That We All May Be One: A Biblical Perspective Regarding Race and the Gospel

By Evangeline Henderson

Police shootings. School shootings. Protest marches. Terrorist attacks. Bombings. Countless innocent victims gone too soon. The hearts of people have grown faint from fear, worry, anxiety, grief, and anger. The cries for justice and unity are louder than they’ve ever been.

How do we stop the insanity of violence and injustice plaguing our nation? The world? How do we come together in peace? How do we begin to heal?

We don’t have the answers...but One does.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512773538

Evangeline Henderson

Evangeline comes from a family whose heritage is rich in educators, ministers, singers, musicians, and speakers. She perpetuates that legacy as she encourages, inspires, and edifies people through a knowledge of Jesus Christ. She loves ministering the Word of God corporately and individually. Among the many capacities in which she has served in her local church is that of Bible teacher for children and adults. Professionally, she has worked for the Federal Government, the State of Virginia, and several companies in private industry. Evangeline is single and resides in South Chesterfield, Virginia.

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Copyright © 2017 Evangeline Henderson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations in this publication are from the King James Version of the Bible.

GOD’S WORD is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scriptures quoted from The Everyday Bible, copyright © 1987 by Worthy Publishing, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Used by permission.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-7354-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7353-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017901421

WestBow Press rev. date: 2/22/2017

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 What Is Truth?

Chapter 2 A Lesson in Human Relations

Chapter 3 Can I Get a Witness? (Part 1): A Whale of a Lesson

Chapter 4 Can I Get a Witness? (Part 2): Two Men plus Two Visions Equal One Purpose

Chapter 5 A Tale of Two Men (Part 1): The Death of a Stranger

Chapter 6 A Tale of Two Men (Part 2): A Startling Revelation

Chapter 7 A Letter to a Former Klansman

Epilogue

The Sinner’s Prayer to Receive Salvation

Prayer to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Dedication

First, I give all praise, honor, and glory to the Eternal Three for the vision that prompted the writing of this book. Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).

I dedicate this book to my parents, David N. Henderson (deceased) and Annie J. Henderson, and thank them for their wisdom, courage, love, and ceaseless instruction and guidance. Appreciation and recognition are to be accorded to them and countless others, living and deceased, for implementing the principles as instructed in Deuteronomy 6:6–9, 12 (GOD’S WORD):

Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. [Write them down, and] tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates … be careful that you don’t forget the LORD.

May God help me and others to pass the torch of faith, courage, commitment, and pride on to the next generation!

Introduction

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

—John 17:20–21

One of the recurring themes throughout the Bible is that of unity among the people of God. As Jesus prepared to face and endure the cruelty and agony of the cross, He did not forget His disciples or the church. His overwhelming desire and purpose was for His followers in every generation to be one as is the Trinity.

The prayer of Jesus in the above reference is of great importance. When He began His public ministry, He chose twelve men of various backgrounds and personalities to teach and train for ministry. All had potential, and all possessed natural talents and abilities that could be useful in the administration of their duties. Alone, these natural endowments were not sufficient. Before becoming ambassadors for Christ and the gospel, their characters had to be tested, their speech refined, their minds renewed, their preconceived ideas and opinions discarded, their hearts circumcised, and their prejudices and selfish ambitions crucified. Without a decided