Talk about an eye-opening book! Ken Wytsma has given us one of incredible value here. The Myth of Equality is subtitled Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege. The “roots” claim is valid. Wytsma’s is an American story, not just of centuries or decades past, but of the present as well.

It is written particularly to Wytsma’s fellow Christians who are theologically conservative. But not them alone by any means. Anyone reading is almost certain to have their eyes opened to specific events and statistics (even if generally well-informed on Racism and inequality in America), and to broad patterns of human nature and history that transcend the American scene.

Some of this history and analysis one can read in a good number of books. But what is not likely found elsewhere is the angle of a white pastor and public speaker who has sought out the experiences and perspectives of many black leaders and friends yet admits he cannot ever fully know their experience. Also rare in this context is the social and theological insights of an Evangelical. (One by theological definition, not the implications of right wing politics or Trumpism that “Evangelical” has come to carry since the election of Trump, which the author definitely does not share).

The copyright of the book is 2017, but it appears to have been completed sometime in 2016, possibly before the election of Donald Trump. Trump is not named in the book. But Wytsma addresses many of the issues that came forcefully to the fore in late 2015 through 2016 and the election. Rather than wander into related but diverse issues, his focus remains consistently on those of race and equality. I don’t recall him discussing the distinction between social (or racial) equity and social equality, and “equity” does not appear in the helpful index. Such a discussion is one small addition I’d have welcomed.

The author is, however, a “word guy”. He often traces terms to their roots and original meanings and uses, such as racism and slavery. Interesting stuff. He clearly describes what is and is not “white privilege”. Significantly, he does not deny the existence of instances sometimes called “reverse racism”, but argues the application of that term is generally a gross misuse of the idea of real racism (on which point I agree with him).

I found The Myth of Equality a very readable balance of education (via important history, statistics, analysis, story-telling) and exhortation. He’s calling his fellow Jesus-followers (particularly but not exclusively within Evangelical/charismatic denominations) to follow the Hebrew prophets’ and Jesus’ teachings on love of neighbor. Definitely with the recognition that they, and everyone, must deal with how many among us have been unloved and mistreated, not necessarily by overt racists, but in the outworking of systems of oppression and inequity in place for anything from decades to centuries. Wytsma’s case in relation to Christians is not defects in the Bible’s presentation of what is called “The Gospel”, but in Christians failure to pay attention to it and do the hard work of applying it…. Not just settling for having a minority friend (or several) but “emptying” themselves, like Jesus, in humility and service.

Don’t let the relative age of this book dissuade you… it is still “up to date” and very worth reading and seeking to apply.