All over the news and Facebook, racism seems to be the topic on everyone’s mind these days. Clearly, recent events have served as a reminder of just how disgusting racism is. Typically, I try to make myself see the other side of things in an attempt to understand other points of view, but racism has always been a mystery to me. The hateful rhetoric and destructive propaganda are so detached not only from my Christian beliefs but from the reality of the world in which we live. Racism in any form, based on what I have seen, relies on drastic stereotypes, dramatic generalizations, shocking misinformation, and willful ignorance. The final piece to the puzzle is they have to make up some grandiose reason for the hatred they are holding in their heart and far too many of them end up reaching for the divine. They make preposterous claims about being God’s people or taking back God’s country or something else to that effect. I would like to think that society would by and large ignore whatever these clearly delusional groups had to say, but many, it would seem, have latched on to this idea that if these groups claim God’s work then the Bible and Christianity must be racist. So please allow me to set the record straight.
Neither the Bible nor Christianity is in any form racist. You have to do some serious twisting of scripture and the message in order to find a racist agenda. Some try to bring up that the Bible has slavery in it, but this isn’t proof of racism. First of all, people weren’t brought into slavery due to race. Sometimes it was a conquered nation, perhaps they were in debt and needed to work it off and some even chose slavery, but it had nothing to do with race. You can go back and read my previous post, “Alway A Servant, Never A Slave…Or Am I?” Considering the fairly small area the Bible takes place, it is likely that all the people mentioned in the Bible were essentially the same race. I also can only recall a couple times in the Bible where race is even mentioned. Nationality is mentioned often, but race isn’t. I think it would be difficult to create a book that is built to raise one race over another without making race a central issue of the book.
I understand that statements like that don’t necessarily prove that the Bible isn’t racist, so let’s go over some key scriptures that I think highlight the truth about how we are to deal with people regardless of our differences.
First, let’s bring up the couple instances I can recall race being mentioned in the Bible. One of those instances is in the Songs of Solomon where Solomon speaks about the dark skin of the woman he is writing to, but the description is only used to reference how beautiful she is. The only other time I can recall is in Number Chapter 12. Aaron and Miriam are bad-mouthing Moses as their leader because he is married to a Cushite (Ethiopia today). However, it is important to remember that God strikes Miriam with leprosy for this and it is only through Moses’ prayers that she is healed. So clearly, God doesn’t have a problem with her race or the marriage between races. This stands in stark contrast to many who claim that interracial marriage is a sin. The common reasoning is a scripture where the Jews are told not to marry other nations, but in the context that it is being used, it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with the other nations’ pagan religions and practices. We can see in the Bible that this command was ignored and they are punished, not for mixing race, but rather, for adopting the pagan religions and worshipping false idols.
Paul specifically wrote a letter to remind a man of how he was to treat his slave.
I think to answer some of these questions, we should look at the book of Philemon. It is very short book in the New Testament so if you haven’t read it you could easily get through it in one sitting. The letter, written by Paul to a man named Philemon, is about a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus belonged to Philemon but had left and by chance ran into Paul. Paul speaks about how Onesimus has been very helpful, but will now be returning to Philemon. Paul’s letter is both to inform Philemon of the slave’s return as well as to instruct him on how he is to receive Onesimus. Paul clearly states that Philemon should receive him as a brother in Christ. Paul specifically wrote a letter to remind a man of how he was to treat his slave. Paul, as on apostle for Jesus Christ, wasn’t just speaking as a friend, He was speaking as a Christian authority figure when he tells this man to love his slave and treat him as a brother beloved.
Paul actually confirms this sentiment in another letter written to the Galatians where he wrote:
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-29
While this verse isn’t meant to destroy the social constructs that God had put in place, such as the relationship between a husband and wife or employee and employer it is very revealing as to how we should look at each other. We are all equal as children of God and deserving of love and respect.
I used to think it was because He knew the question was coming, but now I think he said them both because they are intrinsically connected, which is to say you can’t possibly do the first without the also doing the second.
I understand that some may look at this and say, “Great as long as you are a Christ follower, but what about the rest of us.” To answer this, I think we need to go over to the Gospels and look at what Jesus said. In Mark chapter 12, Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is. He answers by saying “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” But then He continues, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12 30 & 31). Why do you think that Jesus added the second greatest commandment even though He wasn’t asked? I used to think it was because He knew the question was coming, but now I think he said them both because they are intrinsically connected, which is to say you can’t possibly do the first without the also doing the second. If we look in John we will see Jesus goes even farther in this sentiment by saying, “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Now that is a tall order and doesn’t leave any room for hatred of any kind. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). You can’t hold that kind of sacrificial love for others without melting away any sense of hatred or entitlement from your heart.
If Christians love and worship God how could we then turn around and hate somebody who was created in His image?
Another point that must be made is according to Genesis we are all created in the image of God. If Christians love and worship God how could we then turn around and hate somebody who was created in His image? In Matthew 25 starting in verse 31, we can read Jesus speaking about “The sheep and the goats” where he explains what will happen “When the Son of Man come in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.” Jesus speaks of how He, like a shepherd, will divide the righteous from the unrighteous. Basically, He will say to the righteous you saw me in need and you helped me and to the unrighteous you saw me in need and did nothing. The righteous ask but when did we see you and help you? Jesus response is, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” The unrighteous will ask when did we see you and not help you and Jesus will respond, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” By that standard, which is the standard that Jesus clearly expects from us, if I mistreat, hate, abuse, disrespect, harm, curse, or spit on somebody else than I have also done those things to God.
If we don’t see the fruits of the spirit in our lives then we can rest assured, we haven’t been inhabited by the spirit…Love is an emotion that compels us to act.
Before you try to jump to the conclusion that all of these things are just great in theory but not required to be a Christian. I would remind you what James said, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). So if we aren’t acting out our faith by living out the life that Christ has called us to live the Bible clearly states that our faith is dead. Understand, this statement is not to say that we are saved by our actions because that isn’t true at all, but rather to say that if we truly believe in Jesus Christ and truly accept Him into our life, then our lives and actions will be altered. If we don’t see the fruits of the spirit in our lives then we can rest assured, we haven’t been inhabited by the spirit. Think for a moment, if you were married but all you ever did was tell your spouse that you loved them and never took any action to show that love. If you never wanted to talk to them, kiss them, hug them or be near them; how long do you think that marriage would last before your spouse came to the conclusion that you didn’t love them at all? Love is an emotion that compels us to act. We show our love through our actions and not just our words. Well, the same has to be true for our relationship with Christ, which is what James is saying in this verse. Our love and relationship for Jesus Christ compels us to act and the way we act is by becoming more Christ like. Therefore, if you are living a life of hate when Jesus clearly said we should be living a life exemplified by our love then clearly, you aren’t really a Christian. Sure the groups can claim it, they can even claim their mission is divine in nature, but the assertion only further demonstrates their own delusion. The Bible is very clear on what it means to follow Jesus Christ and it doesn’t include hate or bigotry.
We can’t try and fight racism as the world does with more hatred and violence, because we are meant to set a higher example. We are meant to show the world a better way. Not to mention, why use worldly methods, when we have been offered the method of God Himself.
So the question becomes what should Christian’s do about racism. How should we confront it when we see it? Thankfully, the Bible gives us the answer on that too. “”You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44 & 45). I have seen far too many people attempting to fight hate with hate, but that will never work. All it does is fan the flames. Instead, we must combat it with love. We know that it works. We can see it in the life of Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. We can’t try and fight racism as the world does with more hatred and violence, because we are meant to set a higher example. We are meant to show the world a better way. Not to mention, why use worldly methods, when we have been offered the method of God Himself. As Christians, we have to follow Christ’s example and face the intense hatred with an even more intense love.
