Talking About Race

Gospel Hope for Hard Conversations

By: Isaac Adams

Narrated by: Rick N. Jones

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Conversations about racism are as important as they are hard for American Christians.

Yet the conversation often gets so ugly, even among the faithful who claim unity in Jesus. Why is that the case? Why does it matter? Can things get better, or are we permanently divided?

In this honest and hopeful book, Pastor Isaac Adams doesn't just show you how to have the race conversation, he begins it for you. By offering a fictional, racially charged tragedy in order to understand varying perspectives and responses, he examines what is at stake if we ignore this conversation, and why there's just as much at stake in how we have that discussion, especially across color lines - that is, with people of another ethnicity. This unique approach offers insight into how to listen to one another well and seek unity in Christ. Looking to God's word, Christians can find wisdom to speak gracefully and truthfully about racism for the glory of God, the good of their neighbors, and the building up of the church.

Some feel that the time for talking is over, and that we've heard all this before. But given how polarized American society is becoming - its churches not exempt - fresh attention on the dysfunctional communication between ethnicities is more than warranted. Adams offers an invitation to faithfully combat the racism so many of us say we hate and maintain the unity so many of us say we want. Together we can learn to speak in such a way that we show a divided world a different world.

Talking About Race points to the starting line, not the finish line, when it comes to following Jesus amid race relations. It’s high time to begin running.

Discussion questions and a glossary are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Isaac Adams (P)2022 Zondervan

Excellent typical presentation on race issues.

This book opened me up to an entire new perspective on how to handle racial issues. It makes clear the responsibility to proactively participate in a way that is gracious and kind and edifying. But, it also removes it any self imposed obligation to actually change someone else’s mind. The best part of this book is that it gives you the freedom to choose Your actions based on your gifts and opportunities without feeling pressured to be the entire answer for every possible situation.

So sound. So helpful. Will read Again.

I really enjoyed Isaac Adam’s work on talking about race. It is my hope to read this again and dig a little deeper into all of the source material and scripture references that he includes. As a pastor I found myself at times trying not to cry because of what I have inherently done or not done in this particular issue. This book will cause you to pray more and seek God and hopefully love your brothers and sisters of different races better.

A Wonderful Perspective

This book is written in a very compassionate and understanding style while still challenging Christian believes both White and Black to enthusiastically embrace the Biblical mandate to love God AND love our neighbors from every tribe, color, ethnicity and neighborhood. Truly the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the hope for and should be the beacon of light in America. Sadly as a white evangelical I see too many of my white brothers and sisters not living that Message and calling from Jesus to LOVE according to 1 Corinthians 13.

Great Book!

I really enjoyed this book. It follows a similar format to my Pastoral Care and Counseling class in seminary. One of my friends asked when I finished Fault Lines, "Is he compassionate?" And that was a hard question to answer (because it's so intellectual). It is not hard to answer that question with Isaac's book. It oozes with compassion

Good Points, Confusing at Times

I understand what the author is getting at most of the time. While we shouldn’t care about color of skin as a whole, it still matters. God made us to have different amounts of melanin for His glory after all. What baffles me is the seemingly double sided talk when it comes to political issues. A pastor should know better to feed into what the media says is true versus what actually took place. The media is untrustworthy and has distorted people’s views on race. He talks as if people haven’t been manipulated by lies in past years. The message of the book is still obvious and I can ignore the things I disagree with. I don’t want to be a tribal person who strictly adheres to what I believe.