For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27-28
My heart was broken the other evening when I heard a racist remark was made in a church.
I don’t know who made the remark and I don’t care to.
I do know to whom it was made and that’s what made me so sad.
Racism and bigotry has no place in God’s house.
I would dare to say you are not Christian when you make a racist remark.
The word Christian means Christ-like; was Christ a racist?
No, He was not.
He was the one that made the Samaritan look good.
He was the one that healed the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician.
Ruth was a Moabitess and was the great-grandmother of King David.
He has given salvation to those in Africa and in Europe; to the Russian, the Chinese, the American, the Hispanic, or the Inuit; For God does not show favoritism. Rom 2:11 NLT
Paul said that when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Gal 2:11-13
Peter played the racist card; he ate with the Gentiles when the Jews weren’t around but ignored them when they were.
This became very confusing to everyone and Paul calls it hypocrisy.
Certainly there is bigotry, racism, and prejudice in the world and the Christian presence adds to this.
Jesus said, “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19
However the Christian is not to return hate for hate; You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:43-45
God, again, shows no favoritism causing it to rain on the just and unjust.
Finally the words of Jesus, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
That verse contains no racism, no bigotry, and no prejudice; only love!