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PLAIN THEOLOGY FOR PLAIN PEOPLE
Charles Octavius Boothe with an Introduction by Walter R. Strickland II
“Before the charge ‘know thyself,’ ought to come the far greater charge, ‘know thy God.’” In this short textbook first published in 1890, Charles Octavius Boothe simply and elegantly lays out the basics of theology for everyday people. A Baptist pastor born into slavery, Boothe brought the heights of academic theology to his congregants, so that they might be filled with good things. Walter R. Strickland II reintroduces this forgotten masterpiece.
"Charles Octavius Boothe (1845–1924) was a reluctant teacher. To spare others his frustration with learning and teaching from books laced with dense theological rhetoric, Boothe wrote Plain Theology for Plain People.
Boothe wrote for the average sharecropper. He accommodated an unlearned audience that included pastors, teachers, and community leaders born into poverty with little access to education. While leaders and laity alike desperately needed biblical and theological truth, they had little time, energy, and resources to pursue education. “The doctrines of our holy religion need to be studied in order, according to some definite system,” he wrote, “but simplicity should prevail—simplicity of arrangement and simplicity of language.” Thus, Boothe set out to write a succinct and accessible theological handbook." (from the Introduction by Walter R. Strickland II)
Contents
Introduction to Plain Theology for Plain People
Preface
Chapter 1: Being and Character of God
Chapter 2: Man
Chapter 3: The Way of Salvation
Chapter 4: The Son: His Coming and His Work
Chapter 5: Gifts Flowing from the Grace of God
Chapter 6: How Christians Should Live and Labor
Chapter 7: The Bible
Chapter 8: The Christian Church
Chapter 9: The Last Things
General Index
Scripture Index
As Strickland observes, there are at least three reasons for reading Plain Theology for Plain People.
[1] Plain Theology for Plain People destroys reductionist stereotypes of black faith. . . . Black Christianity is largely an oral tradition, and its written resources have been obscured by racial bias. Today, as in Boothe’s time, many ten to caricature black Christian faith as merely “religious feeling and fervor.” [Boothe's brings needed correction to that caricature.]
[2] Plain Theology for Plain People shows black evangelicals that they belong in the broad evangelical tradition. . . . Boothe offers a window into an unexplored vista of theological expression. Black evangelicals have equal claim to the evangelical tradition—even though evangelicals have historically muted their voices.
[3] Plain Theology for Plain People requires evangelicals to engage non-white theological voices. Because evangelical biblical and theological studies have excluded the voices of racial minorities, evangelical theology is shaped by the concerns of the dominant culture. Unfortunately, white evangelicals only hear minority evangelicals’ theology if it echoes white evangelical voices.
For these reasons and more, we (especially white) Christians need to take up the works of men like Charles Octavius Boothe. In reading his book over the last month my soul has been edified, my eyes have been opened, and my heart has been convicted to read more broadly from minority expressions of faith. Why? Because as Strickland observes there are blind-spots that majority culture fail to see. But when we proactively listen to gospel-loving, Bible-believing from diverse cultures, it helps the whole body of Christ grow.
PRAISE FOR 'PLAIN THEOLOGY FOR PLAIN PEOPLE'
"By reprinting a book written for the average sharecropper, Walter R. Strickland has provided Christians with a helpful biblical and theological resource. Along with Strickland’s insightful introduction, this book’s reprinting provides another example (among many) of the contributions of black Christians to Christianity, their contributions to evangelical biblical and theological discourse, and their contributions to the intellectual environment of evangelical Christianity. Readers of Boothe’s work will especially appreciate his intentional efforts to make the bible and theology accessible to his original audience." —Jarvis J. Williams, Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Any given Sunday in some black churches, a member of the congregation may encourage the pastor by saying, “Make it plain, preacher!” In Plain Theology for Plain People, Charles Octavius Boothe makes plain a systematic theology that is both faithful to biblical orthodoxy and responsive to the particular interests of black Christians. I am thankful to God that Walter Strickland discovered this literary jewel and now shares it with the contemporary people of the Lord. Too often, the black church is mischaracterized as being emotionally rich and intellectually shallow. Plain Theology shows this to be a harmful stereotype. All disciples of Jesus Christ interested in how to, in the words of Robert Smith Jr., make doctrine dance should read this book and apply it to the preaching of the plain and pure gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." —CJ Rhodes, Pastor of Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi
"We are in Walter Strickland’s debt for publishing a new edition of Charles Boothe’s Plain Theology for Plain People, an extraordinary book by an extraordinary man. This is everyday theology from the margins, from below, from the perspective of the dispossessed. It is no dry textbook, but theology written by an African-American pastor, born into slavery, who sought to instruct ordinary people in the Christian faith. A classic volume, short, readable, informative, by an inspiring Christian leader." —Michael F. Bird, Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College
dtdm 1212 319
THIS IS A NEW TITLE FOR SOLID GROUND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2017
 SGCB Price: $10.00 (list price $15.00)
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