Whoever does the Will of God is my Brother: Jesus, Chosen Kinship, and the making of Undeniable Family in Black Christian Life

This article presents the first comprehensive reception-history of Mark 3:31–35 / Matthew 12:46–50 in African-American religious experience. From the auction block to the ballroom floor, Black Christians have heard Jesus redraw the boundaries of family in fire and blood: when biological kinship was weaponised to destroy, chosen kinship became the unbreakable. This study traces that 400-year testimony across ten historical moments and issues a prophetic call to the contemporary church: catch up, or get left behind.

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Publication Details

Journal
Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Published
2026-03-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17613/mtbqs-fx665
Primary Topic
Theological Perspectives and Practices
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Whoever does the Will of God is my Brother: Jesus, Chosen Kinship, and the making of Undeniable Family in Black Christian Life

Mark Edward Chard
Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Theological Perspectives and Practices
article

Whoever does the Will of God is my Brother: Jesus, Chosen Kinship, and the making of Undeniable Family in Black Christian Life

Mark Edward Chard
article en

Abstract

This article presents the first comprehensive reception-history of Mark 3:31–35 / Matthew 12:46–50 in African-American religious experience. From the auction block to the ballroom floor, Black Christians have heard Jesus redraw the boundaries of family in fire and blood: when biological kinship was weaponised to destroy, chosen kinship became the unbreakable. This study traces that 400-year testimony across ten historical moments and issues a prophetic call to the contemporary church: catch up, or get left behind.

Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Biblical Theological Seminary (US)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 45%
Theological Perspectives and Practices
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