In the Bible, Racists are the bad guys

A racist believes one particular race is superior to others. Some Christians tolerate and even celebrate racism. But the Bible forbids racism.

HISTORY

In the early centuries of the United States, many Christians owned slaves. And even more Christians endorsed the concept of slavery.

In 1845, the Northern Baptists split away from the Southern Baptists. Why? Because the Southern Baptists were fervent about justifying the owning of slaves.

In 1865, slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. See The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

But after that, many Christians remained racists.

Nearly a century later, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. said:

It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.

Since then, Christian racism continues to this very day.

Many Christians have done very little to combat racism from within their own congregations, much less from their culture and nation.

BIBLICAL TOPICS

ALL humans are made in God’s image

White people do not have privileged status with the Most High God.

Genesis 1:26. God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:27. God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

We are forbidden from oppressing foreigners

For example, Mexicans. Refugees. People from Africa.

Exodus 22:21. You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9. You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, since you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33. If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.

Leviticus 19:34. The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Mark 12:31. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

God does not show favoritism

White people do not have privileged status with the Most High God.

2 Chronicles 19:7. Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.

Acts 10:34. Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;

Acts 10:35. but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

God looks at the heart

All humans have a spiritual center we call a heart

1 Samuel 16:7. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Sirach 35:12. Think not to corrupt with gifts; for he will not receive them: And set not your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice; For the Lord is judge, And with him is no respect of persons.

John 7:24. Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

God’s plan includes people from all people-groups and nations

Not just white people from the U.S.

Numbers 15:15. For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD.

Matthew 28:19. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 18:37. Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Acts 10:36. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—

Acts 15:11. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

Acts 17:26. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

1 Corinthians 12:13. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11. where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Revelation 7:9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 14:6. I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

God sides with minorities

White people do not have privileged status with the Most High God.

Judith 9:11. For your power stands not in multitude, nor your might in strong men: but you are a God of the afflicted. You are a helper of the minorities, a helper of the weak, a protector of the forsaken, a savior of those who are without hope.

No partiality

For example, showing partiality to white people.

Proverbs 24:23. These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Mark 12:31. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Romans 2:11. For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 10:12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.

1 Timothy 5:21. I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

James 2:1. My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

James 2:4. haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:9. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

We must love ALL people

Not just white people

Mark 12:31. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

John 13:34. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.

Acts 10:28. He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

Ephesians 4:32. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Philippians 2:3. doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

Philippians 2:4. each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Colossians 3:13. bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

No person is unacceptable due to racial origin

Acts 15:11. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.

Hatred means murder and no eternal life

For example, a white person hating Black people

1 John 2:11. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:15. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

1 John 4:20. If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 John 4:21. This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

BIBLICAL SOURCES