From one Christian to another, How does racism still exist in the Christian Church and how do you combat it?

Question

I'm a follower of Jesus Christ and so is my husband. He is Middle Eastern. We also have an adopted child who is black. We still experience racism among people who claim to be Christians. How do they justify this?

A lot of people blame it on the way they were raised. This is bull crap though because once you become a Christian, you lose the right to use that as an excuse. Jesus can overcome any sin in your life and you demean the power of the Holy Spirit when you use that excuse.

Second, how can you spread the love of Jesus when you complain about gays, illegal immigration, and other political issues all the time. I'm so sick of hearing this constantly in the Christian Church. I don't agree with homosexuality and illegal immigration but I don't talk about it all the time. It's like saying "come follow Jesus and hate everybody I hate".

Isn't our first priority to evangelize, and let Jesus change their hearts? How can we combat this in the Christian Church?

Also, Jesus wasn't white. He was a middle eastern, Jewish guy. How are these people going to explain their sin of racism to him when they get to heaven? How are they going to explain that they thought they were better than him simply because they are white?

Answer 1

sin is sin ....you justify it be saying all have sinned Rom 3:23

Answer 2

Sorry, in case you're taking the stance that there is not any racism (or different kinds of bigotry) interior the Christian church, you would be very incorrect, or at superb in basic terms describing an surprisingly new stance that the church replaced into compelled by using society into taking. As i replaced into becoming up the 60's & 70's it replaced into clean that whilst we seen different races "equivalent" it replaced right into a shame to marry them. of direction, in case you pass no longer plenty further back, maximum church homes the two theory no longer something of segregation or completely supported it. in spite of in case you look on the Bible, you spot solid racism subject concerns, with some striking exceptions. Edit: An age previous argument that persists to as we communicate is that Ham replaced into cursed and became dark. Then there have been countless cultures/races that God commanded to be slaughtered through fact they have been "sinful" or perhaps after Jesus, the Church alternated between attempting to exterminate the Jews and only tolerating them, yet provided that they weren't too wealthy or powerful the only way which you will declare that the "Christian Church" isn't racists is that in case you thoroughly forget approximately approximately historic previous only before 1990 or in case you provide the truly large caveat that it has ever so slowly grow to be much less and much less racist over the final 2000+ years.

Answer 3

I wonder if "opinionated" knows that Mexican is not a race...

I think this question should not have anything to do with "christian"... it's a "human" issue...

Why do Christians have to always divide people into little boxes?
(that is an intentionally hypocritical question)

It's much easier when we stop focusing on what labels we've placed on ourselves.

If you don't identify as Christian or Gay - then that whole issue doesn't even exist for you... even though you might fit the bill for either group....

It's tough... I know my "christian" portion of my family was not ready to accept the "gay" portion of my family... but then they realized that some things were more important than scripture.

When you have "undesirables" in your family or neighborhood, you should see it as a chance to be kind to the least among you... because no matter what religion you label yourself, it will be good in God's eyes and your neighbor's.

Answer 4

You get a 100% amen from me. We've adopted a child of a different race as well and run into the same things you describe. I'm ashamed of the racism that exists in Christian people. I combat it by trying to speak up when I hear it and tell people what their racism does to the cause of Christ. My husband preaches against racism from the pulpit, we need more ministers to speak up as well.

Answer 5

I agree with you 100% about racism. It has no place in the Christian community. The Bible doesn't say anything about not marrying anyone outside your own race.
The only reference to not marrying outside one's own TRIBE was the Jews. That was to keep the line pure for the Messiah to be born. This does not pertain to anyone else.
I also agree that we are to spread the love of Jesus, and to show that love.However, when someone repeatedly asks if homosexuality is a sin, I am not going to lie and say it isn't. Jesus died for EVERYONE'S SINS. One sin isn't any different than the other. They are all sins. If someone asks me if lust is a sin, I say "Yes", because that's what the Bible teaches. If someone asks me if murder is a sin, I say "Yes" because that's what the Bible teaches. If someone asks me if stealing is a sin, I say "Yes," because that's what the Bible teaches. The same with homosexuality. Why should we treat it any differently than any other sin? I am not going to tell someone it's ok, if it's not. I would be lying. Gays are wanting special treatment, and wanting to practice their sinful lives, and still be accepted by God. It isn't going to happen. God is not going to accept their sexual immorality. I think the most loving thing to do is to tell them what God's word is, so they will not perish, but have a chance for everlasting life. If I don't tell them, and they don't know any different, I would be the cause of their damnation. I want them to go to heaven, don't you? Or would you rather just not "offend" them?
There is a great difference here between racism and homosexuality. Being married to someone of a different color or race is NOT a sin. Being married to someone of the same sex IS.
Isn't it love to want everyone to go to Heaven? Jesus didn't come to earth and preach "tolerance" He came to tell us right from wrong. Don't you think He loves us? Or do you think He should just let us all live according to our own desires, instead of how He wants us to live, knowing that if we do, we will burn in Hell? I want what Jesus wants. He wants us to be with Him. Amen?


I don't know any Christians who HATE gays. But, I do know many who dislike the sin of homosexuality. I don't know any Christians who are racist. If they "Hate" others, or are racist, they are not Christians.

Answer 6

The Christian Church arguably has misanthropy and dominionism at it's very roots (humans are fallen, wicked, sinful, etc, etc) so how can you combat a fundamental doctrine?

If it isn't blacks it is jews, if it isn't jews it is muslims, if it isn't muslims it is gays, if it isn't gays it is atheists? All these groups have been actively persecuted by Christians. Why do you think this is?

There has been a rise of right-wing religionism in the US. Along with this, like it or not, goes bigotry and intolerance.

Take Ann Coulter, the darling of the New Religious Right...what does she say about colour?

Well, she says this (in reference to Islam):

"When we were fighting communism, OK, they had mass murderers and gulags, but they were white men and they were sane. Now we're up against absolutely insane savages."


PS I applaud your candour and resolve. You are actually combating it. Cockroaches loathe sunlight.

Answer 7

The New Testament is the first document in the history of the world to speak of racial, and sexual equality. However, as you will quickly see on R&S many people approach scripture having already decided what they will find and they twist the words to justify their sinful actions. Now for a few references:

Paul speaking to non-Jews as a Jew
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 2:14 For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, 2:15 when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, 2:16 and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 2:18 so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Col 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

There is much, much more. Simply rest in the fact that in the eyes of God race has no bearing on any discussion. It is an excuse made by hateful people to act hatefully. Look what is listed with racial equality in the Colossians passage.

Answer 8

I adopted a black girl and have a Mexican son and my husband and I are white, Ive been to many churches and never experienced that. Change churches fast.

Answer 9

There was racism in the bible. Moses sister Miriam did not like his wife Sephora because she was darked skinned. Once this was verbalized God made it so that she could no longer speak. Just show them that story to prove how god does not like it.

Answer 10

Racism has no place in the life of a Christian. Hate has no place in the life of a Christian.