Where does the Bible explain that men and women are equal and that racism is wrong?

Question

Just curious, since the Bible is apparently the source of all morality in the world.

Answer 1

If people quote controversial and unethical sections of the Bible the way Galatians is quoted here Christians are very quick to say the passages are being quoted out of context. Galatians is being used in a way here that its construction does not intend. It only says that all people who accept Christ as their savior may be saved. It says nothing about equality of rights for people in regards to how they live toward each other.

Parts of the Bible have been used to defend the practice of slavery right through the 20th century. In other parts of the NT there are directions for when it it is permissible to beat your slave with many stripes and instructions that women should be silent in church and if they have questions ask their husbands at home. Some denominations of Christianity still take these directives fairly literally. Some explain them away in the context of the times. The Bible is full of controversial interpretations and can support a number of contradictory world views and positions. In my view it is not a very useful text to base modern society on for this reason. Common sense and experience in the evolution of human culture have told us that all humans deserve equality.

Answer 2

Warrior Bride has put it quite well. There is an order directed by God, our roles. One is not above or below the other. As far as subjection, it is a mutual subjection, the husband to the wife as Christ did for the His bride, the church...He gave Himself for it. One of the difficulties people encounter, is absorbing God's view without seeing it through the eyes of our own culture. Every culture has elements that conflict with God's ways. The temptation is there to reject God's way. Yet, God's way IS obviously the best way, and has been made known to us not for our hurt, but for our help.

Answer 3

Maybe you should take into consideration the time that the bible was recorded in, and what was occuring in the world then. I think the New Testament is much more liberal than the Old Testament. For example: Christ and Mary Magdalene, she was a female, a prostitute, and one of the most devout followers of Christ. Mary Magdalene was also the first to view Christ's resurrected body. My opinion is that the bible does not speak literally, but more in parables.

Answer 4

In this world we are all brothers and sisters from the same source. So not only is sexism and racism wrong, it's stupid as well.

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a manslayer, and YOU know that no manslayer has everlasting life remaining in him.

Galations 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus.

However men and women are different and have different roles to play in life, that doesn't mean that women are inferior though.

Answer 5

it don't ...this was just an interpetation of Thomas Jefferson..and he had slaves,,,breed them himselves and i think like Washington gave them their freedom...after his own death..lol...so they had tons of slaves in the Bible..
they did not have electricity and the automobile..trains and planes etc.etc does this say they are wrong? huh..
women are equal to men (not really da $$$?) in 1920 when they got the vote and its been a struggle for them eversince..racism..its always going to raise its ugly head...the police in my town are very racist with their profiling..i am white and my wife is coloured (thats her term not mine) but she calls her self a woman of colour and is proud of it and she has been discriminated against by the police as well as security guards at k marts and meijers...it happens...its not right but it still goes on

Answer 6

Acts 17:26 - From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Genesis 5:2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man.

Answer 7

John 3:16 shows by example that we shouldn't be racists. Notice the word "all" in that verse. Philip was directed to meet a man of color to help him understand God's word.

At Genesis 2:18 it reads: 18 And Jehovah God went on to say: “It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him"

Notice the wording: "a helper for him, as a complement of him". It doesn't say a helper TO him, but it does say FOR him and goes on to say "a complement OF him rather than "a complement FOR or TO him". These words strongly indicate that God did not consider women less than men.

Many women are mentioned in the bible and their actions are encouraging examples for all who read about them. They were examples of braveness, leadership, wisdom, generosity and many other favorable qualities.

Racism does not show love and so it isn't an acceptable quality for people who hope to be in God's favor. Jesus told his followers:

Matthew 22:37-40, 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.

Answer 8

God cares not our race, he made us all!
1 Peter 1:17 (New King James Version)

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

Ephesians 5:24-31 (New International Version)

24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

Women are subject to their husbands after Eve sinned. BUT the bible also says Husbands are to love their wives like Jesus loved the church. Jesus DIED for his church and served the church!
Think about that men!
†

Answer 9

Galatians 3:28?


In Christ 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Edit: In some ways I agree with you, Elizabeth. This is talking about spiritual equality, not reality in the earthly sense.

Answer 10

The 10 commandments, on which all of them are based is the first 3. To love God, to love thy neighbor (which is everyone), to love thy mother & father.
Matthew 5:43-45
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto u, love your enemies, bless them that curse u, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you & persecute u.
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil & on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Leviticus19:18
Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as THYSELF.
John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Peter 2 :17
Honour ALL men.Love the brotherhood. Fear God.Honour the king.
And I know there is a verse I cannot find that goes, Wives submit to your husbands, Husbands love thy wives as thy love thyself. Men are the better protectors, and hunters. But my, how times have changed.
There you go, enjoy.:o]