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The Biblical Worldview of Race

The Biblical Worldview of Race

by | Jul 8, 2020

“And He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…” 

Acts 17:26

Have the daily reports of turmoil in our nation over race relations alarmed you? If so, it is a good time to ask: what is the biblical worldview of race? Acts 17:26 tells us that all people are of one blood, originating from one man (Adam). Therefore, God created one biological race—not many! We are all relatives! Multiple scientific studies have confirmed that there is only one biological race, as we would expect.

If we are all relatives, why do we have so much strife? The answer is the corruption of mankind due to the fall (Genesis 3). As we are all descendants of Adam (Genesis 1:26-28), we all carry his sin nature (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12). After a while, God’s tolerance of the sinful mess mankind created ran out, and He sent a catastrophe (the worldwide flood) to destroy the evil culture except for the few who were righteous (Noah’s family).

In their seminal book on the topic, One Race, One Blood, Charles Ware and Ken Ham describe the biblical worldview of race. Ken Ham is the CEO of Answers in Genesis (AiG) and Charles Ware is Executive Director of Grace Relations and Special Assistant to the president at AiG. If this is important to you, Ken Ham has relatively light skin and Charles Ware has relatively dark skin. The material in this article is based largely on their book and other materials from AiG.

After the flood, humans continued to be disobedient. They did not spread out and fill the earth as God desired. Instead they built a tower for their own glory. God caused confusion by creating different languages, so they separated and spread across the world (Genesis 11).

The explanation for the external differences we see in people can be understood based on the incredible genetic diversity that God gave Adam and Eve in the beginning. We believe that Adam and Eve likely had medium brown skin because God gave them maximum genetic diversity. When people separated as discussed in Genesis 11, they adapted to their environment, and distinct biological traits (e.g., skin “color”) that were advantageous in their environment predominated and became perceivable. We all have the same pigments in our skin but in different combinations. This leads to darker or lighter skin shades. There are no “black” people or “white” people. We are not different “colors”—we are different shades of brown. Other biological characteristics can be explained in the same way.

The fact that our outward appearance and some internal biological characteristics are different contributed to the concept of multiple biological races. Due to our fallen sinful nature many people consider some “races” to be superior to others or consider some “races” objectionable. Even though we have minor biological differences, our biological similarities far outweigh these differences. There is only one biological race and all humans are of the same race. The biblical worldview would suggest we should eliminate the term “race” and talk about different “people groups” all of whom are equal in God’s eyes.

God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34). He looks on the inside, not the outside. Christ died at the Cross for all people who turn to him (John 3:16). It is our spiritual, faith-based relationship with Christ that is important to him (John 3:3). There is only one biological race, but there are two spiritual races. Those who accept Christ as their personal savior due to his grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) are saved from the ultimate justice—death due to our sin nature (Romans 6:23). As a result of his grace to us, we should strive to live in harmony (Romans 15:5) and love (John 13-34-35).

Although there is only one biological race, racism is alive and well. What is the biblical solution? We should get back to the true biblical history of the world as given in Genesis and understand we are all one race and all of the same family. Yes, we can point to evils in the past and current wrongs that should be corrected, but who of us is deserving of salvation and living with God in eternity? None of us—we are all sinners deserving of eternal separation from God. Race relations as defined by fallen humans is based on the worldly definition of race and has failed miserably. It is time to turn to the biblical worldview and strive for Grace Relations as exemplified by our Creator, Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Want more information? Get the One Race, One Blood book or search the internet for the One Race One Blood video given by Ken Ham or the Grace Relations video given by Charles Ware.

Chris Basel is Chair of the STEM Department, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Calvary University.

CU Welcomes New Dean of Women

CU Welcomes New Dean of Women

by | Jul 7, 2020

Jamie Franz, the new Dean of Women at CU, with her husband Greg, and daughters Jadyn, Jaycie, and Jemma.

This fall Calvary welcomes Jamie Franz to the Student Development team as the new Dean of Women. Franz was born and raised in Raymore, Missouri, and currently lives in Raytown with her husband and three daughters.

Franz earned her B.S. in English at Southwest Baptist University and her M.Ed. at Mid America Nazarene University. She said, “I taught English for the past 19 years. During this past school year, the Lord made it abundantly clear that we needed to make a change for our girls. I started walking through doors and the doors at Calvary kept opening up.” When someone suggested she consider the role of Dean of Women, Franz sought out counsel, and “it became quite obvious that this is what the Lord had been preparing me for all along.”

Franz is excited to be involved with the student body here at Calvary. She has worked in Christian schools for most of her career and said her favorite part of the job is building relationships. “It’s through solid relationships that you are able to challenge one another and even discipline when necessary. I love getting to see how God uses me to encourage students, but I also love how He uses students to encourage me.”

Officially starting her role in August, Franz will be joining Calvary in time for the fall semester. Her passion for mentoring aligns with Student Development’s growing focus on discipleship on campus. Franz said, “Mentoring is such a crucial part of the Christian walk… I’m excited to be a mentor to the girls at Calvary. I’m excited to help them find mentors and help them become mentors.”

2020 Grad Teaching Internationally This Fall

2020 Grad Teaching Internationally This Fall

by | Jun 25, 2020

“I’ve learned that education is, at its core, the same everywhere, especially for Christian education.”

Elizabeth Viens graduated this spring with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In the fall, she’ll be teaching 3rd grade at an international school in Southeast Asia. Viens said, “Since I was about 10 years old, I noticed that I just had a really big desire to go internationally. I love traveling and people groups. I have a heart for the world and for lost people.”

Calvary was a top choice for Viens, who lived in the Kansas City area. She chose the education program because, “I’ve always loved kids; loved teaching. It was always kind of on my radar. I wanted something that I could do in a ministry context, not just the professional world.”

Viens has traveled to several schools abroad while at Calvary, visiting Russia, China, and Mexico. She said, “I’ve learned that education is, at its core, the same everywhere, especially for Christian education. Even though it may look different to different people groups, the goal is still to inform minds to be more like Christ and impact the world for his kingdom.”

Viens will be teaching through the organization Teach Beyond. She first encountered Teach Beyond when their reps visited Calvary’s campus, and she “felt like that was God saying, ‘here’s your direction.’”

As she puts her degree to work, Viens is excited for this opportunity to teach internationally. “I think as an educator, I’m helping prepare the next generation of people to be logical and sound thinkers, to have a knowledge of God and his word, and … preparing them to serve in the world wherever they go.”

Join us online for 2020 Commencement Events

Join us online for 2020 Commencement Events

by | Jun 23, 2020

Links to Live Stream Events June 26-27:

Baccalaureate

2 p.m. Friday, June 26

Liberty Chapel

Awards Banquet

6:30 p.m. Friday, June 26

Student Life Center

Commencement

10 a.m.  Saturday, June 27

Student Life Center

Celebrate the Class of 2020

Due to Coronavirus restrictions and social distancing over the past few months, Calvary University was unable to celebrate commencement in May for the first time in our school’s history.

Fortunately, those restrictions are being lifted enough for CU to celebrate this week. On June 26 we will hold Baccalaureate and an Awards Banquet. The next day, Saturday, June 27, we will celebrate Commencement. Since there are still some restrictions, in-person attendance is by invitation only — mostly for graduates and their immediate families.

However, we invite all family, friends, faculty, staff, alumni, churches and supporters to join us via live stream (see links below) to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020.

We also invite you to visit and explore our 2020 Commencement Yearbook page which will compile the names, awards, stories, pictures and videos from this important and historic celebration.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Alum Returns to Chair Theatre Department

Alum Returns to Chair Theatre Department

by | Jun 22, 2020

Top right: England performs in Calvary’s 2010 production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Bottom right: England as The Cat in the Hat for Calvary’s 2013 production of Seussical.

“Story is a way to worship.”

Calvary alumnus Kenneth England is taking over the Theatre Department following the retirement of department chair Bobbie Jeffrey. England grew up in rural Illinois and came to Calvary for a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts. He said, “I knew that I wanted Bible education and Theatre education. I decided to do the Bible first and Calvary is where my parents attended and where my older sister was a sophomore.” After finishing his degree at Calvary, he earned his MFA in Acting from Purdue.

Theatre has been integral in England’s life for many years. He decided to pursue it as a career while in high school. “I was enraptured with the act of creation involved with theatre. Theatre’s magic captured me… I had never experienced such passion and joy as I did while doing theatre. I decided to take a risk and pursue a career path that I loved and inspired me.”

England started teaching at the undergraduate level while studying at Purdue. In the spring semester of 2020, he joined Calvary’s faculty as an adjunct professor of Theatre Arts. England said when the role of Department Chair opened up, he applied because he believes “Calvary needs a Theatre Department and I want to do what I can to make it successful.” He added that he was invested in the department because of the influence it had on his own spiritual growth. “When I was a student, the department played a huge part in the development of my spiritual life. In fact, many aspects of the faith did not make sense or only became personal to me after I learned to put Christianity in the context of story. I want to be able to provide the opportunity for that same growth to the students.”

As he steps into this new position, England is excited for the opportunities to help students connect their art with their faith and “connect the techniques of theater with Christianity.” He noted that the department is in a time of change, both in leadership and in the transition to a minor-only program. Since the department will only perform one full production per school year, England is looking for more ways to provide opportunities for student led projects. England said story is a powerful method to teach about relationships and connections and understanding the world around us. But ultimately, he said, “Story is a way to worship. God is an artistic God… So, when we engage in art, it is worship.”

Calvary Prof Publishes Work on Discipleship

Calvary Prof Publishes Work on Discipleship

by | Jun 18, 2020

Dr. Daniel Goepfrich, adjunct professor of Greek at Calvary, recently published a book titled, Biblical Discipleship: The Path For Helping People Follow Jesus. The book arose out of his long-standing desire to write a work focusing on salvation and discipleship together, as well as a desire to have useful resources for his church. Goepfrich, who pastors Oak Tree Community Church, said, “As a pastor, it’s very important to me that we have something our people could follow.” He said other curriculums seemed to focus on one area, “and I wanted to see something that was quite a bit more complete… to show that the Bible does lay out the path for genuine discipleship.”

The book has been in progress for over a decade now as Goepfrich has been developing information and resources on discipleship. He said, “I love to write and to think that way. One of my lifelong goals was always to write a couple of certain books… and it finally compiled into a book.” The book includes study questions to adapt it for personal study, small groups, bible studies, and other formats.

Goepfrich hopes the book will push people to change how they think about what discipleship is and how to do it. He said, “Revival doesn’t start in the academies. Revival doesn’t start in the seminaries. Revival starts in the churches, when everyday people come back to the Scriptures and say, ‘We need to do this better.’”

Check out this interview with Dr. Goepfrich about his book:

Find the book on Amazon