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Racism: Using the Bible To Study An Old Problem
In recent months and years racial differences have been subjected to study and
research by scientists, biologists and behavior scientists. Reports have been
released in the press; books have been written, like THE BELL CURVE, by Murray
and Herrnstein. There seems to be a trend here to do this research, write books
and call for some change in educational or government policy.
What I want to say is: regardless of what we think about the validity of these
reports and books, there is nothing that can justify prejudice, oppression,
hatred or violence! We cannot allow any scientist or author to undermine our
respect for our fellow man, and no book report or talk show should ever
influence us to ignore what Jesus said: "love your neighbor as yourself!"
Perhaps it is time to re-visit this old problem, that just doesn't seem to go
away. RACISM.
Brother Calvin Schlabach (Cincinnati, Ohio) edits a local bulletin, "EXCEL!" in
which he recently dealt with the subject of racism ("In the image of God"
Racism, Mar. 5, 1995). What is wrong with racial bigotry? Bro. Schlabach used
the Scriptures to answer:
1. The racist has not properly grasped the concept that
people are made in the image of God - all people! Gen. 1:26,27.
2. Racism is foolish, since God "made from one" every nation. Acts 17:26.
3. Racial bigotry is also ungodly, unlike God. 1 Sam. 16:7.
4. The "Golden Rule" forbids racial discrimination. Lk.
6:31; Matt. 7:12.
5. Christians are commanded: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," (Matt.
22:39).
6. Those of us who are striving to recreate first century Christianity have
extra impetus to eschew racism. Rom. 10:12.
Bro. Schlabach concluded: "With all that the Bible says about it, it is sad that
racism is still thriving in our society, and it is a disgrace that traces of it
can still be found in the church. Nonetheless, the children of God will treat
all people, regardless of race, with the love, kindness, and respect they
deserve, being made in the image of
God."
James 2:1-13 is one of the strongest statements against racism in the New
Testament. Though James does not deal directly with discrimination based on
ethic difference or skin color, the kind of discrimination James exposes is
parallel to racism in many ways.
James paints a picture, then tells us what's wrong with the picture. The picture
is, two kind of people come into the assembly. One appears to be poor, the other
rich. Preference, honor and esteem is shown to the wealthy visitor, while
second-class status is assigned to the poor man. In the New International
Version, this is called "favoritism" and "discrimination."
What's wrong here? James says: You have become judges with evil thoughts ... you
have insulted a man on the basis of nothing but his apparent economic status ...
you have failed to love your neighbor ... you have sinned, and have failed to
show mercy. The principle here has a variety of applications beyond economic
status. When we discriminate against a person on the basis of any non-character
trait we are wrong! A person's level of education; genealogical background;
economic category; or skin color -- these are non-character traits, and when we
make judgments about people based on things like this, we have sinned.
In the body of Christ, there is no racial supremacy. I can't imagine anybody
disputing this point. For the Bible says that Christ died on the cross "to
create in Himself one new man ... that He might reconcile them both," Jew and
Gentile, "in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."
In God's family, the church, people from all races who have obeyed the gospel
are "joined together," and so "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ
Jesus," (Eph. 2:14-22; Gal. 3:28).
Now consider, if God prohibits racial prejudice in His family, and there is to
be no supremacy of one race over another, CAN WE ARGUE THAT HE WANTS THIS IN
SOCIETY? Has God ordained something for society at large - that is reversed in
His family? Does God want there to be contempt and favoritism and hatred in
society? Are we to extend the "right hand of fellowship" to racial minorities
"at church," but then shun them and be separate from them the rest of the week,
out in the world?
No doubt, this truth must figure into our thinking about people who are
different: in the body of Christ, there is no racial supremacy. And, of course,
the gospel is for all!
By Warren E. Berkley
The Front Page
From Expository Files 2.5; May, 1995
