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 PrintableVersion Crossing the divideThe one showCROSSING THE DIVIDE This is a welcome call to address issues of diversity in the church. It examines the effects of sin in the separation it creates between us and God, but also each other; and then the reconciliation God wants to achieve between people, as well as with him. The ‘horizontal’ implications of the cross are clear in Scripture (e.g. in Ephesians 2) but have been less clear in our churches. Along with the growing segregation of our culture, this is a timely counter balance. The book focuses on division because of race — this is a strength, in that it allows greater depth of exploration, but a potential weakness in not looking at the ways we divide within races. There is also an acceptance of the category of ‘race’ over the subtler issues of ethnicity and culture. In churches today the outstanding issue is often not that of ‘race’ but of separation along lines of cultural groupings. But these are minor issues in an overall clear and helpful book. Biblical teaching, illustrations and personal stories are mixed. How different cultures have addressed issues of diversity outside the church are examined — with the corresponding challenge as to how different we are in the church. Hard questions of practical outworking are acknowledged and addressed. The style is easy to read and the tone is warm and encouraging. We are left longing for unity in diversity and believing that through the gospel it is possible. Graham Beynon,
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