United? We Pray A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Families (W/ Jarvis Williams)
Host: Isaac Adams
Guest: Jarvis Williams
Overview: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)
In this Summer Special, Isaac Adams sits with Jarvis Williams, professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The brothers discuss Dr. Williams’ latest work for children and families, “The Gospel in Color — A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Families.”
As the song goes, “Jesus loves the little children—red and yellow, black, and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” What do the truths of this hymn mean for us as Christians and Christian parents? What is race, racism, and racial reconciliation, and how does the gospel intersect with these issues? These are the questions Jarvis and Isaac tackle. Other questions include:
Is the Christian perspective on these matters to ignore racial difference?
How can anti-racist work be gospel work?
What does forgiveness look like in this conversation?
Why does prayer matter in this conversation?
What is whiteness? What is blackness?
Why is there something particularly redemptive about an *African-American* man teaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary?
Jarvis goes on to share what it’s like to be a parent of color and a Christian. At a Christian School, Jarvis’ son was told by a classmate that he was stupid because his skin was brown. Jarvis went on to teach his son why his skin color shouldn’t be an object of shame, and why God loves his brown skin.
There are more reasons to talk about race with our children. Three Jarvis and his co-author, Curtis Woods, lay out are:
Current racial divisions
Colorblindness isn’t a solution, and it inadvertently perpetuates the racism it seeks to avoid
Race is a systemic problem
Join Isaac and Jarvis for prayer, and check out this latest resource for parents and their children.
Links & Show Notes:
1. Book: “Mississippi Praying: Southern White Evangelicals and the Civil Rights Movement, 1945-1975” by Carolyn Renée Dupont
2. Book: “Doctrine and Race: African American Evangelicals and Fundamentalism between the Wars” by Mary Beth Mathews
3. Book: “One New Man: The Cross and Racial Reconciliation” by Jarvis Williams
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Recorded and produced by Karl Magnuson
Graphic design by
To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!