Theological education and the effect of tribal identity upon Christian unity and mission in Burma

Abstract

Many Burmese are isolationists by default because of their strong ethnic and tribal sensitivities, compounded by extended socio-political repression. This insularity is often undiminished even among Christians, leading to the impoverishment of both the local churches and the greater body of Burmese believers, by extension. Biblical theology militates against any form of ethnic factionalism. Therefore, the local churches must actively seek to interact with one another, insofar as they differ only in tribal or ethnic composition, as opposed to significant doctrinal disparity. One way in which this issue may be addressed is through holistic theological education within the country in a missiological context. This thesis investigates the origins and development of tribalism in Burma, contrasts tribal factionalism with biblical principles of Christian unity, evaluates the extent to which factionalism has impacted the Burmese church, and considers how holistic theological education can be instrumental in addressing this problem. The original contribution to knowledge in this thesis is the cause and the extent of disunity among a number of small Reformed churches in Burma.