Is God Racist?
Aug 26, 2011
The Race for Grace - part twelve in a study from the book of Galatians
By Mike Gauet
Is God racist?
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
Paul’s words are in marked contrast with the religious culture in which he grew up. In fact, they are a direct rebuttal of a prayer that he would have recited daily
Blessed are you, King of the Universe, for not having made me a Gentile.
Blessed are you, King of the Universe, for not having made me a slave.
Blessed are you, King of the Universe, for not having made me a woman.
Orthodox Jewish Prayer
Discrimination based on class, race and gender was practiced within ancient Judaism. Old Testament Scripture sanctioned this practice. The Israelites received this command from God, “Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.” Joshua 23:7-8
When Jesus Christ came to the earth He dealt a deathblow to the practice of sacred racism.
1. Sacred racial discrimination was in place prior to Christ’s arrival. “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) — remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:11-12
2. Christ put an end to sacred discrimination. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
3. Jesus removed sacred discrimination by repealing the Old Testament law. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.” Ephesians 2:14-15
Paul realized that Jesus Christ, functioning as divine ambassador, eliminated the practice of sacred discrimination by revoking the Mosaic Law it was based upon. He saw clearly that divisions based on race, class and gender are out of character in the church of Jesus Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
God terminated sacred racism
The burning cross is the image associated with the Ku Klux Clan. In an unintended way, it is a fitting one. Racism is a tacit rejection of the influence of the cross. Burning the cross is a sad testimony to the clan’s blatant rejection of the mission of Jesus Christ.
God’s goal has always been a church undivided. In the earliest years of the Christian movement the Christian church showed remarkable openness toward women. Jesus violated Jewish convention by speaking openly with women and including them among the ranks of His companions. Within the first couple of decades following His death, women held leadership positions within the church and served as prophets, teachers and evangelists.
Things changed dramatically by the end of the second century. Attempts to subdue heretical movements within the church led to women being excluded from leadership roles. For thousands of years since that time, racism and sexism have resurfaced within the Christian church. The Bible has mistakenly been cited in support of a practice the cross decisively terminated.
On this side of the cross, race, class or gender differences are spiritually insignificant. Faith in Christ is all that matters. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” We become “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” based solely on whether or not we “belong to Christ.”