Reviewed by Heather Hedlund

In Reading While Black, Esau McCaulley writes that the way the Black church has practiced reading and interpreting the Bible has been a crucial source of hope in the midst of unjust circumstances. He calls this practice Black ecclesial interpretation.

McCaulley explains the foundational elements of Black ecclesial interpretation and provides several examples of how to apply these elements to specific issues that challenge the Black community such as political witness, policing, pursuing justice, and slavery. This is not a dry theological text; McCaulley is an engaging writer and includes many stories from his own experiences as he helps us understand Scripture more deeply.

Can you share a quote from the book that was meaningful to you?

"Zechariah and Elizabeth, then, were directly involved in making theological sense of Israel's status as oppressed people under the thumb of the Roman Empire." (p. 79)

I love this quote because it illustrates how important our context is to how we interpret Scripture. In the opening chapters of Luke, Zechariah and Elizabeth are preparing to raise a son who will be a prophet for people living under Roman oppression. Zechariah sings about salvation and rescue from enemies when John the Baptist is born. Similarly, when Mary learns that she will be the mother of Jesus, she also sings about relief from oppressors.

For those of us who have grown up in comfort, it's easy to miss the way they are praising God for how God will judge their oppressors. Interpreting Scripture alongside people who come from different contexts helps us see important details we might not notice when we study the Bible on our own.

What was a new thought or a key takeaway?

I thought McCaulley's chapter on a theology of policing was very helpful. This is an issue of deep concern, especially to Black Americans, yet I've rarely seen it considered from a biblical viewpoint beyond simplistic references to Romans 13 and submitting to authority. McCaulley starts from Romans 13 but points out that this passage implies that the authorities are just, which isn't always true. He then brings in other passages to help us think about what God calls us to do in situations where authorities are not just.

McCaulley argues that Romans 13 does not imply that humans should never stand against ruling authorities, but rather that humans should be humble about their ability to discern how God is acting in unjust situations. All of this requires patience as Christians need to be "willing to suffer the consequences of living in a fallen world" while also calling out the evil that exists. 

What action will you take as a result of reading this book?

This book showed me how much our interpretation of Scripture is shaped by our context. I will seek out opportunities to study the Bible with people who have different life experiences and perspectives to help me see what I'm missing.