What is the answer to racism?
Introduction. Generally speaking, racism is the belief that there are general inherent racial limitations and that one's own race is superior. True racism involves bitterness and hatred toward others of a particular or different race. Racism is too often present among whites toward blacks, blacks toward whites, Hispanics toward blacks, and blacks toward Hispanics, ad infinitum.
All man have the same origin. When Paul preached to the Athenians, he declared of God, "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." (Acts 17: 26). There is no essential difference between the blood of different races. Hence, this indicates all men enjoy the same origin. In fact, all men are descendants of Adam and Eve whom God initially created (Gen. 1, 2) as well as of Noah and his family after the global flood (Gen. 9:18-19).
We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus taught: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22: 39). As a rule, true racists do not love themselves. Thus, they cannot love their neighbor. Racism is often a reflection of the self-hatred which the racist possesses! The Samaritan was an object of racial hatred in Jesus' day. Yet, Jesus presents the Samaritan as the "hero" over the priest and the Levite, whom the Jews deemed racially superior (Luke 10: 30-36).
God accepts all races. God rebuked Peter for thinking in terms of racial exclusiveness (Acts 10). Later, Paul publicly rebuked Peter for his racism (Gal. 2: 11-14). We learn from Peter's case that racism is hard to destroy. Simply speaking, race does not matter with God, so neither should it with us. As the inspired apostle Peter revealed, "...Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him." (Acts 10:34-35) Or as Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek ... ; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28). God is the ultimate answer to racism!
All man have the same origin. When Paul preached to the Athenians, he declared of God, "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." (Acts 17: 26). There is no essential difference between the blood of different races. Hence, this indicates all men enjoy the same origin. In fact, all men are descendants of Adam and Eve whom God initially created (Gen. 1, 2) as well as of Noah and his family after the global flood (Gen. 9:18-19).
We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus taught: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22: 39). As a rule, true racists do not love themselves. Thus, they cannot love their neighbor. Racism is often a reflection of the self-hatred which the racist possesses! The Samaritan was an object of racial hatred in Jesus' day. Yet, Jesus presents the Samaritan as the "hero" over the priest and the Levite, whom the Jews deemed racially superior (Luke 10: 30-36).
God accepts all races. God rebuked Peter for thinking in terms of racial exclusiveness (Acts 10). Later, Paul publicly rebuked Peter for his racism (Gal. 2: 11-14). We learn from Peter's case that racism is hard to destroy. Simply speaking, race does not matter with God, so neither should it with us. As the inspired apostle Peter revealed, "...Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him." (Acts 10:34-35) Or as Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek ... ; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28). God is the ultimate answer to racism!