Racism is an insidious disease of the human mind. It pollutes and destroys from within the mind and heart of one who cannot see and graciously accept the color of another’s skin to be all that it is… the glorious diversity in God’s crowning achievement… the creation of humankind.
Racism is a problem we can’t ignore or run away from. It’s an issue today, as all humanity must reflect on and mourn the death of George Floyd. Sadly, racism has been an issue that divides humankind throughout history, including the life and times of when the Bible was written.
Paul, the Apostle, one of the early church’s leaders, wrote about divisions caused by racism.
In first century AD, it was common to assign different worth to different races and ethnicities. Foreigners, women, and children were generally regarded as property owned by the male heads of households and local rulers.
Foreigners would often be employed in bonded labor (enslavement to pay off debts, like Jesus mentioned in Matthew 18:21-35), making it difficult or impossible to live freely, with little hope of improving one’s life.
At that time, one of the primary divisions in the church was between Jews and Gentiles. Some Jews who had joined the movement of Christianity were trying to force non-Jewish (Gentile) believers to perform the Jewish rituals. They argued that to be a good Christian, they had to do all the right Jewish religious activities, too.
Rather than telling Christians to ignore the discrimination against Gentiles, Paul addressed it head on: “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 10:12).
We see this echoed later when Philip, also a leader of the early church, helps an Ethiopian eunuch understand the Gospel, and immersed him so that he could join and share in the joys of following Jesus (Acts 8:26-40).
Other people don’t determine our worth or value; only God can do that. He created ALL humankind and that makes us ALL brothers and sisters by his hand!
What the Bible Says About Race and Favoritism
God cares how we treat each other because we’re all created in His image (Genesis 1:27). He makes no distinction between the inherent value of one race or ethnicity over another.
- God cares about people regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, and social status (Deuteronomy 10:17-19).
- "God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right" (Acts 10:34-35).
- "We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
- "If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (James 2:9).
- About the age to come, we see a heavenly picture: “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10).
- Jesus removes hostility and introduces harmony (Ephesians 2:14-18).
God isn’t about separation, but acceptance, inclusion and unity. Jesus made it possible for anyone to be included in the peoples and promises of God (Galatians 3:28).
Why Reconciliation Is Critical
That good news—the Gospel—doesn’t just mean that we’re brought near to God. It also means we’re brought near to the people we once considered so different from ourselves (Ephesians 2:13).
God restores our relationships with people and groups we’ve mistreated. That’s called reconciliation: the removal of prejudice and the restoration of a relationship to healthy understanding and appreciation for each other.
God is a reconciling God. The Gospel is, at its core, a message of reconciliation and peace among ALL humankind.
God brings peace where there was once strife, and kindness where there was once animosity. He’s done it with us and He can do it between us and our neighbors—whether black, white, latino, asian or other.
If we belong to Jesus, we are part of His movement to bring more reconciliation between people and God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
As His representatives, we have the opportunity to share how the life-changing message of the Gospel creates a healthy relationship with God and healthy relationships between people, no matter who they are.
Our mission, as we learn to follow Jesus step by step, makes reconciliation—to God and to one another—the most important aspects of our lives, if we truly are a genuine Christian.
The message of Jesus is that we all belong with God, together—no separation, no difference in status or worth.
Those who harbor racism, hatred for peoples different that themselves... here are BIG questions you must consider: Do you call yourself a Christian? If you answer yes, then why do you have hatred in your heart for people of other colors? Do you believe, that God supports your anger and hatred for people different than you? If you answer no, then why do you continue to hate your fellow human? Do you believe CHRIST will one day return to make "all things new" and set the record straight for humankind? If you answered yes,
then now is your time to root out the racist thinking and attitudes from your mind and heart... before its to late for you to get right with your Creator. Now, not later.
Remember who you are racist.. one of many from the beautiful tribes and peoples of Creator God... who is infinitely more intelligent and full of wisdom... more than you in your racism could ever possibly comprehend.
For our brother George Floyd… he is in the loving care of our Lord Jesus, the Christ at this moment. He now enjoys eternal joy and blessing and peace in the presence of the Creator of us ALL.
