Christianity and
Race

Christianity Says:

Jesus lived in a society of many races and embraced and died for all of them. The idea that some races are superior stands against everything Jesus was about. In fact, race holds a celebrated place in the Bible. In Pentecost in Acts 2, diverse languages arrive with the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and foreshadows descriptions of heaven where every tongue, tribe, and nation offer eternal praise [Revelation 7:9]. Christians were a mix of races from the beginning and God is celebrated in humankind’s diversity.

 

 

People in and around ancient Israel at the time of Jesus came from different ethnic groups and races. They were Asiatics or Semites (Israelites, Canaanites, Amorites, Arameans, etc.); Cushites (Black Africans living along the Nile River south of Egypt); Egyptians (a mix of Asiatic, north African, and African elements; and Indo-Europeans (Hittites, Philistines).  Jesus calls us to work toward a more equal, loving world and that includes those who are different from us.  Jesus did not have each ethnic group politely stay in its own space. Paul the Jew traveled with Titus the Greek. Philip the deacon shared the gospel with the Ethiopian. Jesus’ solution is to bring us together and force us to get over our differences.

Whether it’s race, or religion, nationality, culture, abilities, even those with whom we disagree, we are to help each other. There’s a reason the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is so widely taught. This story of a rival helping another is the essence of loving your neighbor.

But let’s go back farther, because “in the beginning,” when God created adam (Hebrew for “humankind”), adam was never any race (in fact adam wasn’t even gendered, but we’ll get to that later.) No ethnicity for Adam and Eve is ever identified. They are the Biblical mother and father of all peoples. The Bible is clear from the beginning pages of Genesis 1: all of us, all races and ethnicities, carry the image of God. Christ calls to treat all people with dignity, compassion, and respect. When we oppress a group of people, that’s an affront to God.

Extremists Claim:

America is a post-race society. Racism is not systemic and people are no longer treated unfairly based on race. Wealthy African Americans are evidence of equality today. White people are suffering and emphasizing historic and current hardships placed on people from races other than white is racism against whites.

Extremist Christian Propaganda is Harmful to All of Us:

Systems of injustice are something Jesus knew well. He was a Middle Eastern person of color, a poor Jewish peasant, as were most of his followers. He recognized systems that perpetuated injustice and famously preached against them.

Had he created his movement in the U.S. in the 20th century, Jesus would have preached against policies that prevented Blacks from owning property and creating family wealth. He would have advocated for poor communities to have access to quality education, housing, and healthcare. He would have been against job discrimination. He would have wanted our children to understand racism and how it is baked into our systems, because our failure to see systemic racism helps it flourish.

And he would have fought against increased systemic voter suppression. Of course, back in Biblical days, no one got a vote. We got kings and emperors. Today dozens of states have passed more than 100 restrictive voting laws after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its controversial ruling that dismantled part of the Voting Rights Act that protected African Americans.  Voter suppression laws are also a stark example of how targeting the freedoms of one group undercuts freedoms for many. These laws create barriers to voting for students, elderly, disabled, poor, women, Christians of all kinds—especially when they are African American.

These laws prevent people from registering to vote, casting their vote, even criminalizing assisting those who need help registering. States have reduced or eliminated early voting, mail-in ballots, and polling places which has led to standing for hours in long lines in all kinds of weather. In some states, it’s now a crime to provide water to voters as they wait.

Jesus was crucified by a king appointed by a democracy of the ruling elite. Jesus did not get a vote. We do, and this right can be preserved by passing federal voting rights protections. Certainly Jesus would have something to say about that.

For Your Consideration:

Genesis 1 doesn’t start the Bible with the creation of a special or privileged race. Let’s not forgot the Bible clearly states, all people are created in the image of God [Genesis 1:2]. Which means all races and ethnic groups have the same equal status and equal value before God. This does not mean racism doesn’t exist, of course., and to deny racism denies the compassion Christ calls us to have for the experiences of others. He asks us to know another’s pain. To deny the genuine pain of another is to deny the very suffering Christ felt for them. Jesus’ solution to racism is a call to unity; to see the bright spark of God in everyone equally.

Issues

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