Plantation Jesus Race, Faith, and a New Way Forward

Not long ago, most white American Christians believed that Jesus blessed slavery. God wasn't bothered by Jim Crow. Baby Jesus had white skin. Meet Plantation Jesus: a god who is comfortable with bigotry, and an idol that distorts the message of the real Savior. That false image of God is dead, right? Wrong, argue the authors of Plantation Jesus, an authoritative new book on one of the most urgent issues of our day. Through their shared passion for Jesus Christ and with an unblinking look at history, church, and pop culture, authors Skot Welch and Rick Wilson detail the manifold ways that racism damages the church's witness. Together Welch and Wilson take on common responses by white Christians to racial injustice, such as "I never owned a slave," "I don't see color; only people," and "We just need to get over it and move on." Together they call out the church's denials and dodges and evasions of race, and they invite readers to encounter the Christ of the disenfranchised.With practical resources and Spirit-filled stories, Plantation Jesus nudges readers to learn the history, acknowledge the injury, and face the truth. Only then can the church lead the way toward true reconciliation. Only then can the legacy of Plantation Jesus be replaced with the true way of Jesus Christ.

"White supremacy should not be the guiding principle of an enlightened society, and people of faith need to be at the forefront of changing the paradigm, just as they were during the periods of abolition and civil rights activism. The only way to transcend the past is to confront it honestly, and Plantation Jesus is a powerful guide for doing just that."--Sharon Leslie Morgan

"I've long felt that churches, filled with people of faith, ought to be the vessels within which the difficult, transformative conversations about race could be held. Yet for the most part, this has not been the case. Plantation Jesus boldly shows us why not, and then shows us a path forward. Read this book. Then get busy." --Thomas Norman DeWolf

"Skot Welch and Rick Wilson imagine a church that floods both sanctuary and streets with Christ's love. Anything less would be a failed life. Plantation Jesus will challenge you. You may not like what it says. But please ask the Lord for help as you read. Then ask Jesus to use you as a neighbor and healer, as one who binds up the wounds of the brokenhearted."--Scott Hagan

"Plantation Jesus is a healing triumph. It exposes white Christian supremacy with fearless urgency. A courageous call."--Patricia Raybon

"Plantation Jesus provides a raw, unflinching, and yet ultimately hopeful survey of white supremacy in the church. A must-read for those ready to confront racial bias in their church and in their lives but aren't sure where to start."--Rachel Held Evans

"Plantation Jesus is a unique book about the challenging nature of conversations about race, ethnicity, faith, and the role of the church. It provides hope that an authentic view of Jesus can reemerge if people are willing to have the difficult conversations."--Kyle Ray

"Plantation Jesus is a well-researched and straightforward work that will contribute to the dismantling of racism if readers will heed the authors' words. . . . Please read this book, give a copy to somebody in your church, and then put the words into practice."--Dennis R. Edwards

"Deserving of the widest possible readership.--Dennis R. Edwards

Chapter 1 Where We Start: Plantation Jesus Introduces Himself

Chapter 2 Why Can't We Talk: Nine Roadblocks to Real Conversation

Chapter 3 How to Know What You Don't Know: The Face of Plantation Jesus

Chapter 4 What to Believe: Reading the Bible on the Plantation

Chapter 5 Who's Got the Power: White Supremacy Doesn't Just Wear Hoods

Chapter 6 Who We Worship: The Myth of America as a Christian Nation

Chapter 7 Where Is the Money: Plantation Economics Today

Chapter 8 Where Do We Go from Here: Following the Real Jesus