim that the Gospel is not only a means to salvation, but the fullness to which we live in the here and now. In this fullness, I am not only free to, but I am called to pursue justice. This very lifestyle has often brought critique from Christians and non-Christians alike. It’s what sent me into hiding. Washington reminded me of the truths I know and inspired me to step into them with boldness.

I won’t lie, there are some big words in this book. Washington has a brilliance that supersedes my lay(wo)man self. If you’re like me, you’ll need to get okay with being unable to keep up at all times. But it doesn’t matter. Keep going. I felt like I just got to take an entire seminary course for $27.00. The education is priceless. The truth speaks loudly in Washington’s words and you will be encouraged. Our divided nation needs this book at this time. More so than that, my prayer and my hope is that those who have been wounded by the Evangelical community to the point of “deconstructing” their faith with no reconstruction in sight will find a renewed strength to enter this space again. We need you to come back and help fight the flames. My prayer is that our hurting nation will see Evangelicals as a repentant people who care about their plight and offer the Gospel as a means of hope and healing, not as an excuse to further wound and silence our Black brothers and sisters (or any marginalized group). To put it in Washington’s words - “The disciples’ identity in Christ determines the ethical trajectory of their lives. Our actions should align with our affiliation to the King.” I’m so grateful for Washington’s sacrificial effort to help align me with the affiliation of my King.

[Alison Esselink · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Christian with American roots who still tries to maintain some connection to both aspects of my identity, I’ve been inundated with words like “ex-vangelical” and “deconstruction.” Already for some time I’d hesitated to identify with the term “Evangelical,” which used to be a neutral-to-positive synonym for “Christian with orthodox beliefs” before taking on the pallor of “retrograde fundamentalist” and then even “Republican.” Over the past several years Trumpism further exacerbated the unholy alliance between political conservatism and (nominal) religion. But not for all!

In his book, A Burning House, Brandon Washington brings the intellectual rigor and ecclesiastical commitment of a seminary-trained pastor to the pressing questions,
“What exactly is an Evangelical?”
“How did the American evangelical church come to be associated with a political party, whilst neither party is fully aligned with biblical values?”
“How did the American church end up as a racially segregated institution, when the Bible, and even the United States constitution, proclaim that all are created in the image of God (Bible) / equal (constitution)?”
“Why do some Christians seem to act as if the good news is only for our future salvation, when the Bible is so outspoken on God’s value for justice?”

Incorporating elements of national and church history, devastatingly unflattering biography and a few inspired counter-examples, Brandon addresses these in a style that is both deeply personal and authoritative, thoroughly researched but not academic — in a word, easy to read and compelling.
He generously continues to refer to the American evangelical church as “we” despite having been painfully “othered” by siblings In the church he refers to as “relational arsonists.” This reflects his deep commitment to the true and original meaning of the word Evangelical, his own realization that the gospel goes far beyond salvation to encompass social justice, and a deep-seated and hard-fought hope that the church can be healed by returning to its non-western roots and embracing the whole gospel (conversionism and activism).

While it makes a compelling case for why Christians should not prioritize “tribal” (political party) allegiance over unity in the church, this book left me wanting more in terms of practical implications of how Christians should responsibly engage in politics, and how the divided church should proceed towards (racial) reconciliation and unity. But I’m sure Pastor Brandon would reply that if they’re not in the book, they were purposely out of scope. Or maybe they'll feature in the sequel!

Read together with:
Esau McCaulley’s “Reading While Black”
Danté Stuart’s “Shoutin’ in the Fire”

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brandon Washington has delivered an excellent, if not uncomfortable, critique on the evangelical movement in America. It is Washington's desire to expose the lies and half-truths we tell each other (and have been telling each other for decades, if not centuries) to make ourselves feel good about our history, and pretend that sinful views on race, segregation, and superiority of the white man have not caused undue damage to the cause of Christ and the inauguration of his kingdom on earth.

However, Washington doesn't just want to expose evangelicalism, he wants to save it. And that is what I love about this book. Anyone can point out flaws. And taking shots at us evangelicals (of which Washington counts himself) is altogether just way too easy, given the amount of ammunition we ourselves bring to the party. But Washington delivers his forceful evaluation rooted in love. The truth is laid out unabashedly and without apology, but on top of a foundation of grace and humbleness. It makes the tough message easier to swallow, though no less convicting.

Washington has chosen the difficult path here - advocating for true change from within instead of jumping ship. Who could blame him if he said the house was not worth saving? But instead, he desperately wants evangelicals and the church in America to find its God-given purpose of advancing the kingdom of Christ on earth here and now; preaching and *living* a true gospel unencumbered by tribes, political parties, and sinful racial rhetoric.

I highly recommend this book. Washington's prose is easy to read and follow, though don't think for a moment this makes the book any less convicting or truthful. It was a convicting journey, and I applaud Brandon Washington for having the courage and faith to deliver a message the church today desperately needs to hear.

---------------
I noticed Amazon and Goodreads have a slightly different meanings to their 5-point scale. I thought it was odd to have a different rating for the same book on two different sites, so I came up with my own scale below. For the record, it is fairly close to Amazon's scale, but allows me to be consistent between the two sites.

5 - Fantastic. Life-altering. Maybe only 30 in a lifetime.
4 - Very good.
3 - Worth your time.
2 - Not very good.
1 - Atrocious.

[Ian Colle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well worth your time. The sole reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, is that it is a vast undertaking attempting to cover theology, church history, personal narrative, and cultural criticism all in the span of 211 pages (plus 40 pages of endnotes!) and I frequently found myself wanting more. I sometimes felt like I was flying through a roller coaster of theological education, with concepts whizzing by and on to the next one before I could fully process what I’d read. In hindsight I wouldn’t try to plow through this book in a little over a week like I did. Read a chapter, ruminate on it, read some of the references in the end notes, then return to some of the key points before moving on. It’ll be worth your time.

I am especially thankful for the author’s thumbnail sketches of two early leaders of the African American church, Jarena Lee and Richard Allen. As a seminary educated individual, I’m embarrassed and frustrated to say this is my first exposure to their lives. And this is exactly one of the problems the author is calling out. How much of “evangelicalism” has at a minimum forgotten Christianity’s non-Western roots (or deliberately neglected its non-white aspects), if not outright embraced an American individualistic lens through which to interpret the Gospel?

This is a separate problem from those in our current culture who uncritically use the term “evangelical” to mean only a generic “Bible-believing Christian” or those fundamentalists and Christian Nationalists who hide behind this more palatable term. The author argues that the term “evangelical” is too important to cede to the above pretenders.

A Burning House is Brandon Washington’s appeal to our better natures. Throughout the book he reminds us that we serve a king who reigns today. By forgetting that fact we skew our response and minimize our social action. He ends with this call, “(Evangelicalism’s) bad reputation is not because of who we are; it results from falling short of who we are...We do not need novel ideas; we need only embrace the ones we always had.” May it be so.

[Paul G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Black Christian Man who’s been deeply troubled by American Evangelicalism’s politicization and the resulting misrepresentation of our faith, A Burning House screamed at me to read it.

In this timely work, Pastor Brandon Washington doesn’t attempt to offer anything new. Rather, he takes a queue from 2 Peter 1:13 to “wake you (us) up with a reminder.”

American Evangelicalism has fallen far from its roots. And Washington carefully uses Bebbington’s Quadrilateral, historical receipts, and biblical evidence to state his case, pinpoint exactly where the inconsistencies of the movement lie with respect to social justice, and beckon American Evangelicals to return to our first love.

Other works have attempted to do this, but, unfortunately, they've done nothing more than misrepresent and mischaracterize their opponents and/or leave readers with no clear direction for a hopeful, Christ-centered solution.

With the precision of a scholar, the head of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and the ready pen of a prophet, Washington offers a passionate and timely call to repentance drenched with the hope of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

A Burning House carefully traces the history of how supremacy ideology has remained a constant among American Evangelicalism’s hijackers across political party lines, while highlighting historical and contemporary examples of ortho-balance that can serve as guideposts for repentance and resurgence.

This book calls on American Evangelicals to abandon supremacy ideology and recognize the valuable contributions of orthodox Christian voices that have been “othered” by this phenomenon. Washington also offers hope to Exvangelicals and Christians working through a virtuous deconstruction who feel as if they have no home in contemporary conversations about social justice.

Lastly, A Burning House inspired me to dig into some history I hadn’t known, to better acquaint myself with the contributions of Christians across the globe, and to explore more pointed ways to bring Christ’s Kingdom to bear on my neighborhood.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is excellent, nuanced, well-researched, empathetic and highly-readable. I'm impressed with Washington's grasp of pretty big swaths of history and sociology, and his ability to synthesize and leave room for complexity. He provides a strong argument for renewal of historic evangelicalism, and this is especially challenging to those of us who are tempted to chuck the label, given he is arguing from a black perspective and with his own deep awareness of the troubled racial history and present dynamics within American evangelicalism.

I found his argument inspiring and convicting, and I particularly loved that he included a chapter on historical method, as that is something that is crucially missing from many similar books that are trying to reckon with the current state of evangelical culture. The only possible ding against this is that the scope exceeds the page count in a few ways. On the one hand, it's remarkable that he managed to cover so much ground (historical analysis, sociological and demographic analysis, theological critique and synthesis, and practical theological and ecclesiological recommendations - it's a lot!), but at times it does feel like a bit too much, too quickly. I don't want to overstate that critique, though, as I think the succinct style and approachability will make this more accessible for more people, but given Washington's clear grasp of so much literature, I would have personally loved some more pages from him!

As it is, this is a wonderful little book that deserves a hearing in the midst of all the books that are arguing for abandonment of the term "evangelical" today. I'm glad I read it.

[Michelle Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Burning House: Redeeming American Evangelicalism by Examining Its History, Mission, and Message" by Brandon Washington. In this book, Pastor Brandon argues that evangelicalism in America has been deeply entwined with white supremacy throughout its history, from the days of slavery and segregation to the present day. This book addresses the intersection of evangelicalism, injustice, and discrimination

Pastor Brandon uses historical data, theological implications, social data, and draws on his personal experience being an evangelical as well as an intellectual, to make his case. He shows how evangelical Christians have often used their faith to justify and even promote racist beliefs and practices, from supporting slavery to opposing civil rights legislation.

Pastor Brandon also examines the ways in which white evangelical Christian churches have failed to confront and address their complicity in racism, and how this failure has contributed to the ongoing racial divides in American society. He argues that evangelical Christians must acknowledge and repent of their history of injustice if they are to truly live out the message of their faith and be examples of what the full gospel message look like.

Overall, "A Burning House" is a powerful and thought-provoking book that sheds light on a difficult and often uncomfortable topic. It offers an important critique of white evangelicalism and challenges readers to confront the ways in which their own faith may be complicit.

[Amy Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in a generations-long tradition of white American evangelicalism, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. One of the things I didn’t know was much about the experiences of others who looked different from me. Pastor and scholar Brandon Washington adds a powerful voice to the chorus of those sharing experiences, history, and theology that expand my perspective and help me “test my heart…to see if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:24).

This book will walk you through continents and centuries to tell the fascinating story of how the Church got where we are, but it doesn’t stop there. Pastor Washington challenges citizens of Christ’s kingdom to live out our King’s values by actively pursuing wholeness in the Church and in the world. He writes, “Our bad reputation is not because of who we are; it results from falling short of who we are.” A Burning House calls believers back to holy activism and the rejection of segregationist complicity, reminding us that “God is mindful of our present well-being, not just our eternal destination.”

One chapter I especially appreciated includes several mini biographies of Christians who serve as examples of “authentic evangelicalism,” embodying both right belief and right action.

Whether you’re skeptical that evangelicalism still has any redeeming value, you’re not convinced the Church has any place in conversations about racial justice, or you’re already all about living out a comprehensive gospel that values both orthodoxy and orthopraxy—or even if you just want to be prepared to answer hard questions in the culture around you—A Burning House will teach, convict, humble, and inspire you.

[Joelendil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though my core religious beliefs probably place me in the category of “American Evangelical,” I’m embarrassed to claim the title. It’s not that I’m embarrassed about believing the Bible to be God’s Word which points to faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as the only means of reconciliation with God and a transformed life. I’m ashamed of (and repelled by) the un-christlike political & social baggage that has become attached to the name Evangelical.

Brandon Washington addresses similar feelings in this book. He focuses especially on issues related to race/ethnicity, looking at the movement’s complicity in racism, slavery, segregation, and oppression. He traces many current problems to Christians wholesale adopting a manmade political ideology (either conservatism or progressivism) and indiscriminately supporting everything it entails in a quest for temporal power…rather than behaving like citizens of God’s kingdom, guided and shaped by his values, and working in the power of his Holy Spirit.

I am in general agreement with most of what he says, though some of his “kingdom power” talk smacks of over-realized eschatology. It is perhaps an overreaction to the sinful “we don’t need to do anything social because Jesus will return and make all things right” apathy which he is rightly rebuking.

I also felt that the book was very light on practical “so how do we fix this state of affairs?” applications (aside from general urging to pursue cultural change apart from partisan politics and to be willing to learn from people other than white Americans). Overall, there’s a lot of good food for thought here even if you don’t agree with all of it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon identifies important key terms that have been misunderstood as people talk past one another and defines them carefully before laying out a history of hurt in the American evangelical church and calls for repentance and reconciliation. This book is a generous act of hope as Brandon calls Jesus followers to follow Jesus in right belief AND right behavior. As a white American reader, I am convicted of how easy it is for me to turn off my concern for issues that I don’t think impact me directly; in reality, I am impacted by the truncated gospel that ignores the current reign of Jesus. Brandon powerfully lays out how all Christians should be living like Christ now and anticipating the future kingdom rather than being so focused on God fixing the future we forget that we are kingdom representatives today.

[Cheri Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hurt my heart to read. And learning what the author experienced in his own life compounded that hurt when I learned that quite a bit of his pain was caused by segregationist acts that were initiated and in some cases, continue to be championed by the Church – that same Church of which he is a part.

Lesser men have left the Church having learned what Brandon learned in this heavily researched work. That he seeks to redeem the definition of the word “evangelicalism” and right the ship toward a direction that brings fame to the King of kings is nothing less than a testament to God’s awesomely powerful and providential hand.

What is it the kids say? “This one hit different.”

Buy this book. Buy several copies. Share them with your friends. Have conversations about where we went wrong, and how to get it right.

[Carol Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analysis of when and how American evangelical Christianity truncated the good news of Jesus and became a political tribe. Washington continues to identify as evangelical, with a mission to save it from its current self; I think the foundation is too rotten for that; its hubris is too great. But I do think his recommended remedial measures are essential to the authentic way of Jesus, which will prevail.

[Luke Seibert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a unique and sobering perspective. His rehearsal of Western culture and evangelicalism provided a different lens of viewing the history. Specifically, this helped me consider the matter from the viewpoint of those who have been marginalized. While I don’t agree with all of the author’s conclusions, I believe this is a helpful book for us to consider the current state of fundamentalism and evangelicalism.

[Liz Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need this book from Brandon Washington in your hands TODAY. A Burning House, through honesty and theological integrity, provides a path of clarity to those feeling the strain of division and hopelessness - and a path of understanding to those blind to the shortcomings of the capital C Church. You will not be disappointed.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. A lot of info covered clearly and with really helpful, more-contemporary insights. A rare book that I first listen to and then go buy the hardback so that I can both enjoy it and mark it up for further referencing. Did 4 stars because the final sections regarding the international aspects felt a bit rushed. Having said that, thoroughly getting us to the present moment with such clear thinking, challenging heart, and great prose is pretty monumental!

As tempting as it ha been, I've never given up calling myself an Evangelical. Brandon Washington has just wonderfully buttressed that decision.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book written from the heart of a black evangelical who finds himself an "unwanted" guest in white American evangelicalism. His concerns are valid and should be taken seriously.