Racism is a horrible sin problem that has penetrated society. Sadly, many individuals including self-proclaimed Christians practice racism. The Bible condemns racism because it goes against what God says about human beings. Racism is a problem that needs to be eradicated today because we are all equal and wonderfully made in the eyes of our Creator.
The Sin of Racism
Racism is a problem that we are still experiencing in the 21st century. Even though we have made great strides in some aspects of going against teachings of racism, many individuals are still racists and hate people simply because of the color of their skin.
Racism stems back to a superiority complex on behalf of the person who is a racist. Racists tend to be those who think they are better than others because they look a certain way, are taught a certain way, or live a certain way.
The Bible condemns racism in every form and fashion. God created every single person in His image (Genesis 1:27). No matter what color of skin a person has, the person is made in the image of God. We all have the same Creator — the Lord our God.
It was not until sin entered the world that racism started. God loves all of His children equally, no matter what skin color a person has. Galatians 3:28 tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Growing up in the South, I quickly saw how much racism is still prevalent in our society. While this is our current reality, we can change it. No matter how people want to view racism or rationalize it in their minds, racism is always a sin.
To look down on a person, persecute them, or belittle them because of their skin color is a sin. As individual human beings, we are equal and uniquely made in God’s image. If a Christian is struggling with the sin of racism, God can help them if they just ask Him.
God can help us with any sin that we are struggling with in our lives, including racism. We just need to go to Him, confess our sins, and turn away from the sin.
The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
All Are Equal
As established, all human beings are equal. The Father sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save the entire world (John 3:16-17). When the Bible tells us that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, it means that Jesus died for the sins of every person of every ethnicity.
The Lord does not have a “superior race” of people despite the teachings of white superiority complex pastors in the South. Rather than having “favorites” or a “superior race,” the Bible tells us that God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11).
A biblical figure who struggled with racism was Peter. Peter saw that the Jews were the superior race of people, and he was prejudiced against the Gentiles.
The racism that Peter showed in his actions caused him to push the Gentiles away. God taught Peter that his racism was wrong when God gave him a vision (Acts 10:9-35).
After Peter experiences the vision, He understands that his racism was wrong and that God accepts all people as Peter says, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34b-35).
The Bible also condemns racism when God gives us the command to love others as He loves us (John 13:34). This means that we should love all people, no matter their skin color, hair color, or eye color. We should not become judges with evil thoughts, prejudices, or intentions.
James challenges us to not show favoritism based on the way a person looks,
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4).
As this passage tells us, we are not to show favoritism, nor should we discriminate against one another. Rather than judging, hating, or discriminating against one another, we need to love others as Jesus loves us.
If we discriminate against another person or are prejudiced against a person because of the color of their skin, we are hurting someone made in the image of God. This is always wrong, and it always hurts God.
Every time we sin or hurt another person; it hurts God. God does not endorse racism in any way or any form. He created us all in His image, which means we are all equal. Nobody is better than anyone else because we all are the same.
We may have different skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, or cultures, but we are all the same because we are all human beings.
Turning Away from Racism
Turning away from racism is vital for a Christian’s walk with the Lord. Being a racist and participating in racism is a sin and goes against God’s teaching of loving one another as He loves us.
We are not loving our fellow brothers and sisters if we are discriminating against them or hating them in our hearts. At the heart of racism is the sin problem of hate, prejudice, and pride.
It is a sad truth that we are living in the midst of continued racism within our society, but as Christians, we can speak out about the truth and condemn racism. God does not accept racism and He will convict a person if they are a racist.
Racism hurts the other person, and it hurts God. Every single person is fearfully and wonderfully created (Psalm 139:13-16). When the Bible tells us that we are all fearfully and wonderfully created, it means that we are all fearfully and wonderfully created, not just a certain ethnicity.
All people are dearly beloved by God no matter what their skin color is because God created all of us. There is no favoritism in God's heart as He loves us all the same.
Since God loves all people the same and does not show partiality, we too should love others and not discriminate against one another.
When we participate in racism, we are sinning against God and hurting someone who is made in God’s image. God does not take this lightly as Christians need to love others — not hate each other.
Different skin colors, hair colors, and eye colors are all beautiful. Thus, there are no “superior races” because God dearly loves all of us.
For further reading:
How Did Different Races Come into Existence as God's Wonderful Created Image?
Why Does the Bible Have to Tell Us to Be Kind to One Another?
How Are We Created in the Image of God?
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