A generation of young evangelicals found help in grounding their faith by the writings of Josh McDowell. The books More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict were particularly influential for baby boomer Christians growing up in an increasingly secular world.
Evidence That Demands a Verdict was first published in 1979. It was ranked the 13th most influential evangelical book since World War II. Josh’s influence has been huge.
We’ve also all seen the news by now that Josh McDowell apologized and stepped away from his ministry because of comments on the issue of race made at an event on September 18, 2021.
We should respond first by praying for Josh and his own stated desire to spend time listening and learning. But this is also an opportunity to look squarely at the issue of evangelicals — especially white evangelicals — and race.
The verdict of those outside evangelicalism on evangelicals and race is not good, and it does not speak well of our witness for Christ.
It’s time for evangelicals to change the verdict many have reached on evangelicals and race. Evangelicals can do this by producing the evidence that they are driven by the timeless truths of the Bible and the love of God for all peoples. People of color who love Jesus must be convinced that white evangelicals who love Jesus also love them. But we can’t do this without facing reality and allowing the Lord to remove blinders that still limit the perspective of too many.
The verdict of those outside evangelicalism on evangelicals and race is not good, and it does not speak well of our witness for Christ.
An Enduring Issue
Why is it that we still seem to struggle with this issue 150 years after slavery and nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights Act? Why can conversations with those of different races be so stilted, appreciation of our cultural differences so hard, and inter-racial friendships feel so forced?
Why is it that so few African Americans go to white churches and vice versa? That so few churches reflect the racial demographics of their host community? That so many white parents would still rather have their daughter marry a non-Christian white man than a godly, Christ-honoring African-American young man? Why the judgment on Mexicans?