Racism. People talk about it constantly. What is it? How can we overcome it biblically?
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
2. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
The idea that one ‘race’ is greater than another is diametrically opposed to the Gospel. While God had a covenant with the Hebrew people for thousands of years, it was always in his will to save all nations (Genesis 5, Psalm 86:9,). God shows no partiality with persons (Romans 2:11). Jesus died for the sins of all nations (2 Corinthians 5:15, John 3:16), not just Israel.
There are several ways to talk about racism. One is to the non Christians, and another is to Christians. First let me address everyone in the room.
To Everyone:
Racism is Sin
Sin was introduced to humanity when we defied God. We attempt to make ourselves ‘god’ by saying we know more than him, and want to be just like him. We were all made in the image of God, but we didn’t want to simply be in his image, but our own image. In our pride, we attempted to usurp God as the ruler, and establish our own throne.
But sin is a liar. It deceives us into believing we have the right to create the moral standard. We don’t. Only God has that right. But we all still try every day.
That’s how sin enslaves us. It tricks us to believe we are God, know better than him, and can impose our own false moral code on others - which only breeds more sin.
Racism is a lie that is perpetuated by everyone. I believe we all have issues with prejudice. Racism at its core is malice + narcissism. Pride that says “I'm better than other people simply because of my skin color or place of origin”. It’s a lie from the pit of Hell. The Bible makes it clear that we are all made in the image of God. Skin color or place of origin makes no difference to that.
Racism Cont. (Jonah)
There are a few stories from the bible that stick out in my mind that deal with the issue of Racism. One that might get easily overlooked is the story of Jonah.
Jonah is a really short book in the Old Testament, that tells the story of a rogue prophet of Yahweh (God), running away from his calling. God had called him to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh.
Now, Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, an evil nation that committed all kinds of atrocities against the Jewish people, and Jonah hated them for it. What’s so great about this story, is that it shows how merciful God is. Oftentimes I hear how ‘evil’ God is in the Old testament, but this is a clear example how he’s anything but evil. It was God’s love that sent Jonah to Nineveh, to preach to them, so that they would repent and believe in the God of the Hebrews.
Amazingly, when Jonah preached, they all repented. This HUGE city of over 120,000 people repented and gave their allegiance to Yahweh. It was incredible, but Jonah was furious that God hadn’t burned them to a crisp. Jonah wanted the fiery wrath of God to rain down on them - baptism by fire. But as the bible says, God is ‘A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin’. God forgave them of their grievous sins, and relented his judgement, which he does for all that truly repent.
This is an example of Jonah’s racism. One could see how it would be justified. He saw his family in generations past killed by these people, yet was sent to extend God’s mercy to them. This is the core of the Gospel, the only perfect righteous one, Jesus, extends his hand of mercy and grace to us, pleading with us to repent and turn to him - to believe in his death and resurrection - the only way we can be saved. And the people he extends his hands to are the ones headed towards their fiery judgement, which we all deserve, but as the bible says, Mercy triumphs over Judgement (James 2:13).
For more stories about racism / prejudice, read Luke 10:25–37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan), and John 4:1-42 (Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well).
-
Discussing Racism
This is where the conversation gets nuanced. We are bombarded with rhetoric constantly on social media and even in person.
There is a healthy way to discuss the topic of racism. We should be talking about relevant topics. Jesus sure didn’t shy away from those kinds of sermons. Jesus came to Earth asking people to repent and believe in the Gospel.
One of these sermons was on the topic of divorce, which was going on at the time. These men believed that one could get divorced for any reason whatsoever. But Jesus filled them in on what the Word of God actually says. He didn’t appeal to his own words, but words already spoken, things the Father spoke through the prophets before.
This is what our responses should be. Not of vitriol, not talking like the world. It should be God’s words. It must be love. If someone has wronged us, even with racial speech, we must forgive them, because Jesus says this:
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Galatians 6:1
Bear One Another's Burdens
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (ESV)
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)
Hypocrisy
But I constantly hear that racism is only coming from one side of the aisle. I hear people condemn others because they have ‘white’ skin. “White people this, white people that”. It’s ungodly and needs to stop.
You discriminate upon the basis of skin color, and silence their voice. My skin color is white-ish(more of a tan/olive really). I’m Puertorican, but my origins are from Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico (Taino), Africa, etc. People are more than their skin color. It’s inherently racist to put people into boxes by how they look. People are more than their skin color. We aren’t simply our racial identity.
Skin color isn’t the problem, it’s sin. A missing of the mark. Jesus says that all the law and prophets can be summed up into one command: Love thy neighbor.
The Great Commandment
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (ESV)
If people lived by this commandment, there wouldn’t be racism. Everyone was made in the image of God, and it’s his commandment that we treat everyone with dignity and respect. It’s that simple. Black skin, white skin, and everything in between; we were made by God for God. And all Nations shall worship him in unity. We won’t be segregated into Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, etc. It’ll be all as one.
Individual accountability
Another important concept to tackle in this conversation is that of Individual accountability. I actually touched on this in my other article called “Does God work for those who work for themselves?”.
In the bible, one of the founding principles is that of individual accountability. God says one day we will all have to give an account of 1. What we believe, and 2. What we’ve done. (Romans 14:12, Matthew 12:36, Revelation 20:12). This is so important not only then, but now as well. It’s shouted from every social media platform how groups of people must suffer for the crimes of people several generations ago. This is what God says about this:
“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (ESV)
Deuteronomy 24:16
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin. (ESV)
The Bible / God makes it clear that we should each be held accountable for our own actions. One person committing sin shouldn't reflect on all the people of that nation or people group.
God says we should judge on an individual basis. This is God's standard of love.
Christians:
Racist speech shouldn’t ever come from the mouths or hearts of believers anyways for many reasons. We have come to know the truth: the beauty of forgiveness and restoration to the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 12:12–14
One Body with Many Members
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (ESV)
Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (ESV)
We are many different ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. Not one of us has experienced the same difficulties in life. But as Christians, our unifying factor should never be culture or skin color, but only the love we have for Christ, and by extension, each other.
This isn’t to say we have to be ‘colorblind’. I don’t think that’s biblical either. God made many different nations for a reason. We all look differently, act differently, sound differently, and all this complexity with the human race brings God the glory. We should be able to have our individual cultural practices (as long as it doesn’t go against the Word of God).
Diversity in every aspect was created by God to show his genius in design. But, skin color or any other distinguishing factor should never separate believers (and by extension any one).
Remember Christians, we must love everyone. It’s the duty for all who are redeemed by Christ.
Mark 12:30–31And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (ESV)
Comments
Post a Comment