stephen R Harrison

It seems today races of people are more divided than ever. But is that a façade? Do some instances of racism mean racism exists in every heart? I believe racism is bigger than a problem between people – its a spiritual issue at the core. The Bible says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” People (whatever the color of their skin) are not our enemy. Our enemy is Satan and his demons who seek to pit people against one another and use the demon of racism as an instrument of division. Scripture reminds us of the most basic principle when it comes to different races: “From one man God made all the nations” (Acts 17:26). Did you catch that? We are all related. In fact, if you don’t like races outside of yours, don’t go to heaven. Revelation 5:9 and 7:9 says there will be people of every tribe, tongue, and nation present in heaven. When Christians of every race worship together it looks like heaven. Our churches should be a reflection of heaven – we should be practicing for heaven!

Billy Graham once said, “When true Christians look at other people, they see no color, nor class, nor condition, but simply human beings with the same longings, needs and aspirations as our own.” We should love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). As we have practice this foundational truth, our churches should become comprised of every race as reflected in our communities. I even had a Chinese church once that only met separate because most could not speak English. There should be no divisions in the body of Christ. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, just before He ascended, to share the gospel “…in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” It’s the Gospel that unites all the nations and people groups. Jesus said the different races of Judea and Samaria as well as the whole earth are valuable and worthy of His salvation purchased by His blood on the cross. Jesus was a Jew. In that day, Jews hated the Samaritans and would do anything to not associate with their race – even travel through neighboring cities to avoid Samaria. Jesus didn’t act this way. He healed a Samaritan (Luke 17:16), honored a Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), and preached to the Samaritans (John 4:40-42). He challenged His disciples to go to Samaria and He rebuked James and John when they once asked of the Samaritans, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54-55). Can you see Jesus breaking down the racial divide? This should be our hearts toward other races.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you so you must love one another,” (John 13:34). If Jesus is impartial and loves us unconditionally then we must love with that same standard. Jesus, through His ministry to the Samaritans, modeled Christian love does not recognize race. If you have hatred in your heart toward someone of another race or ethnicity you do not share the heart of Jesus. Jesus died for all people groups. The Gospel must be shared to the whole world – every nation, ethnicity, and people group – and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). For God so loved the world and the world obviously includes all ethnic groups. Jesus, by His works on the cross, destroyed the walls of hostility and made the two (Jew and Gentile) become one (Ephesians 2:14). There is no Jew or Greek in Christ but we are all made one (Galatians 3:28). Racism should not be present in the life of the believer or the Church of Jesus Christ. If we’ve been victims of racism we must choose to forgive. If we’ve been racist we must repent. The Bible should never have been or ever be used to validate racism. The Bible makes a strong case against prejudice and advocates restoration. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We must allow the Lord to show us how to end racism and heal its wounds through compassion, humility, love and grace. It’s an old adage, but it’s true: let’s end racism and spread gracism.