Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope

I greatly enjoyed reading this work by Dr. Esau McCaulley. It was the balm my soul needed.In a time where many are deeply wrestling with questions like these:"Is the God of the Scriptures truly a God of justice?""Does God care about the perils of the oppressed?""Is Christianity in some sense at its core, truly the white man's religion? Is Jesus truly a Savior for Black people?""Am I wrong for believing that the Scriptural witness leads us away from complicity with the status quo?""Were my African ancestors foolish to trust in Jesus?"Esau takes us back to consider the wisdom and faithfulness of the historic Black Church tradition that is often undervalued in many circles as he combines his own life story with necessary historical, theological, and cultural reflection.In reviewing Black biblical interpretation in Chapter 1 “The South Got Somethin’ to Say”, he looks back to Frederick Douglass and many other Black Christians of old as emblematic of the historic Black Church tradition. Frederick Douglass, at the end of “The Life of An American Slave” says that he made a distinction between the “Christianity of Christ” (The Christian message and faith at its very heart) and the “Christianity of this land” (which was hypocritical, violent, complicit with white racial oppression and slavery). And so it remains today.I really enjoyed Chapter 2 “Freedom is No Fear”. It also appealed greatly to the historian in me. The connections he makes from the activity of policing that Roman soldiers would perform to modern police is coherent and allows the Scriptures to speak more clearly into present day challenges.Chapter 7 “The Freedom of the Slaves” was extremely helpful and very heartfelt. Often, when it comes to the issue of slavery, it has remained the lingering hinderance to my continued faith in the Lord. I have often seen the explanations given by various Christian teachers and in bible study material range from "these are essentially employee/employer relationships" to "The Apostles weren't inspired by God in the passages that only seem to regulate the institution"Esau makes a case that I believe is faithful and solid. It doesn't require us to throw out portions of the New Testament nor does it minimize the cruel reality of slavery (in any era) that has been often linked with violence and sexual exploitation, especially towards women. It gives Christians, but especially Black Christians, hope that the Creator God Yahweh, at the infinite core of who he is, remains committed to freedom and the ultimate liberation of both soul and body from sin and death through Jesus.Esau’s arguments from from Scripture, both Old and New Testament are very good. He takes a look at God's original intent at Creation, his redemptive work in history (what is God has in human history centered in the people of Israel to undo the effects of the Curse of sin and death in the world leading up to and now also through Jesus the Messiah and the Church), and his eschatological (final purposes and future for all of the universe). This was all very helpful and a MUCH better way to answer the question that doesn't eliminate every angst in me but settles much of this lingering question.I deeply enjoyed the whole book from beginning to end but these are a few chapters I wanted to highlight. This book is thoroughly researched but very accessible for the layperson. True enough to the tradition, he was PREACHING (cue flame emojis) at several points during the book. This was written with the marginalized right in front of him, with a view towards their spirits and bodies finding solace in Jesus and the Kingdom.Another great thing about this book is that it is not meant to be exhaustive in every respect. More could be said about the various topics that were written in each chapter and deserve (and already do have in some cases) their own books. Esau does do a great job for putting all this together. Well researched. It’s worth looking into the individuals and events cited for additional understanding.ALL IN ALL: Get this book for yourself. Order 2 or 3 for your friends. Order 8-10 for your small group. Order 60 for your local church. Make this part of seminary curriculum across the nation. It is very needed. This book in my estimation is in service to God’s Kingdom and a call for the Church to be worthy representatives of the King and to recognize the Spirit's work in the historic Black Church tradition.

Then we reached for Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, by Esau McCaulley.McCaulley has a good voice for reading, he does not waste words, yet somehow he manages to take time to explain. He speaks the truth in a firm, clear, and yet gracious way. He speaks from his own life and experience while also bringing to the table his roles as pastor and scholar.The first chapter opens with McCaulley’s mother doing her best to raise her children in the gospel, as he puts it. Like all children, McCauley grew in the culture and milieu of his neighborhood, of his family and school, of the people around him, the shows he watched and the music he listened to.He learned that evangelicalism in the United States shows a disdain for Black biblical interpretation."… [The] general agreement on a certain reading of American history that downplayed injustice and a gentleman's agreement to remain largely silent on current issues of racism and systemic injustice."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 11Later, he quotes Brian Blount, a New Testament scholar, in saying,"Euro-American scholars, ministers, and lay folk … have, over the centuries, used their economic, academic, religious, and political dominance to create the illusion that the Bible read through their experience, is the Bible read correctly."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, quoting Brian Blount, p. 20To our impoverishment! Indeed, the South has much to say to us, and we will be enriched if we have ears to hear.God has an ideal, yet so often, earthly models fall woefully short. We, as believers, have a commission to speak out against wrongs and injustice, and to do what has been placed within our power to foster reform. As McCaulley points out, “submission and acquiescence are two different things” (p. 51). We are to patiently yet persistently act for a better way. Slavery was just such an issue, and every Black who was enslaved did well to not only seek their freedom, but to actively protest the evil imposed upon them.McCauley pointed out the ways Jesus demonstrated the active defense of the downtrodden and marginalized. The apostle Paul addressed slavery by encouraging enslaved people to seek their freedom, placing slave traders among those who acted “contrary to sound doctrine,” (1 Timothy 1:10), including freed slaves in his evangelism teams, and actively seeking for at least one enslaved man’s emancipation (Philemon)."Jesus shows that those Christians who have called out injustice are following in the footsteps of Jesus."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 57Isaiah is filled with messages about bearing the fruit of justice, for the poor, the destitute, the widow and orphan. Paul also spoke of the demonic forces behind the “present evil age,” such as the evil in slavery, in economic exploitation of the powerful over the powerless, and the economic, social, and political oppression we see even today.Jesus spoke of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for the continuing desire and prayer that God would make things right. Therefore,“… peacemaking cannot be separated from truth telling …"Jesus does not say make peace between Christians, but make peace. He doesn't say establish peace by making them Christians, but make peace. Why? Because peacemaking can be evangelistic. Through our efforts to bring peace we show the world the kind of King and Kingdom we represent."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 68, 69Every page speaks of the great value God has settled upon those whom God loves. The entire trajectory of the biblical narrative is God coming to the rescue of God’s beloved. Again and again, God has set God’s people free. In particular, the story of the Exodus resonates in the African American experience. God heard the people’s cry, burdened under cruel enslavement. God powerfully overwhelmed their oppressors, God raised them up to become a people, and God established them in lives of blessing.It took centuries. But, as McCauley states, “a dream deferred is not a dream denied” (p. 84) Amen.In this chapter we saw Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah as those who had this narrative as their shared history. They longed for Messiah who would bring justice and righteousness. World systems that oppose God’s reign, dehumanize people, privilege the wealthy and powerful, will be done away with.In the next chapter, McCaulley reminds the reader of Joseph’s Egyptian wife, and their two mixed-race sons who were blessed by Jacob. Two of Israel’s twelve tribes were founded by men who were half Hebrew, half (very likely) Black Egyptian. What is more, there were many Egyptians and others who left with the Hebrew people on their trek across the wilderness (Exodus 12:38). The New Testament also includes named Black believers: the Ethiopian eunuch, Simon of Cyrene and his two sons Rufus and Alexander, and their mother who became as a mother to Paul. These are the multitudes God promised would be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)One of the more important chapters for us begins with McCaulley’s first encounter with the ugliness of racist hate, when he was only a little boy of eight. It is a heart-wrenching tale."Black children are taught strategies of survival that often come at the cost of their childhood or basic humanity."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 120For those of us who do not have to endure the constant onslaught of being made to be less-than, disdained, disadvantaged, distrusted, dishonored, this is a vital part of the book. Yes, strides have been made since the Martin Luther King days—who was assassinated for his largely peaceful protest movement. But racism persists in the United States, and abroad.This is why, McCaulley points out, such passages as Psalm 137 are so important, why they remain in the canon, though their content is deeply disturbing. As he says, “it is the duty of survivors to remember” (p. 125) so that better can come, and there will never be a return to the horrors of the past."Traumatized communities must be able to tell God the truth about what they feel …."The fact that Psalm 137 became a part of the biblical canon means that the suffering of the traumatized is a part of the permanent record …."Based on the example of Psalm 137, I contend that black Christians can and must articulate what has happened to us to God and to others as a part of the healing process …."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 126, 127It is what God does with this suffering and rage that takes our breath away. From Philippians 2,"What is God's first answer to black suffering (and the wider human suffering and the rage that comes alongside it)? It is to enter that suffering alongside us as a friend and a redeemer …"The Christian tradition says that the innocent ones suffered for us individually and corporately to bring us to God (Galatians 2:20, Romans 4:25) …."It is only by looking at our enemies through the lens of the cross that we can begin to imagine the forgiveness necessary for community …."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 130, 131McCaulley follows the history of theological though concerning slavery, citing one of the early church fathers as condemning the practice as early as the fourth century (p. 142) But, thinkers during the Age of “Enlightenment” deemed it necessary to have a class of drudges who would deal with the menial tasks of life to free the higher classes for the arts and sciences (p. 146)The book concludes with thoughts on the dialogical nature of the Scriptures and the Spirit, stating,"We have had to wrestle like Jacob until the text delivered its blessing …."The very process of engaging these scriptures and expecting an answer is an exercise in hope."Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black, p. 165.I heartily recommend engaging with both the scriptures and the Spirit and this slim volume so packed with wisdom.

This is a truly special book. It is both deeply challenging and profoundly inspiring. McCaulley offers considerable exegetical and theological insight, demonstrating ways that the Bible can speak—and speak with hope—to the questions and challenges that the African American community has faced in unique ways. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

I had to work hard to read this book and really take time to think it through - which are good things because there is so much to consider and think about! Wonderfully, Dr McCaulley takes Black theological and scholarship techniques and applies them widely.Now, I'm seeing the Ethiopian Eunach in a completely different light, as one who identified with the humiliation and suffering of Jesus due to his own social shame. Loved the chapter on Zechariah and Elizabeth and their faithfulness compared to the elder Black Church generations, holding onto hope as yet unseen and encouraging in their stance to younger generations keeping going, and enduring too. Also how God, the ultimate people creator, delights in and loves diversity in unity - how important it is that our ethnicity and physical form will endure through to the New Heavens and the New Earth. It really touched me that if we don't value and listen to those who are different we lose out - we miss something, an insight, a view, that someone different from ourselves has. We need to make the table bigger!The chapter on black and brownness in the historical Bible is fascinating and I wonder why we've allowed ourselves to make everyone blonde haired and blue eyed, at all. Why don't we see what is obvious? How have we managed to miss the Africans and more in the Bible? There's also a robust and erudite challenge to Christianity as the 'white religion', and how the Black Church used the whole of the Bible, not just the social justice angle - although this is an important element. Rightly the author reminds us that we all bring our own points of view to interpreting the Bible, but breathtakingly we need to let the Bible interpret, speak to us and change us! Maybe we don't do this enough.Painstakingly, Dr McCaulley carefully works through slavery in the Bible and what is means. He brings us to a God of compassion, who in setting up cities of refuge and enabling fair treatment, escape and freedom of slaves, reveals Himself as a God of freedom, not pro-slavery. Just people didn't want to hear. In highlighting the difference between God's perfect will and the Laws set up to work around the evil nature and desires of people, Dr McCaulley shows us how slavery was meant to be phased out not phased in. In light of this, anger, hurt and pain can legitimately be brought to the Cross, trusting that God will judge, restore and heal in this life and in the life to come. That this present state isn't what He wanted for us.Also seeing Onesimus as an escaped slave not a run away - words matter!

As a white reader from the other side of the world, I experienced this book as a gift—the gift of catching just a glimpse of the world and our faith through the eyes off another person and another cultural perspective. Much to think about and reflects upon.

Add it to the stack. This is a must read for any Christian.

This book may bear witness to the experiences of the Black Church trying to make sense of slavery and oppression in light of the Gospel. But it has something to teach all of us. It leaves a permanent impression on my own reading of the Bible, and a deeper love and respect for my BIPOC brothers and sisters.