A Theology of Power and Privilege: An Evangelical Perspective on Race

A Theology of Power and Privilege makes the bold assumption that it is possible to develop an antiracist theology within a constructive evangelical theological method. It examines Black Liberation Theology's claims of embedded racism within White theological systems and then asks both if Reformed North American Evangelicalism evidences racism within its theology, and if so, how might that be addressed biblically and doctrinally while remaining true to the theological essence of evangelicalism. Along the way, the author engages critically with an evangelical tradition represented by John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hobbs, and Carl F. H. Henry and considers it in the light of the critique of James Cone. Having identified racism within the theological tradition the author then offers a constructive evangelical theology of power and privilege that he accesses as truly antiracist. In pursuit of this theological conclusion, the author explores biblical texts on liberation, subjection, and obedience and applies his conclusions to constructive work on the Doctrine of God. This is done within an evangelical hermeneutical methodology that privileges the biblical text. This book will be of interest to evangelicals who are engaged in debates around race, racism, and social justice either theologically or historically, and theologians generally interested in the application of hermeneutics to theological method. It will also be of interest to anyone regardless of tradition as a guide to how white theologians can take seriously the contributions and value of the Black intellectual tradition to their work.

Joseph W. Caldwell is on faculty at Memphis Theological Seminary.