We only need to watch the evening news to see the extreme differences between the races in this country. The realization of the wide gap between what blacks and whites feel about the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri is a shock to most Americans. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that racism is a problem in the U.S. as in many parts of the world.
The battle for racial equality is one of the biggest questions of our time. Billions of dollars are spent fighting it. Presidents and world leaders consult civic and religious leaders. Oprah and Dr. Phil devote entire programs to it. Many fine Christian organizations lament racism and talk in terms of the races getting along, but they fail to present a biblical answer to a searching world. What is the answer to racism?
Love is the Answer to Racism
Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the great commandment, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” in Matthew 22:39. The Pharisees being the legalists they were responded by asking, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Christ answered this with the parable of the good Samaritan who helped a Jew who had been mugged. The Samaritan helped the Jew despite the hatred between the two races (Luke 10:30-37). This teaches that everyone is our neighbor and we should even love those who hate us (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus is the Answer to Racism
The apostles had to deal with racial conflict between the Jews and Gentiles in the early church. They emphasized that, regardless of one’s background, God, “made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9). God revealed this to the church through Peter who said, “in truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” (Acts 10:34 & 1 Peter 1:17) Paul taught the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, “for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
Paul also taught that, “there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, & Colossians 3:25). James said that having prejudices about people different from us was sin (James 2:1-9). The love of Christ in us prevents the “evil thoughts” that come with prejudices and become the rationalizations for racism (James 2:4). When we have prejudices, we are judging others which is sin, “for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” (Romans 2:1; see also James 4:11-12)
Christians are the Answer to Racism.
If we are true followers of Christ, we will obey his command to, “make disciples of all the nations” regardless of race (Matthew 28:19). All races will be represented in heaven, “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). The Bible tells us that all men were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers?” (Malachi 2:10)
Truthfully, there is only one race – the human race. We might look different. We might act different. We might talk different. But we are all human. Let us treat one another the way we would want others to treat us. Let us treat others the way Christ has treated us – with love, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion.
Do you have any answers to our racial problems?
Read a similar post: Thieves & Priests – Good Samaritan Story, The Good Samaritan Attitude
Trackbacks/Pingbacks