Talking about Race: Gospel Hope for Hard Conversations

“Is the gospel that unites us more powerful than race that divides us? Where do you start Christians in a conversation about the vast topic of race in America? In this brief book, Isaac Adams gives us a wonderful resource to begin the journey. Adams points us to listening, empathy and love--along with prayer--as the place to start. He's right. This book will lower defenses and encourage love. I pray that God gives this book a great ministry among us, displaying the division-overcoming power of the gospel.”

“This is one of the most insightful, wise-for-the-times books I have read. It is so deeply needed, and I will be recommending it widely. My only regret was that it didn't come out sooner. I almost wept thinking about the thousands of churches that could have used this book in the summer of 2020--the summer of George Floyd. But I rejoice thinking of how many people will read it now. There are millions of people who need to read this book.”

“Making progress in racial reconciliation is one of the most pressing needs of the church today, and we desperately need gospel-centered, culturally adept, clear-eyed, humility-rich, biblically wise, prayer-soaked, unflinching-yet-gracious guidance in it. Isaac's book asks some great questions and offers much needed insight into both the biblical and cultural dimensions of these questions. I have come to love and trust Isaac's counsel in many areas, and in this book he is at his best.”

“Race and racism can seem like abstract topics. Everyone has an opinion. It's easy to share our opinions in the abstract. But how do we actually talk to each other about it, especially among fellow believers? That's what sets this book apart. As an African-American pastor in multiethnic settings, Isaac Adams knows how these conversations go well and where they go wrong. This is the book we need for relevant advice not only on how to think about an 'issue' but how to listen, learn, and love.”

“It's easy to pretend that the American church doesn't have a problem with race; it's even easier, when you see the problem, to despair. What's hard is to look our sins right in the face and still bring a message of gospel hope. That's what Isaac Adams does in this sober and strong, wise and practical book. May we all have ears to hear.”

“With clarity and insight, courage and compassion, Isaac Adams has provided an elixir of a book for Christians who are weary and worn out by the effects of the poison that often accompanies conversations on race and justice. Using realistic stories and Scripture to both illuminate the mind and stir the heart, he reveals the importance of learning how to lament and listen so as to more effectively learn and love the 'other,' whoever that may be. His insights are realistic without being simplistic, pragmatic without being dogmatic. So, for anyone wishing to learn how to betternavigate the challenging conversations regarding racial reconciliation, this book is a must-read.”

“Books and articles on race typically make an argument or offer a perspective, which are good things to do. Yet this book feels different. Isaac writes as a pastor who, more than anything, loves his sheep--Black and White, Asian and Hispanic--and wants to do them good. He wants them to love and to know love. I've not read anything else like it on the topic.”

“Isaac Adams's powerful new book is an invaluable resource for individuals and churches who want to get better at talking about race. Its innovative format helps us all to empathize with other people's hopes and fears, and to get why conversations can become so fraught so fast. If you're looking for a prayer-soaked, Jesus-honoring, grounded kick start to better conversations about race, this book is for you.”

“Sadly, Christian conversations about race and justice in the United States have been hijacked. Some radicalize the discussion, while others politicize it. Either way, the result has been a divided church. If you are grieved by the fracture between Christians in our churches and our culture, you'll want to read Talking about Race. Adams equips us to have the hard conversations by helping us understand the present vocabulary, allowing us to listen to the voices of diverse brothers and sisters, and pointing us back to the gospel of Christ and the Christ of the gospel--our only hope. So, my dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you. Let's stop assuming the worst about each other, and let's start talking.”

“Isaac Adams has written a clear, conversational, and accessible book to help Christians talk about race. Even when readers disagree with Adams's prose, analysis, and suggestions, they will still learn from the fruit of his labor.”

“Through Talking about Race, Isaac Adams calls us to navigate the race conversation as Christians in America. With gentleness, wisdom, and pastoral care, Adams will make you think more deeply about your own personal convictions, stereotypes, and biases that typically go unchallenged or unspoken. Whether or not you agree with every detail, you'll walk away having gained compassion and empathy for others and be equipped with biblical guidance and practical steps for how to move forward. I'm thankful for this helpful book.”

“When I wrote Beyond Racial Gridlock, I was asked to also provide a companion book to help Christians with this conversation. At that time, I wished I had written Talking about Race. This is the book I have been praying for. It challenges all of us how to speak to each other as believers who are struggling to discuss these sensitive issues. Adams provides guidance to help us navigate the minefields that confront our racial conversations. This book is a critical missing piece for the development of real Christian racial reconciliation. If you want to gain practical insight into how to apply our Christian principles to our racial conversations, then pick up this book.”