Sometimes in order to move forward, you have to look back. I am really excited after finding an old copy of Tom Skinner’s book “If Christ is the Answer, What are the Questions?” on Amazon. Skinner has always been a hero of mine, and was also a family friend. While he is no longer with us, the insight and truth he spoke when it was not popular still has relevance today. In fact as I looked over the table of contents of his book (which was written in 1974) I noticed how many topics are still not easily discussed even now in our time. It is upon the shoulder’s of people like Tom Skinner that I stand. It is crazy to think that much of what I say now has been said before. It is important to take note of those who have come before us.
Are you familiar with Tom Skinner?
Published by Drew G. I. Hart, PhD
Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience prior to teaching. He currently directs Messiah University's "Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice" program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Jarrod McKenna, an award-winning peace activist from Australia. Hart is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016) and Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020). And he is also a co-editor and contributor to the recently published book entitled Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). Hart received bcmPEACE’s 2017 Peacemaker Award, the 2019 W.E.B. Du Bois Award in Harrisburg, PA, and most recently in December 2023 Life Esteem Ministries recognized him in Harrisburg with the Harambee Award for the Nguzo Saba Principle of Umoja—Unity for his faith-based activism and public scholarship in the community. Drew and his family live in Harrisburg, PA.
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Drew G. I. Hart 
My mom had me read parts of Black and Free when I was in high school and I have heard recordings of his speak. He is someone I would like to read and understand more however. From what I have seen/read he has and still has important things to say to the Church and to the world.
Yeah, I also had read Black and Free and listened to his speech at Urbana. I think his talk at Urbana and his thoughts in “If Christ is the Answer…” show a progression and development in his theology from Black and Free. He really gets into a lot of stuff that are still controversial subjects today. He is very holistic in his understanding of the gospel and critical of our subversion of the gospel in North America. I am not even done the book yet, but I really have enjoyed it so far.