What does the Bible say about racism?

Does the Bible support one race or ethnic group above another?


Answer:

God makes it clear that no one race of people is superior to another. On the contrary, He makes a point of telling Israel, the nation He chose to work with in the Old Testament, that "the stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34).

However, some have felt that Israel and its descendants are racially superior to those around them. God has gone to great lengths to show us that this is absolutely not the case.

Some of the Jews of Christ's day viewed themselves as superior to those around them because of their descent from Abraham, and saw their salvation as secure because of their lineage. John the Baptist told a handful of these Jews, "Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones" (Matthew 3:9).

Peter was given a revelation by God to show him what had been true from the very beginning: that "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34, King James Version). The gentiles were just as much a part of God's plan as those descended from Israel—neither group superior to the other. Peter's very next sentence, as recorded in Acts 10:35 in the New King James Version, removes all doubt concerning what characteristics God pays attention to: "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (emphasis added).

Nationality, lineage and race do not determine where we stand with God. People like Ruth, who has her own book in the Old Testament, or Rahab, who appears in the faith chapter (Hebrews 11), or Luke, a follower of Christ, were all gentiles who found a place in God's Word. Conversely, Israel, God's chosen people, suffered continued defeat and near-annihilation because of their insistence on disobeying God's Word (Hosea 4:6).

The Bible in no way supports the superiority of any ethnic group above another. The eternal distinction is between those who follow God's way of life, and those who do not. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It's God commandments that set Christians apart—not their race.

For more insight, click on our link to Where Is My Family .

1 comments
Submitted on Oct 8, 2011, 12:16 am

joejhon

joejhon's picture

This phrase is quite telling to me:

"some have felt that Israel and its descendants are racially superior to those around them."

By Israel, do you mean those who appear to be caucasian? Because last I checked, descendants of Israel were a MIXED MULTITUDE. You talk about "The Jews," in this piece putting them in with Israel, but do you realize there are also Ethiopian jews? Or do they not count as Israel because they're brown? There is this very dangerous perception in the church that whiteness= being descended from Israel, and this is simply not true!



Submitted on Nov 28, 2012, 1:04 am

Nicodemus

Nicodemus's picture

Its not that whites think they are superior or vice versa, god created different races and each race has its own kingdoms and lands to rule over, the issue is America... Ist mixed up, all races abide in one land, which causes blood fueds. The whites have maintained dominion over amereica for a long time now, but the tides are shifting and whites are losing there dominion, which is basically causing a more racially divided culture. But this to shall pass , god loves all of us equally. Try not to be offended, don't get involved in racial disputes. In the end its really not that important



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