Sometimes I come across books that change the way I see the world. Dorothy L. Sayers A man born to become a king It was one such book (although technically it was a play cycle rather than a traditional book). So did Makoto Fujimura Culture care, And Sandra Gran Every mother, And Elena Ferrante My great friends. Each of these has led to a fundamental change in my thoughts on a particular topic, whether it is about faith, history, or even my own family background or life in general.
Malcolm Foley The antigreed gospel Another such book. Foley, a pastor, historian and advisor to Baylor University’s president, creates provocative and persuasive cases that have changed their thinking about racism and how to overcome it. “Contrary to the general opinion,” he writes. “Race is primarily about people who try to classify each other to exploit them, not their skin color. It’s greedy.”
Foley supports this competition with a wealth of historical evidence and biblical insights. He shows that the tragic history of racism can be traced directly to desire for wealth. White Europeans and Americans didn’t like them, but because they wanted free labor to help them accumulate money, land and power. That’s how the crime of racism took root, and that’s why Foley argues, efforts to eradicate racial hatred will not succeed unless they consider greed.
The tragic history of racism can be traced directly to desire for wealth.
After all, he shows us, and greed continued to motivate racial persecution in a post-slavery era. To see the patterns, you just look at the scary practices of Lynch since the reconstruction. Foley extensively cites Crusades journalist Ida B. Wells to show that Lynch’s flimsy or fully-made excuses often hide real reasons.
As Foley explains:
Whenever we encounter racism in the world, one of our main questions is: Who benefits politically or economically from racist behavior? When people act out of hatred, we see that such hatred does not come out of the vacuum. Somewhere along the line, self-interest was raw in the criminal’s brain. After the festival, it took a new form: hatred.
Foley draws out Christ’s teachings about greed that drives his point home. “This book is sediment,” he writes,” he writes. “I write by the fact that rival gods need blood sacrifices. Mammon is the same. Jesus does not exaggerate when we say we cannot serve two masters: God and Mammon.
As I said, Foley’s powerful presentation of his case changed my views on the nature of the matter. Later in the book where he laid a potential solution, he lost me a bit, mainly because he is a dedicated pacifist and I am not. He spends quite a bit of time promoting ideas, and I respect the thoroughness of his research and the strength of his beliefs, especially his opposition to his own self-interest, but in the end I still believe there is a place for self-defense (and, as he admits, Foley’s heroine Ida B. Wells).
So, while I may not be the ideal reader of Foley, I am deeply grateful for the overall moral vision he offers in this book. Christians want to show radical love enough to rebel against the wealth of our culture and its fatal consequences. This battle is fought and shows us both on a spiritual and material level. To fight it, you need imagination, creativity, integrity, and willingness to walk with oppressed and suffering. If you cannot agree with Foley on all the strategic details, we are extremely grateful for the wisdom and guidance he offers here. Books that change your thinking don’t come every day. When they do, they should taste.
This review was originally published Dear, something strange! May 11, 2025. It has been republished here with permission from the author.
Source: Christ and Pop Culture – christandpopculture.com
