Can I get some biblical scriptures and principals to combat racism?

Question

Basically I'm going to be around some family members who have some racist viewpoints but also claim to be Christians. I would like some specific biblical scriptures and principals to show them this is not what Jesus was about.

Also, I would love to have some rebuttals to some common arguements that Christian people use to justify racism.

You can check out my prior post for more info:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Atgsx9.ZA7swQgLzIcn52dDsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071112134357AAcrLcy

Thanks!

Answer 1

Do you remember Jesus was asked once, "Who is my neighbor?" and Jesus replied by telling the story of the good Samaritan?

Did you know that in Jewish culture Samaritans were a hated race?

Saying "Good Samaritan" in Jesus day and location was like saying in Mississippi in the 1930's a story about the Good N i g g e r. I deplore that N word, but that's exactly how Jews felt about Samaritans.

John 3:16 and Gal 3:28 tell us God's view on various races.

As well as Jesus story about the Good N i g g e r.

Pastor Art

PS: Let me repeat again, I deplore that N word, and I spelled like I did to get past the Yahoo sensors. However you need to understand that to the Jews, that's what a Samaritan was.

Answer 2

The Bible can be interpreted in many different ways to justify all sorts of things. However, the good news is that the Scripture can take a strong and definitive stand against racism. The next time your family members try to use the Bible to justify their racist beliefs, remind them of:

*the exhortation of the Old Testament prophets to love the Edomites and the Egyptians as neighbors [Book of Deuteronomy]

* Jesus's injunction to "love thy neighbor as well as thyself" [Matthews 22:36--40], which he later states is the second greatest law of the Christian religion (the first is of course to love God above all others)

*the parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25] which taught that Christians should consider all people their neighbors

*the adventures and teachings of Paul, the first father of the Christian Church, who prayed with the Ethiopians [Acts 8:29-35], the Greeks, the eunuchs, the gentiles, and the Europeans

and never forget:

*"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." [Galatians 3:28]

For a Christian to read the books of the Bible and come away with the idea of racial superiority is perverse to the extreme.

Answer 3

Don't suggest that Christianity and Racism belong in the same category. A racist Christian is like an oxy moron. The greatest commandment in the Bible is love. If someone is evil hearted against you because of your skin color than that is not love, however I would like to say that you are being quite judge mental of your family members. So before you start pointing the finger at them, you should try to look into yourself. When ever you point the finger at someone there are always three fingers pointing back at you. If they are truly racist then just stay away from them altogether, whether family or not. People will always let you down, but Jesus will not. Seek prayer over the situation.

Answer 4

John 3:16

Answer 5

This is a good question.

Through out the times, folks have used the Bible (or their revel ant book) to justify this notion of slavery, servitude, oppression and even calling others inferior, granted in these cases the Scriptures were taken out of context.

It is also true that when folks show signs of racism they really do not like themselves, and to feel better they in turn put other people down.

This is the root, and you can simply remind them that God loves them, made them in His image.

Also history has been so fouled up, once folks really look into history, they see the many falsehoods, used to suppress people and deny them their heritage... it is to much to cover here, the first people were people of color, from them all peoples were created.. proved by genetic testing... its so much, and it is so much miss information that has been passed down....

This is why it is far better and easier to let those that have racist views, to look inward.

You may wish to study the history of the Bible and that of the Catholic Church, The Trail of Tears, and any history of those which your/other family members put down.

Answer 6

GOD “made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth.” (Acts 17:26) That is the Bible’s simple statement regarding the origin of the human family.
What it implies is that all mankind, no matter where they live or what physical characteristics they possess, came from one common stock. It also means that in spite of all observable differences, “every nation of men” has the same potential as far as abilities and intelligence are concerned. Yes, in God’s sight, humans of every race or nationality are equal.—Acts 10:34, 35.
If the Bible view is correct, there is hope that all the prejudices and injustices based on racial differences can be eliminated. Furthermore, if the Bible is accurate regarding the origin of the human family, then logically that same book can also provide us with information revealing how the human race can live together in peace.

Why the Problem
The fundamental reason racism exists is the bad start that the first human parents gave their offspring. Adam and Eve willfully rebelled against God and thus became imperfect, defective. As a result, Adam’s imperfection—this tendency toward badness—was passed to his descendants. (Romans 5:12) So from birth on, all humans are prone to selfishness and pride, which has led to racial strife and turmoil.

Jesus Christ revealed how racial prejudice could be eliminated when he commanded his followers to “love one another” just as he loved them. (John 13:34, 35) This love was not to be just for members of a particular race or races. Not at all! “Have love for the whole association of brothers,” one of his disciples encouraged.—1 Peter 2:17.
How is this Christian love shown? The Bible explains when it urges: “In showing honor to one another take the lead.” (Romans 12:10) Think what it means when this is done! Each one treats others, regardless of race or nationality, with real dignity and respect, not looking down on them, but actually ‘viewing them as superior.’ (Philippians 2:3) When such a spirit of genuine Christian love exists, the problem of racial prejudice is solved.

Answer 7

In Genesis it says God created man (meaning human kind) in his image and likeness, male and female he created them. In the gospels, Jesus said Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus also said let he who has no sin cast the first stone when they were about to stone Mary Magdelin. another quote says judge not yet ye be judged.

As far as some rebuttals go, just speak of Jesus' life. He had tax payers and prostitutes as followers. If you think about it, Jesus probably was very dark skinned himself as he was born in the middle east. If you look at the life of Jesus, he accepted everybody. Did you ever hear Jesus calling a tax payer names? have you ever seen Jesus stone someone for making a mistake? Have you ever heard of Jesus making any negative comment about a person? NO!! of course not. He was the one being persecuted because of the way he lived. He was the one who died on a cross. He forgave. Good luck.

Answer 8

Well, you could start by reminding your relatives that Jesus himself was not a Christian. He was Jewish; he was born a Jew, he lived as a practising Jew, and he never renounced his faith. He died a Jew when the Romans crucified him.

Hopefully this might help them stop making racist comments, when they realise that Jesus himself was a member of an ethnic minority.

I think it's great that you're trying to combat racism in this way. It means you're a 'mensch' (yiddish term meaning literally 'a person', a compliment given by Jewish people to someone who is behaving ethically and kindly) :)

Answer 9

Yes.
Jesus teaches that the first commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, body, soul and strength.
The second is to love thy neighbor as thyself. Not just the same color people living next door. This means all people and to love your enemies.
If God be for me who can be against me.
Read the New Testament.
Many answers there.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.

blessings to you and your relatives.

Answer 10

just google it my friend. or do you just enjoy talking to us :)

those racist Christians are not Christian, God said to LOVE your brother, our brothers is every person in the world.

if your racist in your old nature then that will disappear when your regenerated through the holy spirit. if not then you dont have the holy spirit. its such a shame to see this, and DO NOT accept homosexuality and all the other sins that liberals will try and force us to accept. stay strong and fight the good fight.

if you read old testament you will also see that there was a multicultural society, cant remember who now, but one of the prophets had a wife from Ethiopia.