Critical Review
“Reading Scripture for Good News that Crosses Barriers of Race/Ethnicity, Class, and
Culture” by Bob Eckblad, addresses the importance of successfully conveying the meaning of
Scripture across cultural divides. Topics covered within the article include being aware of the
presenter’s own cultural and theological presuppositions, common issues and drawbacks to
individual and group discovery of good news in Scripture, strategies to share and implement life-
changing events with God within diverse environments, a growing discernment in being led by
God’s Spirit, humility and boldness in exercising the gifts of the Spirit, and identifying how
others may present racial, ethnic, and cultural images of God.
The article focuses on employing practical communication skills to enlighten others from
various cultural backgrounds and quickly points out the diversity within North America’s urban
centers. The author adequately describes what he terms a “street” or “dominant” theology that,
although it has some variations, is shared between cultures.1
According to Eckblad, three major pitfalls affect our sharing of the Good News:
domestication of God and the Scriptures resulting from isolationism, moralism, heroism, and
exemplarism.2 In summation, the article covers the facilitation of sharing the Good News by
effectively crossing the barriers of race and ethnicity, social class, and culture with great
awareness and sensitivity shown toward others.
[1] Bob Eckblad, Reading Scripture for Good News that Crosses Barriers of Race/Ethnicity, Class and
Culture, Interpretation, 65, no.3 (2011), 231.
https://www.proquest.com/docview/879074305?_oafollow=false&accountid=12085&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
[2] Ibid.,232.
2
Reflect, Analyze, and Apply
I appreciated the article, Reading Scripture for Good News that Crosses Barriers of
Race/Ethnicity, Class, and Culture. The article personally assisted me in understanding some of
the pitfalls to avoid when sharing the Gospel with other cultures and how to communicate the
Biblical message better. Most notably, it provided insight into how we must let go of our cultural
presuppositions and how such presumptions may impact our ability to effectively communicate
the Good News of God’s Word.
A key to sharing the Gospel starts with understanding that many people start with a
negative image or theology of God. For many people, negative images of God originate in the
core experiences of the human father and mother who abandoned or rejected them, who punished
or abused them, who were impossible to please and controlling, or were permissive or negligent.3
I believe such negative experiences are highly detrimental in obtaining a proper understanding of
God, especially in comprehending a loving Heavenly Father. Further, the presence of any
number of these circumstances when mixed within a home that mandates church attendance and
conducts religious or “Christian” practices in the home leads to a highly negative and warped
view of the Scriptures, Christian faith, and the Church.
The author’s focus also impacted me on the pitfalls of moralism. Eckblad defines this
[3] Ibid., 232.
3
pitfall as “The common human tendency to come to biblical texts, consciously or unconsciously,
looking for any information about what God might want us to do or think in order to win or
maintain God’s favor or immediate help.”4 This hits incredibly close to home, coming from a
background where works were heavily emphasized as part of the Christian experience.
Certainly, this presumption may impact a person’s proper understanding of the Good News of the
Bible and their relationship with God.
Third, we must do our best to ensure that a person’s negative perception of the facilitator,
Scripture, or God does not infiltrate our Bible studies. In leading a study, we must be non-
judgmental and accepting of all individuals to ensure that the “most vulnerable people in the
group will feel safe.”5 We must foster a safe and loving atmosphere, acknowledging the cultural
differences we are ministering to.
Conclusion
The article discusses the importance of successfully conveying the meaning of Scripture
across cultural divides. The article personally assisted me in understanding some of the pitfalls
to avoid when sharing the Gospel with other cultures and how to communicate the Biblical
message better.
[4] Bob Eckblad, Reading Scripture for Good News that Crosses Barriers of Race/Ethnicity, Class and
Culture, Interpretation, 65, no.3 (2011), 231.
https://www.proquest.com/docview/879074305?
_oafollow=false&accountid=12085&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
[5] Ibid., 230.
4
Most notably, it provided insight into how we must let go of our cultural presuppositions and
how such presumptions may impact our ability to effectively communicate the Good News of
God’s Word. It also impacted my understanding of the importance of creating an environment
where people may feel safe from judgment and the presence of any presuppositions when
studying the Bible.
5
Bibliography
Eckblad, Bob. “Reading Scripture for Good News that Crosses Barriers of Race/Ethnicity, Class and Culture.”
(Sage Publications Ltd) 65, no.3 (July 2011): 228-248.
https://www.proquest.com/docview/879074305?
_oafollow=false&accountid=12085&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
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