I am saddened by what I see our country going through today. We are all tired of hearing “racism”! WE ARE NOT A RACIST COUNTRY. I truly believe most and I mean most Americans are not racist, meaning we hate, bully and intentionally discriminate. However, there are other categories in which one may find themselves. This goes for all people, it matters not which color your skin is or nationality happens to be. You will find yourself in one of the following categories. God has so much to say about how we treat others and we should listen and adjust to Him and love as He loves. Take a look at the following list and pick the one that best represents you. Be honest with yourself. Then take a look at the scripture listed and confess any wrong attitudes and ask for forgiveness if need be. Maybe sit down with your family or some friends and discuss what changes you need to make to move closer to God’s position on all people. Red and Yellow, Black and White they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the people of the world.
Skin color was God’s idea. God loves every size, shape and color of people He has ever made. So every person matters to God. Racial reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. How you and I treat other people matters to God.
2 Chronicles 19:7B
….”the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”
God does not tolerate partiality. Partiality is an old english word that means racism. To be partial means we are for one group of people more than another group of people. To be partial is to be weighted more to one side than you are to another. God says that’s wrong. Everyone is to be treated equally.
So as we see racial tensions increase in our world and in our culture, the one thing we cannot do is be silent on the issue. You may not be a Racist, but you are on this list.
So look at these 7 levels on which people tend to stand. (These are from a list by Rick Warren)
- Racist – hates, bullies, discriminates
- Bigot – believe stereotypes and belittles
- Avoider – uncomfortable around other races
- Insensitive – to what hurts others
- Apathetic – you just don’t care
- Sensitive – kind and inclusive
- Reconciler – active bridge builder
Where you are on that list, better yet ask someone else to pick for you. Because others might tell us that we are not as far up on that list as we think we are. Because they hear and see what comes out of our thoughts, our mouths and our actions. You need to be open to that if you want to be honest.
Now take a look at these verses and ask yourself…Do I love the way God loves? Do I love who God loves? Will God say to me… Well done!
Consider these things:
God has revealed his grace to save the whole human race.
God has never made a person He does not love.
God has never made a person whom He does not want in heaven. God is never made a person that Jesus didn’t die for.
Acts chapter 17:26
“ from one man Adam, God 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.” 1 Corinthians 4:7 “who says you are better than others? And what do you have that was not given to you by God? And if it was given to you, why do you brag as if you did not receive it as a gift?”
1 JOHN 2:11 “ whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he’s going because the darkness has blinded him.”
James 3:17 “ True wisdom from above is pure, peaceful, gentle, friendly, and full of compassion and is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.”
Galatians 5:14–15 “the entire law is summed up in this one command: love your neighbor as yourself! But yes, instead of showing love, you attack and tear each other apart, watch out! You will destroy yourself.!”
Studies have shown that people form an opinion about other people in the first 30 seconds after having met them. Those studies show that we formed those opinions based on the way people look, the color of their skin, the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they act. God says that’s dumb, not only dumb but it is a sin to judge on the basis of appearance.
James 2:9 “if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and God’s law condemns you as a lawbreaker.”
Romans 14:10 “so why do you judge your brother? And why do you think you are better than he is? We will all stand before God one day, and he will judge us all”
James 2:1 “as believers in our Lord Jesus… You must never treat people in different ways because of their outward appearance”
1 Samuel 16:7B “the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
John 7:24 “stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” Proverbs 18:13 “it is foolish and shameful to decide before knowing the facts”
We want God’s righteous purposes to be done, but being angry at another skin color will not accomplish that. We always learn more by listening rather than talking? Anger blocks listening. However when I’m angry I talk more than I listen. So how do we listen when someone is angry? Listen for their hurt, not to their words. when people are angry they say all kinds of words and stuff they will regret, things they will wish they could take back. But somewhere in there if you listen, you will hear what the real hurt is. Remember we are more sympathetic to people who are hurt than we are to people who are angry. If you listen to their hurt, you can look past their anger and hear their heart and be sympathetic to their need.
James 1:19–20 “everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.”
1 Peter 2:17 “show respect for everyone”
John 15:12 Jesus said my command is this: “love each other as I have loved you”
James 2:8-9 “you will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the kingdom, which is love your neighbor as yourself” I Corinthians 12:13 and 27 “some of us are Jews, and some of us are gentiles. Some of us have been slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body through one spirit, and we have all receive the same spirit …now all of you together are Christ body, and each of you is a necessary part of it”.
Galatians 3:26–28 “so now you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. So there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. You are all Christians – one in Christ Jesus”..
Colossians 3:11 “in this new life ones nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.”
1 corinthians 10:16 -17 “ when we drink from the cup that we ask God to bless, isn’t that sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we eat the bread that we break, isn’t that sharing in the body of Christ? By sharing in the same loaf of bread, we become one body, even though there are many of us.”
Romans 10:12 “for there is no difference between a Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him”.
So, what is God’s plan to deal with racism? It’s not through government. Government will never solve this issue. God’s plan to bring people together is through His people. We are to be reconcilers, bridge builders. If the world cannot and does not see us building bridges to other people, other nations, other skin colors, then the church is not doing her job. We are supposed to be the model of love, the model of reconciliation. We are to be about harmony, peace, togetherness and Grace.
Racism, prejudice, and anger are all overcome by the blood of Jesus. So Go Give Em Heaven,
Scott Wilson Exchange-Ministries.com
Check out our podcast:
“Give em Heaven with Scott and Tina”
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