The Color of Compromise: Film Series Review

Jemar Tisby’s Film Series The Color of Compromise is an essential data point for the church in understanding its history (especially in the western world), and the reason why some evangelical churches adopt certain postures—specifically when it comes to abuse and those who are not white, not male, and non-binary.

This film highlights places in history where the church used the Bible to justify slavery and emphasizes the role the church played in the Civil War.

It addresses many myths regarding racism in the present-day church. Myths such as:

·      If we care about the gospel, all this racial stuff will get worked out on its own.

·      Systemic racism doesn’t exist anymore.

·      The Bible doesn’t explicitly prohibit racial separation or slavery.

·      The Civil War was about state’s rights, not racism (“the lost cause narrative”).

The series also answers questions such as:

·      Why does it matter if there are monuments to confederate soldiers?

·      In what ways is the modern western church still complicit in racism?

·      If all of this racial abuse happened in the past, why are we still talking about it?

·      Why might an emphasis on evangelism over social impact ignore a whole host of issues for the church?

·      Is Christianity a white person’s religion?

·      What is white conservatism?

·      What does Black Lives Matter mean?

Now, what does this have to do with Spiritual Abuse?

A lot, actually. If we use the definition that Spiritual Abuse is when the Bible and God are used to cause shame and harm, racism in the United States has Spiritual Abuse at its core.

Simultaneously, the posture the church has historically taken in the US towards slavery and racism has created a pattern of defending those in power and ignoring the voices of victims. Spiritual Abuse is endemic in the evangelical church. Any abuse is so little spoken of. The evangelical church has done a traditionally poor job of caring for victims of abuse—even when that abuse occurs within the community itself.

If we trace the church’s history with racism and slavery, it’s not difficult to see where the patterns first emerged.

Check out the film series on Amazon Prime. The book is also available for purchase.