Sean McGever has written a thorough and thought-provoking work about three of the heroes of Evangelical Christianity and their views on slavery. It is both a direct investigation into the the history of these men and an examination of the thoughts of them and their influences on the issue of slavery during their ministries and beyond. It is a good reminder to see our heroes as they really were, not how "hallowed" we wish they were. They were men who had their own flaws. Men who didn't always get it right then or now. The author reminds us that we would be wise to remind ourselves that we are all people who are flawed by sin and remember that we are all in need of a savior and the change that He along can bring into our lives. I would highly recommend this book to every serious believer.

I am not a Christian, but I am someone who is very interested in the moral "blind spots" we may have. History shows us that many otherwise decent people do things that would horrify us today and, as McGever points out, it's silly for us to think that future generations won't be astonished by some of the things that we condone today. His specific interest is in how three prominent early evangelicals approached chattel slavery. Edwards and Whitefield both owned other humans. Wesley's opposed slavery, but only towards the end of his life.

Without ever excusing their profound failures, McGever explores the world into which these men were born. The end result is that we may be prompted to think about how the world we were born into may be leading us to faulty moral conclusions (and in fact, this prompting is made explicit in the final chapter, which is designed for Christian reflection, but also gave me a great deal to think about).

I think the target audience -- white evangelical Christians -- will find this book both interesting and useful, especially if their spiritual or intellectual life hasn't included much reflection on slavery, race, or discrimination. But even if you fall outside this group, you may find this book worthwhile. McGever is a good writer, has an excellent understanding of the lives of these fascinating men, and the topic is something I think we all could benefit from thinking about.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.

An unsettling but important book. I found the reflections on Wesley the most compelling and necessary, both grateful for his eventual change of heart and yet disappointed by the "too little, too late" approach he took to abolition. Worth reading and reflecting on!