What does the bible say about racism? In recent months, there have been countless instances of outright racism and injustice happening in our world. Not a day goes by where we don’t hear about someone who was unjustly killed or oppressed simply because of the color of their skin. Every minority can see themselves in a situation like George Floyd; it could happen to anyone.
As a minority from an Anglo-Indian background myself, I have and continue to witness racism. Growing up in England and then moving to Canada, I’m well acquainted with prejudice and racism. I’d like to dedicate my first blog to addressing racism; particularly what the Bible says about racism and the role the church should be playing in regards to eliminating it.
The bible does not condone racism. It is the church that has failed to implement God’s instructions on how a person who is considered an immigrant, alien, stranger or foreigner, should be treated.
Bible Verses About Racism
Leviticus 19:33-34 – “Don’t mistreat any foreigners who live in your land. Instead, treat them as well as you treat your own people and love them as much as you love yourself. Remember, you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 1:16 – “…Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19 – For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 24:14 – “Don’t take advantage of a hired person who is poor and needy, whether he’s your fellow citizen or a foreigner who lives in your city…
Deuteronomy 24:14, 17-19 17 Don’t deny justice to a foreigner or to an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment as collateral for a loan. 18 Remember to observe this because you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I am commanding you to do this.19 When you are reaping in the field, and you overlook a sheaf, don’t return to get it. Let it remain for the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless everything you undertake”.
Jeremiah 22:3 – Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
Acts 10:34-35 – So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
God’s commandments are clear, but these standards do not reflect the realities that minorities face today! Instead of love, they are met with superiority, oppression, hate and racism.
The Church Has Failed To End Racism
Jesus tells us ” you are the light of the world”. (Matthew 5:14). This means that we should be leading the world with the truth of the gospel. Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The world should be looking to Christians as an example of how to treat others. Churches today need to take an active role in educating the world about how God expects us to treat minorities. When we hear about any form of racism, Christians should be speaking out, condemning it and using it as an opportunity to remind everyone of what the bible says.
The world has made the law of the land to be the code of ethics that Christians should live by. However, Jesus is the highest code of ethics of all time and he is the standard that Christians should live by. The laws that our nations are built on have become a corrupt combination of Christianity and our own compromised morals. The result is a very low standard; full of iniquity, racism and hate. Christians need to return back to the standards of Jesus and we should not be sharing in the world’s ways of racism, inequality and injustice.
Racism has crept into Christianity. According to the scriptures above, it is evident that Christians have drifted far from the word of God; we have definitely missed the mark.
How The Church Is Failing Society Regarding Racism
It seems almost unbelievable to me that God says to love those of foreign descent (as we love ourselves) because this is not reflected in any part of the Chrisitan world today. Instead, we see abhorrent and shocking examples of hate and oppression towards minorities. The founding fathers of our nations in North America supposedly built these lands on the statutes and commandments found in the bible. So how did these extremely important commandments go unnoticed?
It is because the church has failed to reflect God’s expectations in our society. Law enforcement, powers and principalities have systematically rejected God’s commandment to love and care for minorities. The result is a world that is divided and broken in so many ways, even within the church itself. Perhaps this is the reason we no longer see the power of the Holy Spirit in our churches. God’s words have been compromised so much that if Jesus were to come back today, I don’t think he would even recognize the church. Jesus himself says in Luke 18:8 “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Our own systematic racism in Canada is just as shameful and apparent as any other country. Somehow, throughout the years, as Canada was taken from the Aboriginals, we managed to make the native feel like an alien in their own land. Society has labelled Aboriginals as inferior, uncivilized, menaces to society. When in reality, we should be loving them (as we love ourselves), caring for them and treating them with equality.
It has been said that ‘immigrants take all the jobs’ and we should put an end to immigration. There are endless discussions about immigration reform which is against the bible. But we are all immigrants in this land. We are all aliens and strangers here. Instead of denying employment, we should follow the example of King David and hire foreigners as he did when he wanted to build the temple. 1 chronicles 22:1-2
What The Church Should Be Doing To Eradicate Racism
According to the bible, as Christians, we should be going out of our way to bless the alien, stranger and foreigner in our land. We should be making sure they receive equal opportunity, equal employment, equal rights, equal justice and fair treatment, as if they were our own native countrymen. We should be extending a helping hand, inviting them into our homes, including them in our gatherings, showing them love as we love ourselves.
Our churches should demonstrate how people of all colors, shapes and sizes can come together for the glory of God. Yet instead, our own churches are segregated. We see churches that are predominantly white, black, indian, filipino, spanish, etc. But we should be doing away with churches that cater to specific races. Some may attend a ‘multicultural’ church but one can still identify the ‘filipino’ or ‘indian’ section of the church. Minorities end up gathering together because they feel isolated. Separation and racism still exist in multicultural churches. It also shouldn’t matter what color of skin the Pastor or church members have. If the truth is being preached according to the Holy Spirit, we should be listening.
Creating Change
Change can only start when we acknowledge the past actions of oppression and injustice. As followers of Jesus,, we should be demanding equal justice for minorities in our land. Otherwise we are in danger of becoming complicit in our complacency.
Churches across the world should be advocating and demanding the same level of justice and standard of law for the foreign resident, native and stranger in their land. If we stand by and do nothing, we will be guilty. It is our responsibility as followers of Christ to take action. Reflect the love of Christ. Take the initiative to encourage change within our own church, family, workplace, circle of friends and anytime the opportunity presents itself. Christians have stood by as laws and opinions have been slowly manipulated long enough.
Anyone who oppresses another cannot be a partaker of the Holy Spirit. As the bible says:
Deuteronomy 27:19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Psalm 146:9 – The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
How Should Minorities Respond To The Injustices We Face?
Minorities must respond to racism and injustice with love and forgiveness. Jesus teaches us that we should not resist an evil person (Matthew 5:39). When we experience oppression, we must cry out to the Lord for justice. For the bible says that “God himself will execute justice for the widow, the orphan and shows his love for the alien” (Deuteronomy 10:18). It will do us no good to hate and despise oppressors. It only hurts our own salvation in the end. Jesus said “you have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45.
Anyone experiencing racism or oppression in any way should fight back with their faith. This shows that you are a child of God. Petition the Lord to rise up on your behalf as he promised!
Christians must accept what the bible really teaches about racism. If we acknowledge that the church has failed to uphold God’s word or lead the way in this area, we can begin to see change. As the light of the world, Christians should be leading by example. We should be breaking down the strongholds of racism and inequality that divide even the church.
We must focus on eradicating racism from within the church, the government and law enforcement; but first and foremost, from within ourselves. We, the church, need to take a more active role in eliminating racism.
How has racism affected your life? Do you think the Bible has been misinterpreted and used to oppress others? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
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