A Better Covenant

Carter, Anthony. Experiencing the Truth:Bringing the Reformation to the African-American Church. Crossway Books , 2008. pp. 192. $12.99

Anthony Carter, Ken Jones and Michael Leach are all pastors. Anthony Carter pastors East Point Church in East Point (Atlanta) Georgia, Ken Jones pastors Greater Union Baptist Church   and Michael Leach pastors All Saints Redeemer Church located in Decatur (Atlanta) Georgia. Anthony Carter also published another ground breaking work titled “On Being Black and Reformed”.

The purpose of the book can be easily indentified in the sub-title “Bringing the Reformation to the African American Church”. The authors feel that if the Gospel is going to advance amongst those of the African American community it is imperative that the current practice be reformed. The authors go through and clearly explain exactly what this means (Biblical Theology Chapters 1-2) and what it should look like (Chapters 3-5). Anthony Carter sums the book up with an appeal for the Doctrines of Grace to be embraced amongst those of the African American community and the book ends with an appendix pack full of very practical ways to flush out a Reformed Worship Service.

The Review

I believe that the authors are true to the title. In chapter 1 Anthony Carter clearly articulates the problem withthe modern church and why this is detrimental to those who name the name of Christ Jesus. He then moves quickly to how that has adversely effected Black Christians today. He does a great job setting up the chapters to follow which are: Biblical Theology, Biblical Preaching, Biblical Worship and Biblical Spirituality. Each chapter flows withease to the next and only the second chapter sticks out from the rest (later on this). I agree with Mr. Carter’s assessment maybe not so much on the remedy but I will talk more about that later also. The book is a fairly practical book if you are familiar with some of the basic terms of the Christian faith except maybe Chapter 2.

First I want to talk about what I enjoyed. The book is wonderful in the fact that neither of the authors shrink away from really tackling the problem that many African Americans face in the church. That is low theology, high emotion and sub-par practical holiness. This is evident by our culture and the fact that the African American community is over populated withchurches and under populated with genuinely regenerated Christians. Like a synchronized surgeons each author assess the problem and goes in with theological precision to remove the problem. My two favorite chapters are Biblical Worship and Biblical Spirituality. Ken Jones does an unbelievable job giving us a short but detailed history of the African American Church experience in America from the Great Awakening forward. He doesn’t ignore slavery and the responsibility of slave owners. He also doesn’t allow us to ignore the riches of theologicaltruth that was birthed during this time. He does a good job of not ignoring the pressing issues many blacks have with 17th and 18th century but he also never allows us to ignore the great pathway that cleared for us today.

On biblical worship Anthony Carter hits the nail on the head. He calls black worship for what it is. Packed with superstars, talent, and wonderful voices, and void of almost anything theologically sound. He does however esteem those who have made it their passion to write and produce Christ centered music that has a high view of God and is theologically faithful (he mentions a few artist by name). He also talks about our responsibility to not throw out everything old as irrelevant. He talks about the great hymns penned by man and women who understood the scripture and to whom worship belongs but he also says that many today are following the great pattern of theological faithfulness. I thoroughly enjoyed both of those chapters and I would enjoy the preaching chapter (chapter 3) but my ecclesiology may be a bit different. But for those who are all for the traditional pulpit ministry you will enjoy this chapter also. Anthony Carter also adds a very practical and useful sermon preparation outline to the appendix that should be priceless for many who teach.

Now on to what I may disagree with. I think my biggest disagreement is in reference to Reformed Ecclesiology. The authors speak pretty dogmatically about this though I believe there is room for great fluidity here. Those who hold to participatory, house Churchmodel, or some hybrid of the two will easily shake there heads no (I have been doing some reading along these lines). The other problem may be that a couple of quotes come off a little “matter of fact” and there are a few soap box paragraphs. This may cause some people to become a bit leery. Most of this is found in the second chapter.  A couple of those quotes are:

We are weeping today because the pervasive flippancy and levity of our times have so overrun, the church that the irresistable thrust to be entertaining rules over it with an unassailable sovereignty. The seething desire to be relevant, practical, relational, up-to-date, and helpful is transforming the church into a seeker-pleasing, seeker-gathering institution, increasingly molded by the world while at the same time it sheepishly claims to be the citadel of Christ. This growing syncretism is producing such a bothersome blend that one justly fears that the term church, much like the word Christian, is undergoing such a momentous deconstruction as to render it unidentifiable form its biblical foundations. (pg 24)

In light of the present condition, our conviction and solution (emphasis mine) is to once again emphasize the lofty distinctives of the Reformed tradition, incorporate the doctrines that have been handed down to us from the collective wisdom of the historical church, and strive to return to the biblical gospel rather than “plunge ourselves back to the biases of our own individual situation” (pg 29)

One quote I did thoroughly enjoy is found in Chapter 2 page 29 also:

Rather than asking the controlling questions, who is the redeeming God that sent his eternal Son to die for sinners? and what does he require of us? we instead ponder, what do I need to do so that he can relieve me of my family, financial, or professional problems? In this scenario, the enduring wonder of an ineffable God is ruthlessly replaced by the expedient measures constrained by our desire to improve our temporal circumstances.  (Leach pg 29.)

Overall I would purchase this book for anyone who is wrestling with their current church tradition and who has an appetite to grow outside of what their current framework would allow. I would also give this to every black christian who is at a conservative seminary or has conservative goals. Finally I recommend this book to any pastor who sees that what he is doing isn’t creating Christ Centered, God fearing disciples. I enjoyed the book and gave it 3.5 stars at Amazon. The number one reason is I don’t know if this book is written to make it into the hands of those who really need it most and if it only stays within us who have Reformed tendencies then the book will never meet its full potential.