Some Biblical ThoughtsSome Biblical Thoughtson Race and Ethnicityon Race and Ethnicity

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

12 October 200812 October 2008

Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity2626Then God said, “Let us make human beings Then God said, “Let us make human beings

in our image, in our likeness, so that they in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”that move along the ground.”

2727So God created human beings in his own So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.male and female he created them.

Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity2828God blessed them and said to them, “Be God blessed them and said to them, “Be

fruitful and increase in number; fill the fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the every living creature that moves on the ground. – Genesis 1:26-28 TNIVground. – Genesis 1:26-28 TNIV

Evolutionary Theory and RaceEvolutionary Theory and Race

Published in 1859.Published in 1859.

Quotes attributed to DarwinQuotes attributed to Darwin““At some future period, not very distant as At some future period, not very distant as

measured by centuries, the civilized races of man measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world. At the same savage races throughout the world. At the same time, the anthropomorphous apes . . . will no time, the anthropomorphous apes . . . will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between

the negro [sic] or Australian and the gorilthe negro [sic] or Australian and the gorilla.”la.”

- Charles Darwin- Charles Darwin

Quotes attributed to DarwinQuotes attributed to Darwin““It has often been said . . . that man can resist It has often been said . . . that man can resist

with impunity the greatest diversities of with impunity the greatest diversities of climate and other changes; but this is true climate and other changes; but this is true only of the civilized races. Man in his wild only of the civilized races. Man in his wild condition seems to be in this respect almost condition seems to be in this respect almost as susceptible as his nearest allies, the as susceptible as his nearest allies, the anthropoid apes, which have never yet anthropoid apes, which have never yet survived long, when removed from their survived long, when removed from their native country.” – Charles Darwin.native country.” – Charles Darwin.

Quotes attributed to EvolutionistsQuotes attributed to EvolutionistsReferring to Referring to On the Origin of SpeciesOn the Origin of Species, by , by

Darwin, Harvard University's Stephen Jay Darwin, Harvard University's Stephen Jay Gould wrote, "Biological arguments for Gould wrote, "Biological arguments for racism may have been common before 1859, racism may have been common before 1859, but they increased by orders of magnitude but they increased by orders of magnitude following the acceptance of evolutionary following the acceptance of evolutionary theory."theory."

Quotes attributed to EvolutionistsQuotes attributed to Evolutionists““The Negroid stock is even more ancient than The Negroid stock is even more ancient than

the Caucasian and Mongolians, as may be the Caucasian and Mongolians, as may be proved by an examination not only of the proved by an examination not only of the brain, of the hair, of the bodily brain, of the hair, of the bodily characteristics . . . but of the instincts, the characteristics . . . but of the instincts, the intelligence. The standard of intelligence of intelligence. The standard of intelligence of the average adult Negro is similar to that of the average adult Negro is similar to that of the eleven-year-old-youth of the species the eleven-year-old-youth of the species Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens.” .” – – Henry Fairfield Osborn, Henry Fairfield Osborn, professor of biology and zoology, Columbia professor of biology and zoology, Columbia University, 1908-1933.University, 1908-1933.

Quotes attributed to EvolutionistsQuotes attributed to EvolutionistsThe ethical principle inherent in evolution is The ethical principle inherent in evolution is

that only the best has a right to survive. . . that only the best has a right to survive. . .

- Henry Fairfield Osborn- Henry Fairfield Osborn

Would we not expect this kind of thinking Would we not expect this kind of thinking from those who subscribe to belief in from those who subscribe to belief in

1)1) Natural SelectionNatural Selection

2)2) Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest

Racism in “Christian” HistoryRacism in “Christian” HistoryIf nature favors the colored brethren and sisters in the If nature favors the colored brethren and sisters in the

exercise of humility, it is that much to their exercise of humility, it is that much to their advantage, if they are rightly exercised by it. A advantage, if they are rightly exercised by it. A little, and our humility will work out for our good. little, and our humility will work out for our good. A little while, and those who have been faithful to A little while, and those who have been faithful to their Covenant of Sacrifice will be granted new their Covenant of Sacrifice will be granted new bodies, spiritual, beyond the veil, where color and bodies, spiritual, beyond the veil, where color and sex distinctions will be no more. A little while, and sex distinctions will be no more. A little while, and the Millennial kingdom will be inaugurated, which the Millennial kingdom will be inaugurated, which will bring restitution to all mankind – C. T. Russellwill bring restitution to all mankind – C. T. Russell

Racism in “Christian” HistoryRacism in “Christian” HistoryOne prominent Christian fundamentalist leader once One prominent Christian fundamentalist leader once

wrote, wrote, “Intermarriage of the races is a breakdown “Intermarriage of the races is a breakdown of the lines of separation which God has set up and, of the lines of separation which God has set up and, therefore, is rebellion against God.” To support his therefore, is rebellion against God.” To support his viewpoint, [he] cites Paul's statement in the Acts of viewpoint, [he] cites Paul's statement in the Acts of the Apostles, that of all peoples, God “hath the Apostles, that of all peoples, God “hath determined the times before appointed, and the determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” (Acts 17:26-27).bounds of their habitation.” (Acts 17:26-27).

Other belief systems include:Other belief systems include:

White Supremacists – the Caucasian race is superior.White Supremacists – the Caucasian race is superior.

Segregationists – those who maintain that God intends Segregationists – those who maintain that God intends different “races” to separate, for mutual good.different “races” to separate, for mutual good.

What does Scripture tell us?What does Scripture tell us? The Creation account, which describes a The Creation account, which describes a

single set of parents for all of humanity – single set of parents for all of humanity – Gen. 1:26-28.Gen. 1:26-28.

The genealogy of Jesus - Matthew 1:2-16 – The genealogy of Jesus - Matthew 1:2-16 – see especially vv. 3, 5.see especially vv. 3, 5.

What does Scripture tell us?What does Scripture tell us? The Pentecost narrative – all different races The Pentecost narrative – all different races

and groups of people brought together as and groups of people brought together as potentially members of one Body of Christ – potentially members of one Body of Christ – Acts 2:5-12, 17-21 (Peter’s quote of the Acts 2:5-12, 17-21 (Peter’s quote of the passage in Joel).passage in Joel).

Peter’s Vision of the Sheet of Animals – Peter’s Vision of the Sheet of Animals – Acts 10:9-17; 27-29, 34-35, 43.Acts 10:9-17; 27-29, 34-35, 43.

The prophets and teachers at Antioch – The prophets and teachers at Antioch – Acts 13:1-3.Acts 13:1-3.

What does Scripture tell us?What does Scripture tell us?

The common source of all human ancestry – The common source of all human ancestry – Acts 17:24-31.Acts 17:24-31.

The ultimate makeup of all of God’s people The ultimate makeup of all of God’s people – Revelation 7:9-10.– Revelation 7:9-10.

ApplicationsApplications Racism is a sin, and we are all sinners, but Racism is a sin, and we are all sinners, but

we are a “community of grace”!we are a “community of grace”!

We need to avoid comparing ourselves to We need to avoid comparing ourselves to other groups of believers – and observing other groups of believers – and observing our differences - as though we are “normal” our differences - as though we are “normal” and they are “different.” Example – our and they are “different.” Example – our tradition vs. the “Black church.”tradition vs. the “Black church.”

ApplicationsApplications We need to strive for diversity in our We need to strive for diversity in our

worship and Christian life experiences – worship and Christian life experiences – and this will not be easy – for a variety of and this will not be easy – for a variety of reasons.reasons.

Rethink some of our terminology – i.e., Rethink some of our terminology – i.e., “Missions” vs. “Inter-Cultural Ministry.” “Missions” vs. “Inter-Cultural Ministry.” Let us share the gospel with others from a Let us share the gospel with others from a position of equality and respect, and not a position of equality and respect, and not a position of superiority.position of superiority.