While filling out a job application, my friend marked an X through all the “race” choices and wrote HUMAN. He didn’t get the job, but I gave him an ‘A’ for bravado. I wonder, is it really that burdensome to use the correct, five-syllable word nationality instead of the incorrect, one-syllable term race?
True, there were races in antiquity, but those generally involved chariots or feet. Biblically speaking, the word race is only found four times in Scripture and never in reference to a people group.The word nation(s), however is used hundreds of times.
Semantics, semantics, some would say. What difference does it make if we use the word race to distinguish ethnicity? Whether we use the word race for ethnicity, contest of speed, or even a political campaign, the word gives rise to thoughts of competition and superiority. Sadly, this is why some folks feel justified in ranking others as “inferior.”
Nothing could be more unscriptural. The Bible says God created MAN in His image not His images. He distinguished them male and female, and by that distinction alone.
Prejudice is, therefore, one of my pet peeves. My family and I have always been colorblind and have no tolerance for racism. Nevertheless, I must ashamedly admit that I learned just today that my otherwise angelic little doggie is prejudice (insert imagination here). This will never do in my family!
This will never do in God’s family either. Unbelievably, prejudice and racism actually take place even in the church. When I first learned this, I was utterly shocked. Mankind, all six-billion plus, are family regardless of our skin colors. Those of us who call upon Jesus Christ as Lord are immediate family, everyone else is extended family, but family just the same.
Let me add for clarity, I do not believe that all roads lead to heaven. I know, speaking of Jesus, that there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Those who have not accepted the Lord’s salvation are prodigal siblings. As such, we must love them and pray for them all the more.
Jesus said:
..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39).
Notice, there is no loophole which allows for discrimination. I don’t know about you, but many of my friends and neighbors are of a different skin color than I. So what! As I said, we are all part of one great big family, one great “race” if you will-the human race. If we are going to have antipathy for color brothers and sisters, let it be towards the blackness of sin not skin!
Perhaps you are a believer and yet struggle with intolerance issues, skin color or otherwise. I am not judging you; I simply pray that we all, myself included, allow the Lord to break any chains which have bound us and prevented us from loving others as we truly should.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us… (Hebrews 12:1)
Polished Pearls 