Oh, how I wanted to read books that opened my eyes this month, particularly due to it being Black History Month along with Chinese and Lunar New Year. However, this book ended up hurting my heart more than anything.
While I've read various ethnographic accounts from marginalized communities, I did not expect this book to vilify the Christian faith as much as it did, making it a book I wish I didn't take the time to finish after I encountered some initial barbs. What a lesson as this book affected me for days, if not weeks after finishing it, and not in a good way 😣 Buried Seeds by Alexia Salvatierra and Brandon Wrencher was not a book about resilience so much as it was about resistance, even resistance against God and His people, Word, and ways.
Book Synopsis
This book demonstrates how two overlooked ministry models—base ecclesial communities of the Global South in the late twentieth century and hush harbors of the US antebellum South—offer proven strategies for the twenty-first-century church and contemporary social movements. These ministry models provide insight into the creation and sustenance of vital Christian community, particularly for those seeking indigenous culturally-rooted models, and show how to integrate vibrant Christ-centered faith and mission with world-changing social justice and political action. The book includes on-the-ground stories from multiethnic communities, a foreword by Robert Chao Romero, and an afterword by Willie James Jennings.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
This book wasn't for me even though I have an interest in ethnography, the global church, and marginalized voices. I hold a differing worldview from the authors; therefore, others with similar perspectives will gain more from this volume than I was able to. I truly struggled with the content as I believe that there is value in examining other beliefs and practices; however, I was not persuaded by the agenda of this book.
For instance, can you really call yourself a Christian community if you have a contempt for the Bible? A common theme is that these communities knew better than other Christians and willingly and enthusiastically incorporated syncretism and sin into their culture over biblical teachings. What would have been an interesting ethnographic look at these communities turned into a case for why these groups were correct even though they eschewed what God has revealed through His Word. These marginalized communities didn't stand out for their faithfulness and adherence to Christ; they took on the trappings of their surrounding cultures instead of being salt and light. How disappointing that the argument is made on how enlightened these groups were when they served more as liberation and resistance movements instead of being a spiritual people distinct for their complete trust in God. The amount of pride is disheartening when the communities claim they can pit justice over and above purity as if both cannot coexist, demonstrating an attitude of knowing more than God about what constitutes the Christian life. Folk religion seems to be excused and celebrated rather than explained as what people need deliverance from. Though I care deeply about how other believers worship Christ and desire to learn from other cultures, this book was unfortunately more focused on political kingdoms, rights, and power in this world over a spiritual kingdom that is transcendent with Christ as the head of the church.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 🎧
- Rating: ⭐
- Recommendation: 👎
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