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Bringing the wisdom of generations of black Catholics into conversation with contemporary scholarly accounts of racism, Christ Divided diagnoses ""antiblackness supremacy"" as a corporate vice that inhabits the body of Christ. To truly understand racial inequality, theologians must acknowledge the existence of ""antiblackness supremacy"" and recognize its uniquely foundational role in prevailing processes of racialization and racial hierarchy. In addition to introducing a new framework of racial analysis, this book proposes a new approach to virtue ethics. Because the church‘s participation in and performance of white supremacy occurs as a result of corporate habituation, the church most needs new habits, not new teachings. The theory of corporate virtue outlined here provides a framework through which to evaluate these habits and propose new ones-to be made to "do the right thing."
The church of the Bible is presented as a pattern of human life in marked contrast both to the values of secular society and to the restrictive outlook that characterizes many religious groups. The church is to be the manifestation of the biblical instruction to love God and neighbor. Is Christ Divided? takes a penetrating look at the identity of the local church. Is it comprised of believers with a passion to worship the God of Truth and live by His purpose, following His Holy Spirit that lives inside? Or is the church a group of individuals segregated by culture, class, economics and education, following the traditions of men? Is Christ Divided? urges the original and philosophical concept of the church advocated by the Word of God. Each chapter reveals biblical support for cooperation amongst the brethren; the local church and the para church. Containing critical research of Scripture and analysis of church history, this book will provide proof that both populations have existed since the beginning without distinction. The intent is to bridge the gap between denominations, associations, local churches, para church organizations, missions and ministries.
This book will start with the earliest Christian textual evidence, the letters of Saint Paul, as a foundation to reveal surprising details in the history of the early Church that have been hidden in plain sight for almost two thousand years: (1.) that Saint Peter and Saint Paul became enemies; (2.) that according to some early Christians, Jesus was both the Messiah and the Antichrist, but not God nor the Son of God; (3.) that James, the brother of Jesus, rejected the original teaching of Jesus in order to further his own claim to be the Messiah; (4.) that the apostle Paul actually failed more than he succeeded during his lifetime; (5.) that Christians were instrumental in the First Jewish Revolt; and (6.) that Jesus did claim to be both the Son of God and God. The evidence is laid out logically in a new way. But the evidence is not new; it is on your shelf right now.
“David Ireland’s new book distills over thirty years of experience … into a practical guide for others to use. If you feel God is calling you to unite rather than divide … One in Christ is for you!" —Luis Palau, international evangelist “Each time I have had the pleasure of spending time with Dr. David Ireland, I have gained insight into the depth of God’s Word … a trait I have found in only a handful of others.”—Kurt Warner, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback David Ireland, pastor of a multiracial megachurch in New Jersey and diversity consultant to the NBA, equips Christians to usher in a new era of racial reconciliation in One in Christ. Racial disharmony is tearing communities apart, both inside and outside the church. But Jesus Christ is, and was, a great reconciler. Warmth, regard, and respect emanated from His person toward others---all others. Part of this allure was the fact Jesus was comfortable in His skin. This made others who approached Him comfortable in their skin. This quality fuels the deconstruction of walls---the tearing down of barriers that keep us apart. In One in Christ, Ireland shows us that this quality can be learned. In fact, at the cellular structure of Christianity is the ability to be cross-cultural. The Great Commission proclaims it. Jesus said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). The word nation is the Greek word ethnos, where we derive the English word ethnic. In essence, the last charge Jesus gave was for His followers to become cross-cultural ambassadors. This is not optional, Ireland says: We must each become racially accommodating.
The church of the Bible is presented as a pattern of human life in marked contrast both to the values of secular society and to the restrictive outlook that characterizes many religious groups. The church is to be the manifestation of the biblical instruction to love God and neighbor. Is Christ Divided? takes a penetrating look at the identity of the local church. Is it comprised of believers with a passion to worship the God of Truth and live by His purpose, following His Holy Spirit that lives inside? Or is the church a group of individuals segregated by culture, class, economics and education, following the traditions of men? Is Christ Divided? urges the original and philosophical concept of the church advocated by the Word of God. Each chapter reveals biblical support for cooperation amongst the brethren; the local church and the para church. Containing critical research of Scripture and analysis of church history, this book will provide proof that both populations have existed since the beginning without distinction. The intent is to bridge the gap between denominations, associations, local churches, para church organizations, missions and ministries.
Through a nationwide survey, the authors of this study conclude that US Evangelicals may actually be preserving the racial chasm, not through active racism, but because their theology hinders their ability to recognise systematic injustice.
How should the Catholic church remember the sins of its saints? This question proves particularly urgent in the case of those saints who were canonized due to their relation to black slavery. Today, many of their racial virtues seem like racial vices. In this way, the church celebrates Peter Claver, a seventeenth-century Spanish missionary to Colombia, as “the saint of the slave trade,” and extols Martín de Porres as the patron saint of mixed race people. But in truth, their sainthoods have upheld anti-blackness much more than they have undermined it. Habituated by anti-blackness, the church has struggled to perceive racial holiness accurately. In the ongoing cause to canonize Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian-born former slave, the church continues to enact these bad racial habits. This book proposes black fugitivity, as both a historical practice and an interpretive principle, to be a strategy by which the church can build new hagiographical habits. Rather than searching inside itself for racial heroes, the church should learn to celebrate those black fugitives who sought refuge outside of it.
A fresh look at the earliest Christian movement reveals what made the new faith so compelling...and what we need to change today to make it so again. Once upon a time there was a version of the Christian faith that was practically irresistible. After all, what could be more so than the gospel that Jesus ushered in? Why, then, isn't it the same with Christianity today? Author and pastor Andy Stanley is deeply concerned with the present-day church and its future. He believes that many of the solutions to our issues can be found by investigating our roots. In Irresistible, Andy chronicles what made the early Jesus Movement so compelling, resilient, and irresistible by answering these questions: What did first-century Christians know that we don't—about God's Word, about their lives, about love? What did they do that we're not doing? What makes Christianity so resistible in today's culture? What needs to change in order to repeat the growth our faith had at its beginning? Many people who leave or disparage the faith cite reasons that have less to do with Jesus than with the conduct of his followers. It's time to hit pause and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and little chance of survival. It's time to embrace the version of faith that initiated—against all human odds—a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. This is a version of Christianity we must remember and re-embrace if we want to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world.
Is Christ Divided? This writing is a call for unity. It is not a call for un-challenged unity. Still it is a call to unity because this is how the Lord wanted his body (the church )to operate. Unity takes great effort. But it is well worth it! Satan our enemy has realized he cannot destroy the church but he hopes to weaken her mission by utilizing some of his cunning tactics. Ploys such as discouragement, un-forgiveness, spiritual apathy, laziness are strategies he use on a daily bases. One of his main tools is a age-old trick called divisiveness which he has carefully re-packaged as denominationalism. A common viewpoint might be stated: "We don't fellowship with those folks because they do not interpret or follow the 'Word' Correctly." So the church has learned to operate in a million different brands, with the expectation that we will all meet together one day in heaven. Sometimes seeming to admire one another but then at other times refusing to acknowledge one another or learn from each other or recognize the hand of God on other believers who we perceive as the misinformed. At times we Christians even seem to treat one another like rivals. My prayer is that you carefully consider the underlined thought of this book and consider whether God might say anything to you. Christ is not Divided. God bless you my fellow believer. Elder Mark G. Oliver is a licensed minister and has been studying the word of God since he was a young lad. Brought up in the church, a true "pew baby" in a strong denominational environment. He began fighting for his understanding of Christianity while he was but a pre-teen. Desiring to bring people to the truth he determined that he would affect a change in the Christian world view- his way. But then God stopped him in his tracks to reveal to him that "you need to understand much more about your faith- and about other believers." This lead him on a long journey of prayer, study and discovery. Which finally birthed in his spirit a writing "Is Christ Divided." "I still have a strong desire to see people receive salvation, but now hopefully, I am better equipped to share the message"