The Traveling Pulpit
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Covenant of Grace Ministries
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Burley W. Moore-Bible Teacher
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Volume 15, Number 4 Special Edition Spring/Summer 2020
Race and Ethnicity
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:” (Gen. 11:1-10)
Introduction
As we begin this study, let me make it clear that the Bible doesn’t record such words as race, ethnicity, or nationality. However, that does not mean these words are not alluded to in Scripture. In fact, the word trinity is never mentioned in the Bible, but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Actually, the Trinity is a major doctrine that is clearly taught magnifying God as One in Essence, but Three in Person (Matt. 28:19, II Cor. 13:14, I Pet. 1:2). Likewise, the word rapture does not appear in Scripture, but the truth of it is unmistakable (I Thess. 4:17). The problem with using such words that are not found in the Bible is a misunderstanding of how they should be properly applied and biblically interpreted. Therefore, a comparison and study of Scripture most often helps us to clarify the meaning of words that are used today and how we can better understand them in light of God’s Word.
With all that being said, let’s pause before going any further and look at our modern-day definitions of the three words, race, ethnicity, and nationality. The word race can be used to describe a local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics (such as skin color, hair color, and facial structure), a group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution, a genealogical line; a lineage, or human beings considered as a group. The words ethnic or ethnicity are used to describe sizable groups of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage, a member of a particular ethnic group who practices learned behavior, especially one who maintains the language or customs of the group to whom they belong. The word nationality refers to the status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or naturalization, a people having common origins or traditions and often constituting a nation, or the existence as a politically autonomous entity such as national independence.
Based upon these definitions, we can easily conclude from Scripture where reference is made numerous times regarding race, ethnicity and nationality beginning in the early pages of the Old Testament Book of Genesis and running throughout the New Testament. These words are often used interchangeably and are overlapping in scope, but they do have distinct meanings. However, that doesn’t change the fact there are multiple races forming the various nations of the earth today. To learn when the human race began, we go back to the sixth day of creation when God made “Adam” and “Eve” in the “garden of Eden” (Gen. 1-3).
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28)
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” (Gen. 2:21-25)
All human beings have come from the same first couple thus making us all part of the same human race. But, as time went on and man continued to rebel against God, the Lord divided our human race into three basic divisions, established the various racial and ethnic groups, and scattered them across the face of the earth. The account of God doing this is found in the 11th chapter of Genesis at the “tower” of “Babel”. We have no idea how God did it, no more than we know how God created the world, but by faith “we know” (I Jh. 5:20) that God did what He tells us in His Holy, Inspired, and Infallible Word. With that being said, let’s take a brief look at the racial divisions and their eventual world-wide dispersion as recorded in the first ten verses of Genesis 11.
As we begin looking at this chapter, we first lay the foundation and the background with a glimpse of the previous chapters. After the “flood”, God issued the command for “Noah and his sons” to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 9:1). Knowing that the “earth” would once again be heavily populated, God ordained the principle of human government so that law and order might prevail (Gen. 9:6). Instead of dividing up into units or groups and spreading out upon the face of the “earth”, Satan influenced “Nimrod” to become a powerful leader in establishing a religious order unpleasing to God (Gen. 10:8-10) that resulted in the “tower” of “Babel”.
The truth of the matter is that Satan has been scheming against God for universal power since his fall as the archangel. Instead of worshipping the Creator, it appears that “Nimrod” led the people to worship the creation which is an act of idolatry. Herein is a reminder that all forms of paganism have their origin in the religion of Babylon. From history, we believe that “Nimrod” himself was considered the chief god of the Babylonian Cult. He was called Murbuk and served as the chief priest in their pagan worship.
Much to the surprise of the average Christian, the Babylonian system has even infiltrated and corrupted Christendom with a great deal of heresy. For that reason, “Babylon”, spiritually speaking, is called in the Book of Revelation, “the Mother of Harlots” (Rev. 17:5). The Bible describes “Babylon” as being the center of apostasy since the very beginning (Jer. 51:6-9). With all that being said, the name “Babylon” is linked to ancient times and the establishment of a pagan religious system under the wicked “Nimrod.” What he founded is considered the fountainhead of idolatry and the “mother” of organized heathenism.
The name “Babylon” dates back to the “tower” of “Babel” where the first mass organized human rebellion against God occurred following the Noahic flood. In our text, under study in chapter 11, “Nimrod” is not mentioned by name, but he is credited for building the “tower” of “Babel” in Genesis 10 as well as three other cities “in the land of Shinar” (Gen. 10:10). The very name “Babel” means confusion and God gave them confusion in being able to dialogue with one another as an act of judgment against them. We can see from Scripture that the devil has been stirring up strife and confusion since the “garden of Eden” (Gen. 3). Therefore, we need to be on the alert because he will not cease until his final defeat when Christ comes again. It’s all within this context where we find God dividing the original human race into racial divisions and with that background we can better understand as to why He did it.
God’s Command to Migrate v. 1-4
The fact that the people were of “one language and one speech” indicates that they delighted in their oneness. In other words, they wanted to all be alike and apparently took pride in doing so which is revealed in their construction of the “tower” of “Babel.” The problem with Adam in the Garden of Eden is that he disobeyed God which was exemplified, by eating a piece of fruit that God had forbidden. Likewise, we see how the “whole earth” of people following the flood disobeyed God by refusing to migrate throughout the “earth” as God commanded them to do (Gen. 9:1). They “journeyed” from the region of “Ararat” (Gen. 8:4) to “a plain in the Land of Shinar” (v.2), commonly known today as Mesopotamia. This was the time when everyone spoke the same “language and” were “of one speech.” We can learn from this passage how Satan has always tried to accumulate a people to do his bidding who are all of the same evil persuasion. Even today, misery still loves company, and evil disobedient people, most often with enticing words, persuade and deceive others to defy God. The devil is the same old devil that he’s always been since the Garden of Eden and will remain the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) until his final defeat by our Lord of Glory (Rev. 20:10).
Our text records that once the people arrived “in the land of Shinar,” they set out to build a structure using “brick for stone, and slime … for mortar.” Their goal was to “build … a city” with a “tower” that would “reach unto heaven.” The exact height of this tall “tower” is not known, but it was no doubt very large which drew attention to their pride and power to construct such a structure. They wanted to make a “name” for themselves and become a large population, while refusing to be “scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth”. What became known as “Babel” was a carefully planned community with a “tower” as their primary focal point. It was their center of attention and the unifying force among the people.
That’s the way the devil has always worked, using a common ungodly denominator to draw the masses unto himself and stir up strife and discord. Satan will deceive and do all he can to draw people away from the True and Living God Who Alone deserves our obedience and worship. Unfortunately, multitudes of local church congregations and denominations today have fallen victim to Satan’s lies and skillful deception, just like in the day of “Nimrod.” The purpose of the Tower of Babel is believed to have been a community center for the gathering of pagan worship. This ought to put us on guard lest we turn the House of God into nothing more than a social entity or community center. How sad it is for people to worship the building in which they meet and not the God who wants to indwell them (I Cor. 6:19-20). People tell a lot about themselves by the very fact of what causes them to gather together and their reasoning behind it. I believe that local congregations ought to have good fellowship; however, I find it upsetting when people only want to show up to party, play, and socialize but have no desire for the “preaching” (I Cor. 1:21) of God’s Word.
It’s very troubling today to observe how many evangelical churches and denominations are seeing themselves as leaders in the Social Justice Movement rather than remaining focused on the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) which alone is the remedy for all types of worldly injustice. Social Justice is a concept of fair and just relations between individuals and the society in which they live. It’s measured by the distribution of wealth, opportunities for personal activity, and social privileges. Its meaning is not a gospel issue, in and off itself, to satisfy social equality. The basic meaning of how the world looks at the Social Justice ideology has no place in the church. Injustice is wrong for anyone and Christians must preach that our God is Just while people are not. We’re living in a fallen world where Christians must learn that God requires us “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).
To correct the injustices of the world is not the commission of the New Testament Church and such involvement is not found in the Word of God. Social Justice will not solve racial conflict, but will in reality only intensify it because the remedy is only found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The blood of Christ alone can solve racial conflict apart from which there will be no resolve. The church is not to fulfill the role of government and the government is not to fulfill the role of the church. Scripture does not teach that it’s the task of the church to free people from such things as political and racial oppression, but to preach the gospel wherein sinners can know freedom from the oppression of sin.
It’s believed that many slaves made up the church in Rome during the days of the early New Testament Church, but we read of no movement of the church to free them from their “masters”. Instead, Scripture taught them to bear a godly witness in their role of servitude (Eph. 6:5, Col. 3:22). Yes, we must oppose injustice wherever it is found because all people are of worth and value to God. However, we must never forget that our message is one of freedom from spiritual oppression from the enemy of our souls, Satan himself. The church cannot solve racism or any other sin problem.. All we are commissioned to do is to point sinners to the Savior from sin’s penalty. Only when Christians live the life to which God has called them will a nation be influenced by their witness to God’s glory. Just look at what happed at “Babel” when people chose to defy God and do their own thing.
It’s generally believed that this “tower” of “Babel” was dedicated as a temple in worshiping the sun, moon, stars, and planets. Some have even speculated that the signs of the zodiac might have appeared on the ceilings and walls. But, this one thing we know, Nimrod’s followers were more interested in making a “name” for themselves, exemplifying their arrogant pride which is so profound in the human race. No race ought to have an entitlement mentality of deserving privilege or attention. We are all lowly sinners deserving God’s judgment, but can only escape it by faith in Christ. Like Adam, they disobeyed God, and in their case refused to be “scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” conveying an obstinate and defiant attitude toward Holy God. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must never waver from the purpose of the church, which can be summed up in our primary mission of evangelism and discipleship, humbly seeing ourselves as “a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).
God’s Judgment in Disbursement v. 5-9
In judgment, God punished the people with a penalty that was very fitting with their offense. After being so very long-suffering, as God always is, He “came down” to pronounce judgment against the people for their pride and rebellion against Him. As it was in the case of Adam in the Garden of Eden, God knew about the temptation and man’s fall into sin. Being the Sovereign God that He is, He is not the author of sin, but He allowed sin to takes its toll on the human race. Nothing ever takes our God by surprise, but at the same time, He allows sin to run its course in order to display the glory of His grace. This conspiracy against God was put to a halt by the confounding of languages. In the case of Adam, God could have destroyed the entire human race when our federal head chose to sin thus damning humanity under the curse. God could have done the same thing with the human race at this point and time when they defied Him at “Babel”. But, instead on both accounts, God chose to display His grace even in judgment. They didn’t want to migrate, but God forced them to do so.
Up to this point and time in history, “the people” all spoke only “one language” and all sought to congregate together in “one” common locality. How many times have we heard the old saying that birds of a feather flock together? That may be a rather trite expression, but it paints a picture of how the devil likes to congregate those of like mind together to do his mischief. In other words, they all spoke the same “language”, they were all on the same page, they all had the same goal, and it was not “one” that pleased God. The same thing is happening today every way we turn as the devil attempts to bind people together to cause a ruckus, disruption, chaos, and confusion. All the racial disturbance taking place in our country simply gives militants an excuse to once again bring back a oneness, a unifying agenda of rebellion, that is more destructive than constructive.
That oneness to which I refer is pride and not lowly humility and cross-bearing. In the case found in our text, the ability to communicate was basic if they were to live together. We still find that true if people are to get along, they need to be of like mind, so to speak, whether it be for good or for evil purposes. You will find God’s people who love the Lord gathering together to worship and feast from the Word of God because they have a common interest. Likewise, you will find people congregating in the streets, rioting, and protesting because they share a common interest which most often leads to chaos, destruction, and lawlessness. Well, let me tell you what God did to Nimrod’s followers, He tore up their little play-house by confounding “their language”, causing them to divide up and scatter to various regions of the earth. With all the mixed chattering going on, the only thing to do was to separate and assemble with those who could be understood. In other words, they mixed and assembled with those of like “language” so they could understand what was being said among them. It’s hard to even begin to imagine what it’s like being around people where the majority are speaking a language different than yours and you have the slightest idea of what’s being said. I’ve had several opportunities to preach through an interpreter and all I could do is hope that I was being correctly translated.
At this point, we have a clear picture about the “language” separation, but nothing is said or even alluded to regarding their physical racial characteristics. There is no person on the face of the earth who can answer the question as to how physical racial characteristics developed. It has been speculated down through the years, but only God has the answer to that question, just like He does regarding how and when He created the universe (Job 38:4). The problem with man is that he is trying to tell God how He did what He did rather than believing in simple child-like Faith that He is Sovereign and He does all things “according to His good pleasure” (Eph. 1:9). It doesn’t make any difference as to how God does what He does, He is God and we are NOT. Some have speculated that racial characteristics developed over the next several generations, but it’s also just as possible and probable that God instantly produced this physical change at the same time He confounded “their language” and “scattered them abroad.” Once again, we can speculate all we want to like many have done, but we simply don’t know all the answers to all the questions. And, it is at that point we leave our unknown to God and must not be guilty of trying to become as God, knowing as much as He does. Let’s don’t forget, that is what got Adam in trouble to begin with when he wanted to be as knowledgeable as God (Gen. 3:5).
That which I’ve referred to previously as “Babel” is a fitting word because of what God did in His judgment against the people (v.9). “Babel” is a name that means to confuse or confusion which is what God did in confusing their speech with one another. “The Lord … did … scatter” the people “abroad upon the face of all the earth” like He had intended for them to do following the flood. The forced scattering is what God did in judgment against a disobedient people (v.9). Pause for a moment to think about what I’m going to say and let it sink it. Just think about the fact that if Adam had not disobeyed God and eaten from the “tree of knowledge” (Gen. 2:9,17), then most likely sin would not have entered the human race. Once sin did enter the human race and if the people following the Noahic flood had not disobeyed God in refusing to populate the earth, there would only be one race today rather than multiple races, thus the sin of racism. I’m not saying there would have been no sin, but no sin of racism. Being the sinners that we are, sin is always raising its ugly head in some form or fashion. I’m not saying there would have been no Hitler, but there would have been no Holocaust. Racism exists and always will because sin exist in the heart of man’s depravity. Only a change of nature produced by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit can change that.
God tells us that man’s sinful disobedience back at “Babel” is the origin of racism with the dividing of the human race into various units. The “tower” and the “city” is what the people built, but from the wording, “left off to build the city” (v.8) sounds like both were left unfinished at the time of disbursement. However, from history we know that this city of “Babel” eventually was the beginning of what became known as Babylon, capital of Babylonia. It’s believed to have eventually become one of the largest ancient cities that lasted for several hundred years and today its ancient remains are located near Baghdad, Iraq. In Scripture it has always been regarded as a city of wickedness and harm for God’s people.
God’s Formation of the Races v.10 (11-32)
After the scattering of the nations at “Babel”, history is silent for the next 200 years, thus giving the nations time to develop their individual cultures. In order for God to prepare a people through whom He could transmit His Word, He chose a man to establish a nation for that purpose. That genealogy is listed in the remaining verses of chapter 11 beginning with “Shem” (v.10) and ending with “Abram” (v. 31), whom we better know today as “Abraham” (Gen. 17:5). “Shem” is one of the three sons of “Noah” who received the prophetic blessing pertaining to the coming of Christ. With “Shem” God raised up “Abraham” to father the Hebrew people through which God Incarnate eventually came to purchase a people unto Himself with His death on Calvary’s Cross.
With all that being said, I want to take you back to the 10th chapter of Genesis following the Noahic flood and call your attention to the origin of nations from the “sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth” (Gen 10:1-32). As you can tell, we have been given the threefold division of the human family prior to the confounding of languages at “Babel.” In other words, the record of nations is given in chapter 10 and the establishment of those nations in chapter 11. Only “Shem” is actually mentioned in chapter 11 because that is the bloodline through which the Lord Jesus Christ was born.
All the names found in the 10th chapter of Genesis are generally referred to as The Table of Nations. Most of these names belong to individuals and some were later used to identify entire nations. Because of early intermarriages, certain groups could trace their lineage to more than one line. From this chapter, 70 different nations are listed from the three “sons of Noah”, 14 from “Japheth”, 30 from “Ham”, and 26 from “Shem.”
It was “Japheth” (10:2-5) who fathered those known as Gentiles and his seven sons can be traced as the ancestors of the Greeks, Romans, and European nations. Back in chapter 9 of Genesis, we have a story of “Noah” getting drunk and how these three sons responded to their father (Gen. 9:20-27). “Japheth” and “Shem” did not gaze upon his “nakedness” in this drunken stupor, but respectfully “covered” him which caused “Noah” to promise special favor upon them. On the other hand, “Ham” was very disrespectful and left him in public view for all to see, basically making a mockery of their father.
“Ham” (Gen. 10:6-20) and his four sons eventually migrated into Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya (North Africa), and also fathered the Oriental nations. Down through the years, people have often said that the curse of God upon “Ham” was turning the color of his skin black. First of all, there is nowhere in Scripture that says anything to the sort. However, his posterity was “cursed” because of his disrespect towards his father after he got drunk (Gen. 9:18-29). Actually, Ham’s son, “Canaan” is the one who carried this curse. Now, the next question that is often asked, “what was the curse”? We know it wasn’t being made dark-skin or black; however, many of Ham’s descendants made up nations of color. With “Canaan” in particular being mentioned, leads us to think that the curse was upon the Canaanites who would be thorns in the side of Israel, but eventually be overcome by the Israelites and conquered people were considered servants after their defeat, thus making servitude to Israel the curse.
“Shem” (Gen. 10:21-32) fathered the Semitic people known to us as Jewish or Arabic and the descendants of Mesopotamia, Persia, Assyria, Asia Minor, and Syria. “Arphaxad” (Gen. 10:24, 11:10) is the most important in this list because he was the line that produced the promised Messiah. As we can note, several people groups were fathered by “Shem”, but the most significant was that of the coming of Christ into the world by means of the virgin conception in the womb of a Jewish maiden.
From these three “sons of Noah”, Scripture reveals the only reliable record of the origins of when God divided the human race into the various racial, ethnic, and nationality groups. Acts 17:26-27 says, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us”:
The geographic boundaries for racial domination have been determined by the Sovereign councils of God. It has often been asked, if it’s a sin to marry outside of one’s race into which they were born? There is no proof from Scripture to indicate that it is, despite man’s prejudices. In fact, we can even illustrate from the marriage of Boaz to Ruth that God blessed their interracial, Gentile-Jewish, union (Ruth 1-4). Scripture also records that Moses married an Ethiopian woman, probably after the death of Zipporah, which was protested by Miriam and Aaron (Ex. 2:21, Num. 12:1), but I cannot find where God condemned him for it and the subject remains silent other than the record of the fact. We cannot say that it’s a sin for races to intermarry, but anytime people marry outside their race, culture, or social status, it may prove to create unique adjustments. Regardless, there will always be significant marital adjustments and challenges with couples even of the same race. However, the Bible is very clear about it being wrong for believers to marry non-believers and that believers are to marry “only in the Lord (I Cor. 7:40, II Cor. 6:14-16).
Closing
Originally, in creation, there was only one race, but due to rebellion against God, the Lord divided that one race into multiple races and migrated them around the globe. While all human beings are of the same original human race, we are not all of the same ethnic background nor race as we know the meaning of that term today. There is a song that I sang with the children in my pastorates that most children probably don’t even know today that goes something like this: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. We don’t know what color skin God gave Adam and Eve, but we can only assume that it had to be the same as those present in “Babel.” Regardless of skin color, different color skin is no indication that God loves a person any more or any less. Skin color is primarily due to the presence of pigment in the skin called melanin which gives skin it’s color. Dark skinned people have more melanin than light skinned people. But, regardless of skin color or nationality, God shows no partially with respect to national or ethnic origin (Acts 10:34).
As we look at the Scriptures, we discover that God saved people of different backgrounds in both the Old and New Testaments. Gentiles were saved in the Old Testament, but It’s happening in greater measure in the New Testament, being more universal in scope, since God called Paul to take the Gospel to them. Jesus was born a Jew, but He did not come just to save the Jewish race. In fact, the Jews for the most part rejected Him and still do to this day (Jh. 1:11). When Jesus came to earth, He was probably not white nor black, but most likely an olive skin which was common to the Jews of His day. He did not come to die for a race of people, but for a multitude from the various races of the earth who would place their faith in Him as Lord and Savior.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10)
In Heaven, there will be no race problems because racism will be abolished. Today, while still living in a sin cursed world, there will be racism because this is a world full of lost sinners who do not know the transforming power of Jesus Christ. The only answer to the race problem is regeneration, not politics or any social justice movement. If one has not come to know the Love of God in the forgiveness of their sin through Jesus Christ, then they will not know how to “love” their neighbor (Lk. 10:27). The soul saving “gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ” (Mk. 1:1) is for all people of all races and is the only thing that will change a person from the inside out. When God led “Peter”, who was a Jew, off the housetop to the home of “Cornelius” (Acts 10:19-33), who was a Gentile, He made it clear that the Gospel is for all races.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick (living) and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:34-43)
“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” (Acts 17:26-27)
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:11-13)
Even though all human beings have come from Adam, the federal head at the time of creation, God has now divided all humans into various racial groups around the world. With all the different ethnic characteristics that may separate racial distinctives, the one common factor that binds us together is sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” and then Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:12 reaffirms how we are all alike, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” We are all sinners in need of forgiveness through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ apart from which we’ll never know Heaven as our eternal home, much less any hope of overcoming racial discrimination as we journey this earthly pilgrimage. Regardless of racial or ethnic background, there is only one plan of salvation for this sinful human race and Jesus Christ alone is the solution to our sin problem. Romans 10:9-11 proclaims loud and clear, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
We’ve always had a problem with racism since the dividing of the races at the Tower of Babel. Racism is belief that one race is superior to another and a racist is a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another. Every individual of every race is unique and no two people are identical, even identical twins have some degree of differences. People are different, races and ethnic groups are different, races have their own unique characteristics and cultures. Just because we are all different with different backgrounds doesn’t mean that God loves one race any more than another. The only way we can learn to love other people regardless of their background is to know “the love of God” (I Jh. 5:3) in Jesus Christ. None of us are deserving of God’s love, saving grace, and forgiveness of sin. Only a work of God’s grace can make a difference in our hearts and when “the love of God” is planted in our hearts by the “Holy Spirit”, then we are capable of loving others (Rom. 5:5). The only way to come to Christ is by “grace ... through faith” as we are told in Eph. 2:8-9 , “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” When God grants us “faith” to believe, He also gives us a repentant heart to confess our sin and turn to Christ. Luke 13:3 says, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Faith and repentance are both gifts of God’s grace and mercy upon Hell deserving sinners.
The story of the Good Samaritan is a lesson on how to treat people regardless of racial differences (Lk. 10:25-37). We’re not sure who the person was in this story who was beat up and left by the wayside. Some have only assumed that he was a Jew, but Scripture only calls him “a certain man.” Three men came along and saw him. The first two men, being a priest and a Levite, looked upon him, but passed by without offering any help, although they were both identified as being religious. The third man was a “Samaritan” who showed “compassion” on this “certain man” and took the time to bind up his wounds and take him to an “inn” for proper care. With Jesus being a Jew and telling this story of a Samaritan teaches us a great lesson on race relations.
Jesus Himself shows us how to treat someone of a different race that the general public may consider inferior (Jh. 4:1-42). For the most part, Jews in the day of Christ were prejudice against the Samaritans. They were looked upon as dogs and outcasts, being half breed or mix-breed between Jew and Gentile. However, Jesus went against the grain of His day by witnessing to the Samaritan woman by the well of which His own disciples “marveled.” He did not major on her race, but a soul in need of saving when He told her that He alone was the “living water” of eternal life. It’s very apparent from the story that she was gloriously saved and bore witness of her transformed life. God took this woman of questionable character and of a different racial and ethnic background to bear witness of how He alone can make the difference in the life of any person regardless of their past. Herein, we again find the solution to the race problem in the life changing power of the “gospel of Jesus Christ”. I’ve said many times that we do not have a race problem in our society, but a sin problem that can only find a solution in the unregenerate heart by being “born again” (Jh. 3:1-8, I Pet. 1:23). When we learn how to “love the Lord” our “God with all” our “heart, and with all” our “soul, and with all” our “strength, and with all” our “mind, and” our “neighbor” as ourselves (Lk. 10:27), then we will have discovered the cure for racism.
We’re all a bunch of dirty rotten sinners, regardless of race or ethnicity. That means we are “all” (Rom. 3:23) in need of forgiveness of our sins which can only be found in the substitutionary sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. Apart from “faith” (Eph. 3:8-9) in the finished work of the crucified Son of God there will never be confession and repentance of our sin and evidence of a new nature. God does not tell His people to march in the streets, riot, protest, create chaos, but to respect the government authority over us (Rom. 13:1-14) and to “pray” (Matt. 5:44, Lk. 6:28).
Even when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He would not allow Peter to defend him with a “sword” (Jh. 18:11) because it was time for Christ to fulfill the Father’s plan of redemption. There may come a time when we must defend ourselves and our country, but always submit to the Sovereign authority of God Who alone can change the hearts of men, whether it be kings and those in authority over us or our fellowman. When Jesus, the only perfect man to ever live, was sentenced to death, He willingly submitted to the Roman soldiers and died to “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Paul submitted to Nero when it came time to lay his head on the block to have it chopped off. He did not encourage a protest march, but counted the cause of Christ greater than his own life.
When I think of mob violence and compare how Christians should act in comparison with non-Christians, I’m reminded of the episode that occurred in the 17th chapter of Acts. Herein is an account of a protest that turned into violence. In trying to bear witness of our risen Lord, Paul went into the “synagogue of the Jews” and “reasoned with them out of the scriptures” but “the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company , and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason.” We believe that “Jason” hosted Paul while he was ministering in “Thessalonica” and was a noted believer. He was falsely accused by this mob when “they troubled the people and the rulers of the city” with their mischief. The accusation against the Christians was simply that they had “turned the world upside down” by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.” (Acts 17:1-9)
An expanded reading of the above text, (Acts 17:10-17) lets us know how the early Christians dealt with conflict when it came looking for them and exactly what it was that caused the conflict. First of all, the preaching of God’s Word was not received by the “lewd fellows of the baser sort.” The word “lewd” refers to wicked, malicious, or mischievous people in either a moral or spiritual sense. “Baser” refers to what we would call a vulgar person or an agitator. I never find anything in Scripture where God endorses this kind of behavior from His redeemed people. Therefore, the conclusion is that such behavior is a work of Satan and is counter-productive for those professing faith in Christ. Anytime a group of people gather to march in protest, it often results in violence and lawlessness. The influence that the Christian church is to have on the world is one of peacefully living out the gospel in front of those around us.
There was resistance to the gospel in Paul’s day just like there has been all down through the years. The world would rather follow their own humanistic philosophies rather than being set free from the oppression of our enemy who is the devil. Satan delights in blinding men with the “darkness” of this world rather than seeing and following the “Light of the Word.” John 8:12 reminds us that, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” When resistance to Paul arose, He simply moved on to another town instead of creating protest. In fact, this is what Jesus told his disciples to do when the gospel message was rejected, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:11-12)
Jesus never taught that His disciples were to create a mass protest in the streets, but simply believe the gospel, stand firm on the gospel, never waver from the gospel, and preach the gospel without apology or reservation. I remind you that in choosing His twelve apostles, Christ selected Simon who had been a Zelote, a member of this radical revolutionary Jewish nationalist party of rebels in his day. His encounter with Jesus Christ changed him from being a rebel to a repentant child of God and submissive follower. Once again, another proof that the only thing that can change a person for the better is the gospel of Jesus Christ. “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” (Lk. 6:13-16) What Jesus Christ did for Simon the Zelote and all the rest of His apostles, He can and will do for those today who will “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Being a Christian means to become a new creation in Christ which can only be done by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. In the new birth, God gives the Christian a new set of desires and ambitions. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Cor. 5:17)
Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Lk. 9:23) Now, just what does denying self, taking up your cross, and following Jesus really mean? It’s a description of renouncing yourself and your selfish ambitions. In other words, as we discover in the following verse of that text, it’s a description of dying to self or surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and living life to His glory and not our own.
The apostle Paul made the statement in First Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily” which no doubt referred to living in constant danger and possible death for the sake of Christ. In other words, he was willing to pay whatever price necessary to surrender his will to the will of Christ. Can we say that today? Are we willing to submit to the teachings of Holy Scripture at any and all cost? That means, not being self-centered but God-centered. It means learning how to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I Jh. 2:15-17). Wanting our own way is wanting to make ourselves god rather than yielding to the authority of our Creator and Redeemer thus submitting to His control over us. It’s the same problem they had back in the Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel. It’s called rebellion against God and is still being demonstrated today.
With all that being said, let me close this study by calling your attention to an up-to-date human ideology (please note that I said “human ideology” because it is not Bible based) that is flooding the world and even the evangelical church. First of all, let me define an ideology as a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Since, I’ve already made reference to the Social Justice Movement, I’ll not speak any further on that subject, but I do want to say a word about Cultural Marxism. There is a difference between Cultural Marxism and Classical Marxism, with both attributed to Karl Marx. Classical Marxism proposes an economic system opposed to capitalism. Cultural Marxism basically picks up where Classical Marxism leaves off and teaches that people who are considered lesser privileged have the right to oppose those of higher privilege; therefore, are against people scene as authority figures over government, such as police, judges, and elected officials. Cultural Marxism actually involves a very wide spectrum of issues, ranging from and including such things as climate change to abortion with all sorts of anti-biblical beliefs sandwiched in-between.
The critical race theory is from Cultural Marxism which appears as a sub-group, teaching that some races are an oppressed people. At this point, I want to remind you from my spiritual perspective that we “all” (Rom. 3:23) are an oppressed people, being oppressed with inherited sin of which we need forgiveness through Jesus Christ. There is not a race on the face of the earth that has escaped the oppression of sin. Every person is born under the curse of sin and we’re living in a fallen world. Christ alone can set us free from that bondage and slavery. No politician, government, denomination, religious leader, or any other mortal person can do it. All of this is a critical issue for today that is raising its ugly head even in the modern-day church and denominations. In fact, we find ourselves at a crossroads in the evangelical church on this subject. The issues of social justice, racism, and Cultural Marxism are real, but the remedy is not found in government or education. It’s only found in the life changing power of Jesus Christ. Not only is Cultural Marxism being addressed by churches and denominations, but very commonly found on university and seminary campuses around the word brainwashing the young generation.
We are living in alarming days both politically and spiritually. The greatest need in the church is revival, spiritual awakening, and returning to their “first love” (Rev. 3: 1-7). That’s the way the apostle John put it when he wrote to the church at Ephesus when he said “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revival is the spiritual renewal of God’s people and it’s needed today in the churches throughout our land and around the world. May we pray for it as never before.
Our God is a “just God” (Isa. 45:21), meaning that He is righteous and His rule will be without flaw. God’s judgement is never wrong and someday every person will stand before Him (Acts 17:31, Phil. 2:10). The only way to be part of His Eternal Kingdom is to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior which will cause you to repent of your sin, and draw strength from the Holy Spirit to overcome the human philosophies of this current world. Until God calls His people home, we must continue growing in the “grace and knowledge” (II Pet. 3:18) of our Lord, fighting the “good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12), relying upon the “power” of the “Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:8) to do what we cannot do for ourselves, even in the most adverse situations and circumstances. The life changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that is going to change anyone for the better and to God’s glory.
It’s time for the church (the bride of Christ) to forsake all human ideologies, return to preaching the Word of God, and be the church that God has placed us in the world to be in both discipleship and evangelism. As we witness so much apostasy (falling away) taking place in Christendom and the modern-day church, it ought to break the heart of every genuine believer. Injustice ought to break our hearts. Sin ought to break our hearts because it breaks the heart of God. In this world there will be trials and tribulations simply because, for the Christian, we’re not home yet. However, one of these days, every “born again” (Jh. 3:16) child of God, regardless of race, color of skin, ethnicity, or national origin will be in the perfect place of God’s eternal presence that we most often refer to as Heaven. When Christ comes again, He will consummate His Kingdom over which He shall reign as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (I Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14, 19:16) forever and forever. In these perilous times in which we live, may our prayer be “come quickly … even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)