In America Today, Christians are divided on how to define the gospel. In evangelicalism, leaders express the central gospel message (in content) but neglect to apply this message to the social turmoil surrounding them (in context). On the the other hand, those in mainline Christianity see the church's mission as mobilizing social action to alleviate injustice, representing the Kingdom of God and loving our neighbors-while forsaking the message of Christ's atoning work. But we miss the full gospel if we choose one side over the other. Our behavior as Christians is an outward expression of what we believe, and what we believe should trace back to the words of King Jesus.

Racial and gender tension is at an all time high. D.A. Horton challenges his readers with the gospel of racial and gender tension. To see fellow human beings made in the image of God and to have empathy with the tension. He does not claim it is all one sided, however, that each side should not be one against the other. It is not about being color blind but recognizing differences and embracing and learning from the differences to make us a community of believers. He is advocating community and what that looks like. What does leadership look like in the community. Does it speak for all or one? Leaders must take lead in how we all address the gospel. Jesus is not just for the white person or the black, or yellow. Jesus is not democrat or republican. Jesus is for the Kingdom of God and the rule of God.

Horton's voice is a much needed and one that challenges us on what we believe about the gospel. How the gospel can be spread when we operate with all made in the image of God and not one with superiority. Highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to Tyndale House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Different groups describe justice differently. For some, it is about retaliation. For others, it is about making sure the culprits are brought to justice and punished accordingly. Then, there are those who would use perceptions of injustice to do other forms of injustice. In a divided world, it is not just definitions or perceptions that are divided. People are deeply divided over matters of religion, political stance, language, looks, and especially ethnicities. If there is one thing that is badly needed, it is reconciliation. It is about building bridges instead of walls. It is about learning how to live and to accept one another's differences with grace and humility. This is what the kingdom of God looks like when it comes into the world. The biblical story is divided into four seasons: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. As Horton works through the process of conciliation, he guides us with a theological principles of how the Church should practice and embody Galatians 3:26-28, the part about all people baptized into Christ, regardless of human distinctions. He warns the Church, especially the American Church about the "sin of partiality." If we take sides among our human race, then we are sinning against God. Looking at James 2, we learn about the dangers of using poverty and social ranks to judge people. We need to apply the golden rule. We need a "Color Blind Christianity," one that affirms a person's ethnicity. Affirmation is neither idolizing nor ignoring. Accepting one another's ethnic differences means we don't make it superior nor inferior.

As the author deals with the complexities of the divided world of opinions, perceptions, and tensions, he asks some pertinent questions:

What is ethnic conciliation? What does it look like?
How are we to show compassion?
What does it take to enable human flourishing?
Politics before faith? American Christians or Christian Americans?
What are the social commands of Jesus? Spiritual commands?
...

Apart from these, Horton also makes us face our own presuppositions as well. If there is any racial issues, remember that we are all part of the human race. He shares the story of a homeless man suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer wanting to receive the gospel. It seems like some of the most marginalized people in the world may very well be the most receptive to the gospel. Theologically speaking, the world we live in often push the gospel to the margins. If it is true that the discarded and the unwanted are most receptive, perhaps that is where more of our gospel work needs to be. Even as we work toward greater ethnic conciliation, it is important not to forget the higher calling to make the gospel known to all people, and not just to the people we like or feel comfortable with.

My Thoughts
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Ethnic conciliation and racial reconciliation is a long term project. It begins at a tender young age. I remember the times in which I have friends of all colours. We play together, eat together, and do many things together. Children don't have that tendency to distinguish between the different colours. By nature, they are gullible and innocent. The same cannot be said when they grow up and enter the larger world. Upon entering mainstream society, many people gravitate toward their own kinds, their comfortable cliques and their recognizable ethnic groups. Some would burst into a language they feel comfortable with. Others might do things according to interest and cultural patterns. It is inevitable for people to behave that way. The point is: Nurture often trumps nature in the world of ethnic relationships. It is not enough just to train children from young. What they learn then could easily disappear once the mainstream world takes hold of them. This is where Christians can lead the way to be children of God at all times. Horton shows us how to do just that. With the set of social commands, we are reminded to treat one another humanely, with mercy and grace.

Breaking the ethnic barriers is also a continual work in progress. Even if we succeed in one generation, with rising global movement of people and the growing refugee crisis in many parts of the world, we will always meet people from different walks of life. It is a case where instead of us going out into the world, the world may very well be coming in at us. Education is key and this book is one of many resources to help us do that. Having said that, teaching is one thing. Practicing it is another. Even though most people would agree that love, mercy, and justice are important, they all have different takes on that, just like the earlier mention about what justice means and how it is meted out.

For the work of conciliation to be sustained, we need as many partners as possible. From government to churches, businesses to individuals, whenever there is an opportunity to build bridges, use them. It is hard to build relationships, easy to break them. Education takes a long time. Tearing down relationships only takes a moment. Talk with one another more. Spend time understanding the different cultural differences. Learn to communicate at a level that is comfortable for all. Even while we acknowledge the presence of privilege, recognize the need to uphold the dignity of all. When in doubt, practice the golden rule. At all other times, work toward the practice of humility and love, grace and mercy, justice for all. "Together" is a great way to start, a great way to end, and a powerful way to journey with.

We need more reminders like this book from Horton. Every generation needs it. For all we know, this generation might need it more.

D A Horton is an assistant professor of intercultural studies at California Baptist University and pastor of Reach Fellowship, a church plant in Long Beach, California. He holds a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, a Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is currently working on his PhD in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Tyndale Publishing House, NavPress, and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

As outlined on the back cover of Intensional, D. A. Horton sets out to reframe the hostility and tension surrounding ethnicity, shifting the reader’s mindset from searching for “racial reconciliation” to “ethnic conciliation”. He believes “the words racial reconciliation usually trigger greater chasms of division rather than healing, repentance, and togetherness.” Horton argues that ethnic conciliation “is accomplished when we affirm (not ignore or idolize) the ethnic heritages of every human being and seek to remove animosity, distrust, and hostility from our interpersonal relationships.” going on to advocate that those who follow Jesus are the only qualified people to take up this holistic work.

He elaborates on this point, referencing Scripture, to illustrate the conciliation and reconciliation highlighted from Genesis to Revelation and the global mission given by Jesus to bring everyone into His family. Equipped with His Word and the Holy Spirit, as Christians, we are best placed to live out this ethnic conciliation work, and through it, share the power of the Gospel. Horton makes a compelling and well-thought through argument which I found enlightening and challenging.

“All people, of every ethnicity, gender, and social class, have the dignity of an image bearer and are therefore due equal respect.“ - From Intensional by D.A. Horton

Building on the above premise, that all people are made in the image of God and worthy of love, Horton summarises the creation of the concept “race” and it’s origins in privilege and dehumanization. Using history and the Bible, he explains the importance of, in comparison, ethnicity and our understanding of where we come from without allowing it to divide us.

“Privilege is not evil in and of itself. But we should be aware of it, and we should leverage our privilege for the benefit of those in the margins, to amplify the voices of those who are dismissed.” - From Intensional by D.A. Horton

Using the Biblical story as a guide, Horton illustrates a practical way to work towards ethnic conciliation. He paints a picture of what it would look like: compassion in our character, our communication, and our communities using Jesus’ parables to explain each. He creates a vivid representation for the importance of each, both to live more as Jesus did and to draw others to Him.

Being a pastor, Horton talks of how the church falls short for those in both the pulpit and the pews. He highlights the partiality the church shows explaining “partiality would not be a sin if it were consistent with God’s character. But Scripture shows us clearly: Our God is not a prejudiced God.” I’ve never heard the negative of partiality summed up quite so elegantly. Drawing on Matthew 7:12 “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”, Horton reframed it in the context of ethnic conciliation as “we do this when we refuse to show partiality or neglect people because of their ethnicity.” He continues the discussion through an analysis of the Last Supper before explaining a Biblically-based way to go about calling out partiality.

At this point of the book, I was sold on Horton’s approach and fascinated by the way he weaved the Bible into his argument. Believing myself an impartial person, I had only agreed with him and then I hit chapter five where he reframed “colour blind” for me, explaining “Unity is not the same as conformity – and Christian color blindness suggests that conformity is what is required for people of color to be a harmonious part of the body of Christ.” Continuing on from this, he shows God to be the designer of ethnic diversity. He unpacks it into practical steps to appreciate and advocate unified diversity through intellectual equipping ourselves, building interpersonal relationships, and operating with interpersonal endurance.

The next chapter talks of tangible repentance and walking alongside the marginalized. The Bible speaks of this frequently and Horton links this approach to that of the changes needed in the church, in our communities and in us as individuals. He walks the reader through our marginalized presuppositions and how to shift them to a compassionate posture, how to engage with people in the margins; and adjusting our prayers to stay in God’s strength and will.

Chapter 7 outlines a plan to mobilize transformation through the church and change how it responds to racism and prejudice. It is succinct, well-argued and, if actioned, would radically change our communities. Hortons discusses it’s challenges and shares his success and failure stories, he’s walked this talk. He doesn’t pretend it will be quick or easy but rather worthwhile and rewarding.

The closing chapter frames unified diversity as kingdom ethics for a kingdom ethnicity – becoming a brochure of Heaven. It is Horton’s call to look to eternity, to live out God’s principles and prepare to live in a diverse Heaven.

“We can root our identity not in where we live or where we were born but in God’s Kingdom, which transcends every country, culture, and comfort.“ - From Intensional by D.A. Horton

The book covers a tough topic and doesn’t beat about the bush when talking about the scale of the challenge but Horton does it in a way that instills hope! Hope in the power of God, in humanity’s ability to change, in the power of love and in compassion. Full of stories, Biblical truth and practical steps, I loved this book from start to finish and will be chewing over it’s wisdom for days to come! It’s a five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale and highly recommended!