The Fatherhood, Sonship, Brotherhood Pattern
Illustration★★★★Religious individualism and universalism mean that the Christian life is lived entirely within one context: the Fatherhood-sonship-brotherhood context. The moment we step out of this context in any of our relationships and activities, we have deviated seriously from the Christian position. Let us suppose that we substitute the terms “Negro” and “white” for the terms “son” and “brother” in the Fatherhood-sonship-brotherhood pattern. Immediately the pattern loses its meaning.
In the original pattern the son is son because of the Father; and the brother is brother because of the Father. The Father is the basis and determin- ing factor in their relation. But in the pattern in which the terms “Negro” and “white” are substituted, the Negro is Negro because some particular, finite characteristic is singled out and the white man is white for the same reason.
This particular, finite, and transitory characteristic becomes the basis and de- termining factor in their relation. And since it is a particular, finite, and tran- sitory characteristic and is chosen for the purpose of pointing up difference, it is by its very nature a principle of disunion. It is rooted in the Fall of man; it belongs to the divisive element in life. The very term “interracial” is under Christian moral suspicion.
It suggests two camps standing over against each other. It suggests the we-they relation, a relation in which I and thou, two souls under God, can never meet. All Christian activity and relations must submit to the Fatherhood-sonship-brotherhood context. George D.
Kelsey 419
The point
Christian life in Fatherhood-Sonship-Brotherhood context; race categories destroy unity by making finite traits determinant.