The Biblical Case Against Racism

Racism Defined Any explicit or implicit belief or practice that qualitatively distinguishes or values one race over other races. Any sinful action or attitude elevating the superiority of one’s race over another in such a way as to cause a lack of love. Can be expressed in attitudes, thoughts, and/or actions. Can be individual or institutional

Ten Reasons Why Racism is Sin The Biblical Case Against Racism

Racism denies all were created in God’s image. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.“ Genesis 1:26

Racism is a form of murder. "You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13 cf. Jesus’ exposition: Matthew 5:21-26

Racism is a form of lying, of bearing false witness. “ You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. ” Genesis 20:16

God does not show partiality - and neither should we. “ For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:17-19

A NT Example of How the Impartiality Principle Works “ Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:34-35

God is just in all His dealings & expects us to practice justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24

Racism rejects the unity of the human race. “ From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” Acts 17:26

Love demands we see others as worthy of preferential treatment. “ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider [esteem] others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

Christians are to be distinguished by love for all other believers regardless of ethnicity or color. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Racism is a rejection of the doctrine of redemption. “ T here is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ” Romans 3:22-23 “ B ut I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:32

Racism is a rejection of the doctrine of redemption. “ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Ephesians 2:13-16

Our unity in Christ transcends all ethnic, social & sexual distinctions. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28

The Body of Christ is to reflect unity in diversity. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

In heaven all believers will love each other & worship together! And they sang a new song: “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and with your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have made us kings and priests to [serve] our God, and we will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10 (NKJV)

How Should We Respond? God calls us... To prayer To self-examination & confession To repent of sins of our past/history To intentionally pursue racial reconciliation To develop cross-cultural ministries & plant ethnic & multiethnic churches