This is a heartfelt examination of a continuing problem in many, if not, most churches. 50 years after the civil rights movement Sunday morning still remains the most segregated hour. This problem goes both ways, in regards to race, and the fact that it is still an issue is keeping the modern American evangelical church from being salt and light in this country. The salt has lost its flavor and is in danger of being thrown out. ( )

"While teaching during the 2000 election cycle, I suggested that I might not cast my vote simply based on the issue of abortion alone. “You mean you would vote for Gore?” asked one student, who then remained after class to lecture me for 45 minutes on how I could not possibly be an evangelical if I voted for anyone other than George Bush."
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Edward Gilbreath's Reconciliation Blues isn't the type of book I'd normally tear off the shelf and breeze through in a day and a half but I found myself riveted by the no-nonsense semi-biographical analysis of race relations in the modern Christian church. Gilbreath, a writer for the magazine Christianity Today, takes historical, political and even skeptical approaches to the subject of racial reconciliation. He finds a great strength in including Latino, Asian and Native American voices in his book and avoids the problem of limiting his discussion to - quite literally - black and white issues. I checked this book out of the New Release section at my local library but I find myself hunting for it at nearby bookstores so that I can have my own copy to highlight, underline and (as soon as possible) share with others. I can't say I'd recommend this book to everyone simply because I don't know that it's the kind of topic many people are truly ready for but it should be a must read for anyone attempting to answer the questions of "Do we need multicultural churches?"; "Are multicultural churches possible?" and "How do you make multicultural churches work?". ( )