No Grounds for Racism

Verse of the day: Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

The one thing I can never understand is how a Bible believing Christian could ever justify looking down on someone or rejecting someone because they are different. There is no area of Scripture where we can turn to in justifying an attitude of racism or bigotry on the basis of a person’s skin color, culture of origin, or country of origin. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the only time God tells His people to separate from a particular group of people is when the practices of those people are idolatrous and wicked in their behavior and lifestyle. In Deuteronomy 7:3, God told the Israelites not to intermarry with the people that were in the land into which God was leading them. Why? Deuteronomy 7:4 tells us, “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.” Why does God tell us today not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers? 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” It has everything to do with not intermingling with anyone who will draw us away from the Lord, or who professes a different belief system than we do, as born again believers. We who are not of this world are not to be involved intimately, and intermarry, with those who are of this world. However, it is never on the basis of skin color, culture of origin, or country of origin. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses for no reason other than that he married an Ethiopian woman. God’s response to their bigotry was that He became angry with both of them, and struck Miriam with leprosy. In this case, it appears that Miriam was the instigator in this incident, and therefore, Aaron, although just as guilty for going along with Miriam’s sinful behavior, was not punished as severely. A caution to all of us that we should never prompt or encourage others to be bigoted, and discriminate, against someone because they look different than we do. As brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of what we look like or what our background is, we are to love one another and not hate. 1 John 2:9 tells us, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” Acts 10:34-15 also reads, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him’”. So, if salvation is available to all (John 3:16), and God accepts all who come to Him, regardless of who they, what they look like, or where they came from, why would we reject someone God accepts? Regardless of what our background or where we were born, we all have the same origin, as the Apostle Paul said in Acts 17:26, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”. A day is coming when we will ALL, people from all nations, be before the Throne of God, lifting our voices in praise! Revelation 7:9-10 tells us, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” The bottom line is that there is nothing in God’s Word that forbids Christians from different backgrounds, cultures, or skin colors, from marrying one another, being close friends, or having any other type of intimate relationship; and shame on anyone who proclaims the Name of Christ, but hates others because of racism or bigotry. As God’s children the only thing we are called to hate is sin, because God hates sin. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).