Grimké on the Christian Life

“Francis Grimké has long deserved the kind of well-researched and carefully presented book Drew Martin has written. Grimké’s half-century career at one of the leading Black churches in Washington, DC, was marked by unusual commitment to the gospel message combined with unusual discernment in addressing the social, domestic, and racial realities faced by his congregation. Martin’s accessible account of Grimké’s ‘holistic, yet differentiated, vision of the Christian life’ also shows that some important historical figures knew how to promote both faith in the private sphere and responsible Christianity in public. For historical and contemporary purposes, this is a timely and important book.”

Mark Noll

“I have long awaited this book—a thorough exploration of Francis Grimké’s theological, ethical, and pastoral commitments. Drew Martin has sifted a range of materials in a compelling fashion to produce a readable, engaging, and thought-provoking treatment of this great Black Presbyterian pastor-theologian. In doing so, he demonstrates that Grimké was thoroughly committed to the whole counsel of God, which was why he preached racial justice. Martin’s book is not just an examination of the past but also a word for the present. Buy a copy for yourself, and a second for your pastor!”

Sean Michael Lucas

“Drew Martin’s Grimké on the Christian Life is a book for all times, but an especially welcome one in ours. Bearing the name of his enslaver-father, the resilient and brilliant Francis Grimké served as a faithful pastor of the Fifteenth Street Church in Washington, DC, cofounded the NAACP, and consistently offered an embodied rebuke of racism in the northern Presbyterian church. All the while, he insisted on the truth of the gospel and its power to transform hearts and society. Martin combines Grimké’s personal story and theological teachings to create a text that’s historically important and devotionally rich. In a time when many see American Christianity as hopelessly compromised and unconstrained, Grimké’s ministry continues to exemplify both bold witness and patient reform work within institutions. This book’s portrayal of his life and thought is a valuable resource to the Presbyterian tradition and the Christian church.”

Ansley L. Quiros

“Francis Grimké is an important figure not only in African American church history and Presbyterian church history but in all of church history. His ministry seems especially relevant in our time. Drew Martin shows us that Grimké’s faith and teaching on the kingdom of God often cut across ‘cultural categories and sensibilities, challenging them all.’ He believed that his vocation was to ‘preach the gospel of grace,’ on the one hand, and to ‘fight race prejudice,’ on the other. Martin’s work is balanced and fair, affirming the many great aspects of Grimké’s life and legacy while also giving helpful critique in the few places where Grimké’s ministry and statements weren’t fully consistent. You will be blessed by this book.”

Thurman Williams

“I’m heartened that evangelicals are rediscovering the life and legacy of Francis Grimké. In this helpful book, Drew Martin shows how Grimké articulated a vision of the Christian life that was theologically conservative, confessionally Reformed, contextually sensitive, and socially progressive in matters of racial equality. Many will find Grimké a wise guide for navigating the theological and ethical tensions of our own culture. Grimké on the Christian Life is a great addition to a stellar series.”

Nathan A. Finn

“Drew Martin skillfully and gracefully takes us into the remarkable life and ministry of Francis Grimké, whose witness to peace and hope in a world—and a church—riven with strife and injustice stands as relevant to our time as ever before.”

John Inazu

“Francis Grimké played a significant role not just in southern Presbyterianism but also in African American and United States history. His advocacy for the rights of African Americans, as well as his passion for justice, dovetails with his commitment to biblical fidelity, theological rigor, and pastoral care. This kind of pastoral work is sorely missing from evangelicalism today, and Drew Martin has done an excellent job highlighting why we need to examine the lives and pastorates of men like Grimké more closely. An excellent book for anyone doing ministry in twenty-first-century America.”

Otis W. Pickett