Amazon.com: Customer reviews: One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race and Love

When older people are nearing the latter years of their life, it is important for us to listen to their years of wisdom being shared as they leave their legacy for us to learn from and build upon. This is the case for John Perkins, an elder statesman of the Christian faith and of civil rights (among other things) who has written another masterpiece that is full of needed insight and prophetic words for our time – One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race (Moody Publishers, 2018). For Perkins, this is his bottom line urgent message that he wishes to directly inject into our way of thinking and our way of living in these days of confusion, hatred, and violent behavior. It is a message of recognizing that we who are humans are one race who together must set aside our differences and move toward biblical reconciliation that Perkins would say removes our tensions while restoring our relationships as we love one another in practical ways.

The book itself is a life-time of lessons shared as a blueprint for needed change. The key to this change, which is consistently reinforced throughout the book, is found in the Church. As noted in the introduction, “[C]ommunity development can only take us so far – because this is a gospel issue. The problem of reconciliation in our country and in our churches is much too big to be wrestled to the ground by plans that begin in the minds of men. This is a God-sized problem. It is one that only the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can heal. It requires the quality of love that only our Savior can provide. And it requires that we make some uncomfortable confessions.” The recipe for this pursuit of justice is what Perkins lays out simply, boldly, and clearly: know who we are as human beings and as the Church of Jesus Christ, practice lament, confession, forgiveness, and repentance, persevere, pray, and pursue love. To help show us that these things are realistic and possible, there are even four stories of local churches who are putting these things into practice highlighted for us to glean from.

As a Christ-follower, I have always committed to trying to live in the way that Perkins describes here (and in his other writings) – so I find this as another fresh reminder of things that I need to be doing myself, even as I find myself gaining some new insights along the way. As a pastor, I have consistently tried to model this and teach the same ideas to the people in my spiritual care (as a college professor, the same is true in the classroom and with my students) – so I find myself vigorously nodding in agreement when, in chapter one, he writes that “the black church can’t fix this. And the white church can’t fix this. It must be the reconciled Church, black and white Christians together imaging Christ to the world.” He adds later, at the chapter’s end, that it’s “going to take intentionally multiethnic and multicultural churches to bust through the chaos and confusion of the present moment and redirect our gaze to the revolutionary gospel of reconciliation.”

Most of the time, I find at least some degree of disagreement with an author or a book. But honestly, in this case, I am finding it difficult to find anything significant – or anything at all – with which to disagree. I’m not saying that this is the perfect book or that John Perkins is a perfect man who never has anything wrong to say. I’m just saying that this book, One Blood, is one of the most important books to read at this time in our nation’s history. It is a gold mine of wise instruction that will serve well as a very practical tool for use in ministry, teaching, and discussions with various people. I believe this book to be an invaluable resource for the Church, with implications reaching far beyond the black-white struggle that is most prominent in our culture and throughout our communities. I highly recommend this book to all who follow Jesus, and even to those who don’t. I especially commend it to pastors, church leaders, denominational executives, college and seminary professors, and anyone interested in pursuing true reconciliation within a context of broken relationships, especially those broken along ethnic lines.

Well done, Dr. Perkins, well done. Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ and to the cause, and for the influence you continue to have in our lives!

29 people found this helpful

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Sarah M.

Just as described

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 2, 2023

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Fast shipping and book just as described. Thank you!

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Richard Jones

a great writer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 24, 2022

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a big fan of Mr. Prekins

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Renee D Martin

Amazing read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 25, 2022

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Such a good book! Great for small groups. Helps have dialogue about racial reconciliation.

One person found this helpful

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Hope Lehman

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 25, 2022

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A very good and important message. I’m thankful for his work.

One person found this helpful

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Curtis Bush

Desperately needed wisdom for today

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

In a world stressed and divided by tribalism, John Perkins brings his decades of experience in civil rights, race relations and reconciliation efforts to illuminate the core truth that we are all of One Blood, and it is from that premise where love and hope and goodness can be found. When we see each and every human being as part of our family, recognizing and acting with our best intentions, then a path forward towards a more civil society is possible.

He draws from his deep reservoir of experience and highlights examples of those who are carrying the baton. I hope that everyone involved in difficult conversations regarding race relations would read this book and continue to live out the truths found in the gems of his wisdom. It won't be easy, but it's the path forward. And the church can lead it.

12 people found this helpful

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Chris Perkins

A Fresh and Challenging Perspective

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 4, 2021

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John M . Perkins has been around for some time, so it feels somewhat awkward describing him as a "fresh" perspective, but the way he presents his view of race and race relation is compelling and challenges the current status quo while continuing to put love first at all times. Really a relevation for me.

5 people found this helpful

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Luke A

Reconciliation is possible

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 20, 2021

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John Perkins uses the scriptures to argue that we are one human race, but as people, we must be reconciled to God and one another. And the only way that reconciliation is possible is through the one blood of Jesus Christ!

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Joel Knox

Good Words

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 3, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is the book we need right now. Dr Perkins has lived and practiced what he has preached his whole life. His wisdom and character can be trusted. Take the time and learn from him.

One person found this helpful

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