Racism in the Bible
Jesus was no stranger to the problem of racism. The Jews of his day were highly prejudiced against the Samaritans and gentiles. Jesus countered this prejudice in his ministry to break down false distinctions imposed by Jewish traditions (Luke 10:30-36, Luke 17:16, John 4:9). He advocated unity based upon God’s truth to usher in God’s kingdom, the church (Ephesians 2:11-22). Anything that opposes this unity is sinful because it opposes the purposes of God, and racism opposes this unity.
The problem of racism was so rooted in the minds of Jews that the apostles refused to baptize gentiles for the first ten years of the church. They believed that touching a gentile conveyed impurity. This was why they washed after they visited the marketplaces (Mark 7:1-4). It was not until God confronted the issue directly in Acts 10, through the household of Cornelius, that Christians began taking the gospel to people other than Jews. God disabused them of their false beliefs by personally touching the gentiles with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-46). Peter said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35).
We ought not to think, however, that opposition to racism alone is sufficient to satisfy the righteousness of God. It is not. Opposing racism makes one no more righteous than opposing murder, adultery, homosexuality, or any other sin. Jesus makes us righteous. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is when we submit to God’s righteousness through Jesus Christ that we become righteous (Romans 10:1-3).
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley