Religion News Service reports that a new book about Christian identity is inadvertently tapping into the U.S.’s racial history:
For evangelical author John MacArthur, the best way to explain a Christian’s relationship to Jesus is what appears to be a simple metaphor—one often used by the Apostle Paul himself.
“To be a Christian is to be a slave of Christ,” writes MacArthur, the pastor of a nondenominational church in Sun Valley, Calif.
His new book, “Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ,” explores the varied practices of Bible translators regarding the controversial term. It’s also drawing mixed reactions among African-American Christians whose ancestors were slaves in 19th-century America.
MacArthur views the issue in almost conspiratorial terms: While biblical texts use the word “slave” to describe actual slave-master relationships in biblical times, English translators often opt for the word “servant” when describing a believer’s relationship to God.
Read the full feature here.
Tags: Christianity, race, United States
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AMA citation:
Boy J. Race and Christian identity. The Immanent Frame. 2011. Available at: http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/03/03/race-and-christian-identity/. Accessed May 24, 2013.
APA citation:
Boy, John D.. (2011). Race and Christian identity. Retrieved May 24, 2013, from The Immanent Frame Web site: http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/03/03/race-and-christian-identity/
Chicago citation:
Boy, John D.. 2011. Race and Christian identity. The Immanent Frame. http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/03/03/race-and-christian-identity/ (accessed May 24, 2013).
Harvard citation:
Boy, J 2011, Race and Christian identity, The Immanent Frame. Retrieved May 24, 2013, from <http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/03/03/race-and-christian-identity/>
MLA citation:
Boy, John D.. "Race and Christian identity." 3 Mar. 2011. The Immanent Frame. Accessed 24 May. 2013. <http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/03/03/race-and-christian-identity/>
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