Racism
Racism is the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Racism is not supported in the Bible – as the Bible teaches that all human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). There is only one human race. We are all descendants of Noah and his wife, through whom the Earth was repopulated after the worldwide Flood of Genesis 6-8.
The Scriptures in the Old Testament tell us that: “the Lord … shows no partiality” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19). And in the New Testament, it also confirms the same truth: “God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). According to Paul, God “does not receive a face” (Galatians 2:6) that is, “God does not judge by external appearance” (Galatians 2:6).
God is love (1 John 4:7-12) and Love does not support racism. The compassionate Creator who has a perfectly just nature will not love someone more than another based upon the color of a person’s skin or the nation in which one was born. God cannot show favoritism (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34). Freedom from partiality is part of God’s nature as the fair Judge (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19).
Jesus died for every human being. In one of the earliest Messianic prophecies, God promised Abraham that it would be through One of his descendants that “all the nations” and “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18; 12:3). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17, emp. added).
Whereas racism is fired by hate, the Christian should be filled with love – the fruit of Heaven’s Spirit as taught in the Bible (Galatians 5:22-23). “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).
Jesus taught His followers not to show favoritism, racism and partiality saying, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). May the Lord help us accept people the way He accepts them: “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
