Topic #14: Racism

This chapter in the book, covered by Mark Tatlock, senior vice-president of The Master's College, covers a topic that has plagued every nation throughout history. Racism at its core comes from a sinful desire to gain power and control. It is a direct result of the fall in Genesis 3 and will eventually be completely eradicated in heaven as all Christians from every race and generation worship God together.

At first glance, it may seem that God himself is racist when reading through the Old Testament. God often commands Israel not to intermarry or make covenants with other nations. However, this does not come from any one people group being superior over the other. The command not to intermarry was given so that Israel would not be prone to the idol worship that saturated those other nations (Exodus 19:3-6). In fact, God created only one race, the human race, and places his own image in each person.

What I want to touch on is how the church today ought to handle this topic. The church in America faces a unique situation in that we worship in one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. We are not to discriminate based on ethnicity. We are to accept every ethnicity into our congregations. we are to love people from each ethnicity with God's love.

That being said, we must distinguish between a person's race and faith system. Certain races are known for holding to certain beliefs (such as the prevalence of Islam in Arab countries). We must accept each person regardless of how they look, but we should not agree to automatically affirm their faith. Too often those two things are grouped together. We must understand that a person cannot choose their physical racial features. But that person can choose what faith they hold to. (Even in countries where certain religions are persecuted, the people still have a decision. The decision is more difficult to make, but it's a decision nonetheless.)

The bottom line is this: The way a person looks, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and the way they talk is no reason to attempt to exercise superiority or control over them. As Christians we must treat everyone as equal in God's sight while not affirming any system of belief that isn't Biblically sound.

A great example is found in John chapter 4. Jesus did not discriminate against a Samaritan woman. Instead he showed her love while firmly holding to the truth. As a result she came away not feeling discriminated against, but loved.