Here’s a master’s thesis that Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity has made available titled “The Effect of Ethnic Identity on Biblical Unity in Its Role as an Apologetic.” I haven’t read the whole thing but I scanned through the table of contents, pages here and there and the conclusion. I appreciate seeing the writer tackling on key verses related to ethnicity, unity and reconciliation. I imagine this would be a treat and food for thought for those into apologetics, church unity and a biblical view of ethnicities. The thesis was written by Caroline Boozer and was completed on May 2019 as part of her completion of her degree in Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA). This topic seems even more important now in our post 2020 world. I am thankful Liberty University has made this thesis available online for free.
Here’s an abstract:
This thesis will consider the effect that ethnicity has on identity formation as it impacts church unity. Unity is the chief form of evidence by which the Christian church is supposed to be recognized. The way that believers love one another is how Jesus teaches people will know that they are His disciples (John 13:35). Ethnic tensions are a cause of disunity in both the Old and New Testaments. The issue of ethnic identity and relations and the impact that they have on unity in the church is an apologetic for the power and counter-cultural teachings of Jesus. The purpose of this thesis is to understand the impact that ethnic identity has on unity. The result of this understanding will be a foundation for a church culture that uses unity as an apologetic for Christ. This will be accomplished by outlining the historical ethnic identity and ethnic tensions throughout the Old and New Testament and church history. An understanding of unity as an apologetic, in light of these findings, will create a path to the unification of the church. The intended result of this thesis is two-fold; that those are believers in Christ would step into a role of encouraging the church body towards unity, and that those who do not have faith in Christ would recognize the intention of the biblical text in regard to God’s design for ethnicity and unity.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the great resource. I look forward to reading it.
Blessings from mighty King Jesus.
Something to explore someday, GOD willing! Blessings to you Jim, Nancy, and the kids!
God bless you! Hope to see you in the morning yeah?
I browsed this as well. There is real merit to her thesis. Sound churches need to be in unity with other sound churches regardless of ethic identity, race etc. I absolutely hate how segregated the church still is. It is a righteous anger. God knows progressive christianity and other false teachings/teachers have unity. The secular world is way past the point of unity but unified. All of this is an indictment on the Church at large. Thanks for sharing this thesis!
The secular world is now pressing for
Uniformity in more and more coercive fashion. I think the Gospel will allow the church to flourish with true unity! But you are right with the churches to still make a lot of progress! You mentioned rainbow yesterday is there lots of raining going on In PA last week and this week?
“I think the Gospel will allow the church to flourish with true unity!” Not to sound like a downer but I think it will be underground. We can get rain anytime in the spring. It can appear out of nowhere.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging and commented:
Excellent resource, thanks Brother Jim!! Blessings!!
This looks interesting, but it’s probably over my T-101 head. I’m familiar with how the RCC influenced/appealed to monarchs, nations, and ethnicities in its expansion. Some of that process included syncretism, borrowing from the pagan indigenous culture. To a certain degree, the RCC has successfully overcome many of its divisions by incorporating national/ethnic traditions under its international umbrella. Of course, Gospel churches do not have that kind of scope and centralized authority.
I would be interested in what the author has to say. As you know, I often point out that nationalism, ethnicity, and race are factors in the disunity of genuine believers. We’ve often placed those factors ahead of our unity in Christ and the Gospel.
Good comment and also bringing in the insight from RCC and also the difference of authority structure with Gospel churches that are more independent and also RCC with the Magistrium. You are right national identity, ethnicity and race is source of much disunity. The hard balance between those factors too is that some stress national unity under a state over and against various ethnicities and background while also some stress the unique identities to a point of being fearful of anything that unite is somehow the majority controlling them. I think Nationalism and sectarianism is the result of that (though not the only factors, but they play a role). I think the Gospel has also brought about unity of believers from all background and nations, where one can care for one’s nation spiritually to know the Gospel but also concern for international outreach with the Great Commission and missions. Easier said than done though! But I feel the Great Commission has made me love those overseas with advancing the Gospel to the point I’m trying to aware of my American assumptions and also not letting that interfere with my interpretation of the Bible while also saying I’m grateful God has saved Americans of various ethnicities and I love my fellow Americans without having American pride as my dominating motivation for loving Americans. Also as an evangelist who preaches the Gospel in a liberal part of the US, I don’t feel I’m supporting the government no matter what, sometimes police and other officials such as in universities do oppose our outreach effort. So the Gospel when I evangelize on college campuses and have to deal with government authorities makes it hard for me to be a blind pro-government nationalists too.
The Gospel is so awesome, just talking about its implications is huge!
Thanks for all of the good comments in response to my discombobulated thoughts! 🙂 The church (and Christians individually) has historically struggled with the factors of ethnicity/race and nationalism in relationship to the Gospel and Christian unity. I realize that you bump up against these tensions in your day-to-day ministries quite often. Lord bless your ministries! I’m going to attempt to read this dissertation because the topic intrigues me.
Have a good sleep! After having the initial meeting with a realtor at my sister’s house yesterday, my wife and I went car shopping (our lease expires next week) and leased another Jetta. Same dealership and same salesman we always use. My wife loves cars and would love to shop and shop and shop for a car while I’m content to go back to the same dealership and lease another Jetta. I wrote all of that to say my wife wanted to go out to eat to “celebrate” after we signed the new lease. We went to an Italian restaurant, I ordered a spicy dish and consumed everything, knowing full well I was going to wake up at 2AM with agita…and of course I did!
I live in South Africa and downloaded this and think its relevant for me with where I live
Thank you.:)
You’re welcome! How is your week so far Maw Maw??
Blessed.:)
What the world needs now is to see Christian unity based upon the Gospel
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My name is Tyler Williams, a bank manager There is something special about your last Name that is the reason why I contacted you so please get back to me through my private email address (karamov.26g@gmail.com) so that i can tell you more about
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I just got time this week to read this post. I’m glad to see that Liberty University published this. That is an improvement since their founder Jerry Falwell was an avowed segregationist in the 50s and 60s and wanted schools in America to stay racially segregated
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Hi
My name is Tyler Williams, a bank manager There is something special about your last Name that is the reason why I contacted you so please get back to me through my private email address (karamov.26g@gmail.com) so that i can tell you more about
With Regards
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Loved that I can get the digital copy