Experiencing the Truth: Bringing the Reformation to the African-American Church [Paperback]

Anthony J. Carter (Editor), Ken Jones (Contributor), Michael Leach (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 2008

Experiencing the Truth communicates the need of a vibrant, experiential, Reformed Christianity among African-Americans and all believers.

How does a believer choose a church to attend? Sadly too many Christians search for churches that serve them and meet their perceived needs. Instead they should prefer places where God is exalted and biblical truth and Christian doctrine are proclaimed. Such churches are essential if Christians are to understand what God is doing and what he calls His people to be.

Experiencing the Truth presents these truths not simply to African-American churches, but also to the whole church today. Anthony Carter, Michael Leach, and Ken Jones clearly present the need for a vibrant, experiential, Reformed Christianity among African-Americans. These authors lay out the biblical basis for choosing and attending a church, and they demonstrate how the historic Reformed expression has been the most biblically accurate and experientially consistent expression of Christianity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Gives great acclamation to black church worship, black preaching, and the black Christian experience, rightly showing the strength of Reformed theology for these traditions. I hope Experiencing the Truth will be an impetus to move the African-American church from the self-deprecating darkness of theological liberalism into the divinely nourishing light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Eric C. Redmond, author, Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men’s Questions about the Church

“Provides a biblical diagnosis and prescription for what ails the African-American church and much of the larger church world as well. From theology to preaching to worship and Christian spirituality, these veterans of the church and pulpit apply the scalpel of truth to every major area of church life.”
Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman

“The authors show no fear as they tackle tough issues facing the African-American church in particular and the evangelical church in general. I say get it, read it, and discuss it.”
Louis C. Love Jr., Pastor, New Life Fellowship Church, Vernon Hills, Illinois

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

"Gives great acclamation to black church worship, black preaching, and the black Christian experience, rightly showing the strength of Reformed theology for these traditions. I hope Experiencing the Truth will be an impetus to move the African-American church from the self-deprecating darkness of theological liberalism into the divinely nourishing light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
—Eric C. Redmond, Executive Pastoral Assistant and Bible Professor in Residence, New Canaan Baptist Church; Council Member, The Gospel Coalition

"Provides a biblical diagnosis and prescription for what ails the African-American church and much of the larger church world as well. From theology to preaching to worship and Christian spirituality, these veterans of the church and pulpit apply the scalpel of truth to every major area of church life."
—Thabiti M. Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman; author, What Is a Healthy Church Member?

"The authors show no fear as they tackle tough issues facing the African-American church in particular and the evangelical church in general. I say get it, read it, and discuss it."
—Louis C. Love Jr., Pastor, New Life Fellowship Church, Vernon Hills, Illinois

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Crossway (June 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581348878
• ISBN-13: 978-1581348873
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.5 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,054,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, and Point University of East Point, GA, Tony is lead pastor of East Point Church, East Point, GA. He is author of several books including "On Being Black and Reformed"; and "What is the Gospel: Life's Most Important Question". He is co-author and editor of "Experiencing the Truth: Bringing the Reformation to the African-American Church"; and "Glory Road: The Journeys of Ten African Americans into Reformed Christianity." Pastor Tony live in East Point GA with his wife and five children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reformed African American Christianity November 23, 2008

By Robert W. Kellemen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Anthony Carter, Michael Leach, and Ken Jones write in the growing new tradition of Black Reformed pastors and authors like Eric C. Redmond and Thabiti Anyabwile. "Experiencing the Truth," as the title suggests, is not an either/or book. Some feel that the Black Church has at times surrendered truth in the search for experience. Others feel that the Reformed Church would not be a home for Black worshippers because at times it has surrendered the experience of God in search of doctrinal truth. Carter, Leach, and Jones cogently argue that all churches, of all ethnicities, can and should combine truth and experience.

The authors outline a theology of Black church worship, Black preaching, and Black Christian experience that can grow out of the Reformed tradition. In doing so, they take the Black Church back to some of its earliest American roots (see "Beyond the Suffering" for portraits of heroes of Black Church history).

As the authors argue, this book is not only for the Black Church. It is for any Christian concerned with a Christian church experience that combines truth and love.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Reforming the "Black" Church August 14, 2008

By Lionel Damon Woods

Format:Paperback

I wanted to give the book 3.5 stars but if I am to error I will do it on 4 rather than 3.

The purpose of this book as defined by the authors is the bring reformation to the black church. This I agree with. The black church for too long has continued to be high on experience and low on theology and doctrine. Both are important but if your theology is wrong your worship is wrong. Jesus is clear on this with the woman by the well in John 3. Her theology and doctrine was wrong thus Jesus corrects her about true worship.

All 3 of the books authors are Reformed Shepherds so I expected some reformed leanings. I got a little more than I bargained for thus the book loses one star for me. The opening section by Michael Leach seemed to be heavy in Reformed Tradition and Ecclisology and very little on practical Reformed Theology. I am not of the Reformed persuasion as it relates to this so this could be a matter for me and not all readers.

The book also lost a star due to the terminology in the first chapter. I felt like I was reading a seminal book and if I were to hand it off I don't think it will be well recieved. It seemed the book was trying to prove something in the first chapter and because of that I fell that it would alienate the very audience it was attempting to reform. We must be careful with that if we are going to come to the table and have any meaningful dialogue.

So my problem with the books would be some of the word choice, the heavy emphasis on reformed ecclisiology, and maybe a tone of arrogance. But that leads to what I enjoy.

The book focuses on a high view of worship, the Bible, and even practical holiness (Jones Chapter). That I enjoyed. Mr. Carter's two chapters on preaching (though I don't agree with all he says) and worship (likewise) are worth the book alone. Throw in Mr. Jones' chapter which is packed with the history of the black church in very practial terminology and the book is not only worth reading I would recommend that you pass it out to a black or white pastor who you may have an ear with.

So overall I enjoyed the book, but if we are to come to the table we must come with great humility and communicate on the terms of the invited guest. If not the books we of the Black and Reformed persuasion will write will only stay in the circles of those we agree with.