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The Christian and Racism What Does the Bible Say? Presented by Chris Reeves * Southside Gospel Meeting * August 25, 2019

Racism in the World Today A person can be racist and be white, black, or any other color A person can be racist without being a member of a racist organization (KKK, Neo- Nazi, Aryan Brotherhood, White America, etc.) A Christian can even have racist attitudes (see articles by some preachers in the Gospel Guardian in the 1960’s and 70’s)

Racism in the World Today Racism is not… When a police officer of one color makes an arrest of someone of another color When an employer of one color hires someone of the same color based solely on qualifications (merit-based)

Racism in the World Today When a Christian says that a non-Christian (Muslim) must convert in order to be saved, or that a homosexual must repent in order to be saved When a person disagrees politically with another person about policies involving race When a person demands that US law be upheld with regard to legal immigration

Racism in the World Today What happens when the word “racist” is over- used? The word becomes watered-down and meaningless (murderer? rapist? druggy?) The person who suffers at the hands of a true racist is insulted The vile actions of a true racist are eventually down-played or ignored all together

Definition of Racism Racism = “A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary) Racism = the belief that one race is superior to another; one race is more pure than another

Causes of Racism Ignorance and fear (Gen. 4:15? 9:25? 10:32? 11:1-9? black people are cursed by God and separated from whites? theory of evolution?) Pride and prejudiced (Prov. 16:18; Gal. 6:3; Phil. 2:2-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-4) Hatred taught from youth (“hate crimes”; Mt. 5:43-45; Gal. 5:19-20; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Tit. 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:9-11; 4:20-21)

Results of Racism Stereotyping (Jn. 1:46) No inter-marriage (racial or religious grounds? Deut. 7:3? [see 21:10-13] Josh. 23:12? Ezra 9:12; 10:10-11? Neh. 13:23-27? Num. 12:1? Mt. 1:5?) Segregation, discrimination, slavery, violence (“equal but separate”? Jn. 4:4,9; 8:48; 18:28; Gal. 2:11-16; Acts 10:28; 11:3; Jas. 2:1-9; 1950-60’s segregation)

Results of Racism Genocide (Ex. 1:15-17; Esther 3:6; Jewish holocaust; South African apartheid; ethnic cleansing in Crotia)

Prevention of Racism Know that all people in the world today (1) come from one original couple (Acts 17:26-28) and (2) are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26- 27; 3:20; Gen. 9:6; Jas. 3:9) Know that God is no respecter of persons (Deut. 10:17-19; 2 Chron. 19:7; Acts 10:34-35; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; 1 Pet. 1:17)

Prevention of Racism Know that God saves all people the same way (Lk. 13:29; Jn. 3:16; Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28; Tit. 2:11; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6) Know that God is concerned about the inward man, not the outward (skin color) of man (1 Sam. 16:7; Mk. 7:20-23; Rom. 2:28-29)

Prevention of Racism Know that we must have love and good deeds for all people regardless of their race (Deut. 10:19; Mt. 22:39; Rom. 13:9-10; Jas. 2:10) Know that we can have true unity and equality in Christ regardless of one’s race (Eph. 2:16); the more we are Christian, the more we are color-blind

The Christian and Racism Racism (in and out of the Lord’s church) will be solved by transforming one’s mind to the will of God in the Bible, not by civil policies alone, forced integration, etc. God will not judge us on the color of our skin, but on the content of our character (Rom. 2:6-11)

The Solution to All Racism