A House on Fire
Maury Jackson
How Adventist faith responds to race and racism
In recent years, there has been renewed focus on the justice issues of race and racism, as the subject of worldwide protests in 2020 and ongoing social, political, and cultural debate.
This volume collects chapters from 20 Adventist academics, pastors, and writers from diverse cultural backgrounds in response to the question of what Adventist Christian faith can offer to the vital and urgent work of antiracism.
These authors draw on the Bible-including the Hebrew prophets and Adventist understanding of New Testament prophecy, Jesus, and the gospel-as well as Adventist history, and sound the call to respond to these contemporary issues faithfully, thoughtfully, practically, pastorally, and politically.
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"I believe our faith, hope, and love are valuable resources for meaningful and thoughtful responses to the burning issues of race and racism in our world. Although we might not all agree on our approaches to this discussion, I believe this book can aid in our continuing dialogue on how we can better understand each other and promote the idea that, in Christ, we are all equal at the foot of the cross. May this be reflected as readers respond with the best of our thinking, speaking, and acting in our churches and cultures, neighborhoods and nations."
- Dr G Alexander Bryant, President, North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
"It has long been my assertion, though communicated only to a small group of individuals, that the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, at least in my exposure in the North American Division, has been silent on the sin of racism, particularly as it has been manifested inside the church. A House on Fire seeks to address this silence and achieves the goal through shared thoughts of a group of writers who boldly and clearly address the biblical issue of social justice. I believe it is a must-read for everyone who desires to be informed and move towards a critical evaluation of themselves and the denomination—and to make a corrective adjustment, both personally and corporately."
- Dr Ricardo Graham, former President of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
"I hope this book spreads far and wide. Seventh-day Adventists need it: the sins of racism and casteism in their various manifestations are pervasive among us. Thank God for this collection of honest, hard-hitting essays."
- Dr William Johnsson, author and retired editor, Adventist Review
"We can all agree racism is wrong, but as Christians—and Adventists—we struggle for a more sound theological articulation, clearer biblical considerations, and a more robust resource that can help with re-socializing the community to recognize, engage, and protest against this ugly permutation of sin. Enter, A House On Fire. This is a book full of brilliant scholarship that cuts through the conforming veil that is created for the comfort of a dominant culture. This should be on your must-read list today!"
- Pastor Iki Taimi, Senior Pastor, La Sierra University Church
"The Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14 include the everlasting gospel going to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. Being intentional about this mission calls for us to engage the challenges of racism in our church and society. The Adventist scholars writing in this volume help us take a fresh look at relevant biblical passages and apply them to the racial divides in our world. While personal views may differ, A House on Fire is a valuable contribution encouraging reflection, dialogue and—by the grace of God—greater unity."
- Dr Rick Remmers, Assistant to the President, North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
"This is the book we’ve been waiting for. Its geographical and thematic range, its practical element alongside its deeply Adventist theology make it the prophetic resource churches, small groups and Sabbath Schools need. The endnotes are educational, the prophetic grounding is vital, and the honesty is refreshing. My students and my local church will eat this up."
- Dr Lisa Diller, Co-Executive Director, Adventist Peace Fellowship
"Our world is a complex fabric of people and cultures, and our history exemplifies both the best and worst of humanity. The church has not been immune to the social and ethical challenges that grow out of these histories. This timely book highlights Adventism’s struggle with the issues of injustice and racism and the contribution we can make to antiracism. You do not have to agree with everything you read in this book—but you do need to read it. It is a book that asks questions about your Christianity, how you think about differences, and it takes you to places that will confront and challenge your assumptions and understandings."
- Dr Brad Kemp, CEO, Adventist Media (South Pacific)
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