A BLUEPRINT FOR KINGDOM DIVERSITY

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

Editors:

WALTER R. STRICKLAND II AND DAYTON HARTMAN

nashville, tennessee

For God So Loved the World

Copyright © 2020 by Walter R. Strickland II and Dayton Hartman

Published by B&H Academic

Nashville, Tennessee

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4627-7831-7

Dewey Decimal Classification: 305.8

Subject Heading: ETHNIC RELATIONS / RACISM / MULTICULTURALISM

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s publication but may be subject to change.

Cover design by Darren Welch. Photo © Bigone/shutterstock.

Contents

Foreword, J. D. Greear

Acknowledgments

General Introduction, Walter R. Strickland II

Part 1: Historical Context

Introduction, Stephen Brett Eccher

1. The Shaping of the Western Christian Mind, Dayton Hartman

2. The Segregated States of America, Steven M. Harris

3. The 1995 Resolution on Race; the Defunding of the American Baptist College; Nashville, Tennessee; and the End of Southern Baptist Paternalism, Keith Harper

Part 2: Public Theology

Introduction, Josh Wester

4. Bearing Witness to a Whole-Life, Pro-Life Ethic, Bruce Riley Ashford

5. Welcoming the Sojourner Leads to Church and Community Renewal, Alan Cross

6. Apologetics in Twenty-First Century Evangelicalism, D. A. Horton

Part 3: A Practical Theology

Introduction, Jarvis J. Williams

7. Shepherding toward Racial Reconciliation, Chris Williamson

8. Teaching Scripture with a Kingdom Hermeneutic, Walter R. Strickland II

9. Men and Women in the Body of Christ, Amber Bowen

10. Men and Women as Partners in the Gospel, Tony Merida

11. Tales from the Trenches, Daniel Im, Amy Whitfield, R. Marshall Blalock, and Dwight McKissic

Conclusion: In Pursuit of the Vision of the Lamb, Daniel L. Akin

Appendix: A Statement on Complementarianism, Matthew Y. Emerson

Bibliography

Name and Subject Index

Scripture Index

FOREWORD

J. D. Greear

“Kairos” is one of those Greek words that my pastor used all the time in the church I grew up in. He explained that it was a special word for time, implying a specially appointed moment in history. A time when God was up to something. A moment when God rewrites the narrative. I wasn’t sure exactly what it all entailed, but I knew I really wanted to be part of one.

I believe the American church is in a kairos moment regarding race and gender, a moment God has appointed for the church to rise up and demonstrate ...