2.Standing before Godis independent of race, gender or social standing. "(Galatians 3:28 NKJV) 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." Thus all believers have equal access to God's throne. These categories are "abolished" as far as God goes and are insignificant compared to the distinction between a believer and an unbeliever. A believer goes to Heaven regardless of race and an unbeliever goes to Hell regardless of race. In fact, given present church growth rates Heaven may consist of mainly Asians! There are 75 million Christians in China alone. The next largest group will be Africans.(see David Barret's World Christian Encyclopaedia for details)
3.Loving your neighbourmeans giving practical assistance even to those you are in cultural conflict with. The "Good Samaritan" acted in the context of a deep cultural enmity between Jews and Samaritans that was over 500 years old. (Luke 10:29-37) Jesus prime example of loving your neighbour was of someone who acted contrary to established racial stereotypes and prejudices. This sent as strong a message to His predominantly Jewish audience as it send to us today. You cannot be a racist and fully obey the command to love your neighbour. And this is no light thing for it is one of the two Great Commandments.(Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV) Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment. {39} "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
These are well agreed beliefs across all mainline churches and stand in stark contrast with the divisiveness of racism. To put it bluntly it is totally inconsistent to be both a bible-believing Christian and a racist.
The Holy Spirit brings
unity between believers. He is the spirit of peace and peace-makers, who shall
be called "sons of God".(Matthew 5:9 NKJV) Blessed are
the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. In contrast to
the envy and self-interest that so often underlies racism Christians are called
to a lifestyle of godly wisdom, reconciliation and peace-making not anger and
division.
(James 3:14-18 NKJV) But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts,
do not boast and lie against the truth. {15} This wisdom does not descend from
above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. {16} For where envy and self-seeking
exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. {17} But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. {18} Now the
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Note that the wise believer is "willing to yield" "full of mercy"and
"without partiality". Finally they are "without hypocrisy" and to say one loves
God and yet to hate your brother is perhaps the ultimate hypocrisy.
(1 John 4:20 NKJV) If someone says, "I love God," and
hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he
has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
I am sure every bible-believing
Christian would wish to be perfect in character as that is one of our major
goals in life. Jesus defined the perfect person as one that could love their
enemies and do good to them. Someone absorbed in enmity and strife is far from
perfect.
(Matthew 5:44-48 NKJV) "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, {45} "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. {46} "For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? {47} "And if you greet
your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors
do so? {48} "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is
perfect.
This means that we must work to overcome the racial hatreds that have been inculcated
into all of us since birth and struggle to be perfect in our love of others.
It will be worth it on the Day when we see Him!
Racism seems to go hand in glove with some rather bizarre conspiracy theories which supply the needed note of fear that justifies racism.
(Isaiah 8:12-13 NKJV) "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. {13} The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
Don't fear the boogie men of the New World Order -fear God!"
Father in Heaven, I want to do Your will in Your way, I want to be perfect in love. But I have sinned, I have been a racist harbouring racist thoughts and attitudes. I have divided the world into races I like and races I do not like. I now realise that this was wrong. I ask your forgiveness. I ask that Your Holy Spirit may renew my heart and mind in love for the following (list the races that you struggle with) and make me a peace-maker, a son of God, an instrument of your peace and an ambassador of Christ with a message of reconciliation. Amen.
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