My father gave me one of John Perkin’s books to read when I was a freshman in high school. Dad, the pastor of Presbyterian church in rural Wisconsin, had been trying to understand how Bible believing Christians should respond to America’s racial disparities. 

As a theological and political conservative, Dad was very cautious about, well, everything. And when it came to issues of race, he found plenty to be cautious about, even in his curiosity…Structural injustice? Past or present? What about personal responsibility and individual sin? Should the church minister in word or in deed? When does addressing physical needs become the “social gospel”?

And then in God’s providence, a book by John Perkins came across Dad’s desk. Dr. Perkins was not a formally-trained theologian, but he spoke in language that Dad could understand, for it was language infused with the overarching story of the Bible:

The entire creation, including both individuals and social systems, was created good. The ramifications of sin are comprehensive in scope, so of course both people and systems are broken. The Gospel—the good news of the Kingdom of God—is that King Jesus is bringing healing as far as the curse is found, providing hope for all of creation. Through faith and repentance, we can be born again, be filled with the Spirit, and participate in Christ’s reconciling work among people who are lame, blind, outcast, and poor. 

Perkins’ application of the Gospel in its fullest sense to America’s racial crisis had a tremendous impact on my father, on me, and on countless others who take the Bible seriously, including those of us at the Chalmers Center:

Dr. Perkins was the keynote speaker at the Chalmers Center’s first training event in 2002, providing us with a credibility that we did not deserve. And when When Helping Hurts was published in 2009, we were thrilled that Dr. Perkins agreed to write the foreword, which included these words: “…it would be a mistake to think that the power of this book lies in the tools and techniques it presents. Rather, the central message of this book is that we need the person of Jesus Christ to transform not just the poor but also ourselves.”

Amen. It is only in the person of Jesus Christ that both the depth of our brokenness and the fullness of our redemption is clearly seen. And He is reconciling all things to himself, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col.1:20).

Thank you, Dr. John Perkins, for embodying this truth in both words and in deeds through your lifetime of faithful service.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

* Image courtesy the John & Vera May Perkins Foundation