In his newest book, Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian, John Piper tackles the issue of racism. He examines the Scriptures and doctrine to refute racism. Intertwined with this exposition the author tells his own story of how Jesus’ grace rescued him from racism and how he now tries to reflect in Bethlehem Baptist the diversity of the church. Rev. Piper does an excellent job in this work, and I highly recommend it.
John Piper divides his book into four sections, concerning: the need for the gospel, his apology for the book and his story, racism and the blood of Jesus, the power of the gospel, and the practical section dealing with interracial marriage and prejudice. The author explains that in Bloodlines he focuses on white-black relations in part because of slavery and the after-effects which defined the relation between the two for so long. While I wanted him to discuss more about racism in general, what he says about black-white racism is good and applicable to other situations.
Bloodlines constantly reminds us that Jesus set about to redeem people from all nations, tribes, and tongues and make them into a new people with Christ as their head. The book shines most spectacularly when it discusses how Reformed thought and particularly the ‘Five Points of Calvinism’ oppose racism. (This despite some grand failings of Reformed people in the past [and present], including the Southern Presbyterian Church and the South African Reformed Church. Thank God that he is true, although we fail to live to his standard.) All people from all people are totally depraved, God elected some from every people, Christ died efficaciously for these same people, the Holy Spirit gives grace to this diverse set, and the hope of perseverance allows us to work to advance the Gospel (among all people groups).
The book also has useful appendices. There is a useful appendix about what Noah’s cursing of Canaan (not Ham) really meant in context. It is very good material but I think he should have included it in the text of the main body since it is an important historical argument and fewer people read the appendices of a book.
To conclude, the book is well done and a useful attack upon racism remaining in the Church. His chapter on interracial marriage was very good and an apt chapter in the conclusion of the book. The book is released on September 30; buy an extra copy for your church library.
Disclosure Statement: I received an advance electronic copy of this book from the publisher Crossway via netgalley.com for the purposes of review.
