To Be Color-Blind

 

1. Introduction: (Today there is much strife and confusion about racism, bigotry, prejudice, etc. We hear it so often we are almost sick of it. Follows is a biblical discussion of prejudice and what our proper attitude should be.)

2. What Bigotry Is:

A. Race Hatred: Genesis 43:32 (Malice or partiality toward others because of their national ancestry, skin color, physical characteristics, benign cultural preferences, etc. The Egyptians were guilty of this in their attitude toward the Israelites.)

B. Gender Prejudice: Colossians 3:19 (Malice or partiality toward others because of their gender. For example, it is easy to develop this attitude in the context of marital difficulty.)

C. Social Prejudice: James 2:1-4 (Malice or partiality toward others because of their financial or social standing. Like many today, some in the early church were guilty of this)

D. Malice: John 1:46 (Any kind of malice toward others because of benign differences with ourselves. Malice is always wrong. Evidently, Jews in southern Judaea of the first century felt this way toward Jews of Galilee and Nazareth.)

E. Religious Hatred: Matthew 10:21-22 (Malice toward others because of their religion, especially for being Christians. Christ said there would be those, even of our own families, that will hate us because we stand with him.)

3. What Bigotry Is Not:

A. Moral Standards: (Non-malicious opposition of certain lifestyles because they are immoral and sinful, for example, "homophobia".)

B. Common Cultural Traits: Titus 1:12 (Non-malicious recognition and identification of common cultural traits. Paul quotes with approval the Cretian poet Epimenides in a cultural generalization of Cretians. He applied it in particular to certain false prophets who troubled the church. Stereotypes are dangerous because we are individuals, most don't fit.) Judges 12:6 (Jephthah used language accent to identify rebel Ephraimites. This didn't make him a bigot, just smart.)

C. Religious Standards: I Kings 11:1-2 (Non-malicious opposition of certain religious beliefs because they contradict God's word. God forbade Israel to marry pagans because pagan spouses would lead Israel into idolatry. Note, this was not a prohibition of cross racial marriages, but marrying pagans.) John 4:22 (Jesus ignored his "racial" difference with this woman but openly opposed the religious error of her nation.)

4. What Is Right:

A. Fundamental (But Not Absolute) Equality: Galatians 3:28 (The Bible teaches that in Christ we, different "races" and genders etc., are fundamentally equal. Biblical equality doesn't mean we are equal in every respect. When you think of it, the concept of absolute equality is absurd. We are individuals, and we perform as individuals, not components in some great racial competition. I went to college with a Vietnamese boy, one of the boat people. He was very disciplined and excelled, especially in math. We weren't absolute equals. All are not absolute equals. We should all be afforded the treatment consistent with human dignity, but to try and make us totally equal is wrong. On genders, consider that men tend to be stronger than women. Women tend to be better at nurturing than men. Multiple tests prove that women tend to excel at detailed and meticulous tasks, whereas men tend to excel at broader tasks that assimilate greater volumes of data. Men and women aren't absolute equals. These statements aren't bigoted, they're facts.)

B. Impartiality Toward Different Classes: Proverbs 22:2 (God is creator of the poor man and the rich man. He judges fairly, without partiality, so we should learn to be impartial.)

C. Belief In Creation: Genesis 3:20, Acts 17:26 (Belief in creation demands we recognize there is only one race, the human race.)

D. Diversity Is In God's Plan: Genesis 11:7-9 (Diversity of nations is part of God's plan. Therefore, we should not sign on to the idea that benign divergence means inferiority or superiority. Man being homogenous makes us something God didn't want us to be.)

5. What To Do: (We can't change the world, but we can change us.)

A. Realize Reality: (Realize that racism is a fact of life. There will always be people who play favorites based on race.) Acts 11:3 (Some early disciples were guilty of thIsaiah ) Deuteronomy 28:37 (God said Israel would be victims of this)

B. Revisit Peter: Acts 10:9-16, 28-29 (Swallow your pride and realize God showed Peter that bigotry is wrong. If Peter hadn't got this message the gospel would never have spread into the Gentile world, and you and I wouldn't be Christians!)

C. Learn To Be Fair: Leviticus 19:15 (This principle of Moses' law is ageless. We must practice fairness and try hard to be absolutely impartial.)

D. Cross Racial Boundaries: John 4:6-9 (Christ did a "taboo" thing when he spoke with the Samaritan woman. He crossed the racial chasm and sought her soul. We should do the same.)

E. Confront Guilty Disciples: Galatians 2:11-14 (Paul confronted Peter when he participated in segregation. We should correct each other when bigotry arises in our hearts.)

F. Avoid Offensive Terms: Ephesians 4:29 (You shouldn't use terms that tear people down. Instead, try to encourage them. For example, "nigger", "wet back", "gringo", "honky", "soshies" or "greasers" (in Tulsa), "trailer park trash", "old lady", "male chauvinist pig", etc.)

G. Treat Opposite Gender With Respect: Ephesians 5:33 (The Bible teaches women to treat their husbands with respect.) I Peter 3:7 (In similar fashion, men are to honor their wives.) I Timothy 5:1-2 (The Bible teaches we all should treat one another with kindness and respect.)

H. Get That Chip Off Your Shoulder: I Peter 2:23 (We shouldn't have the prideful attitude of avenging every disparity in this world. We should commit injustices to God and not have a chip on our shoulder. Consider these examples.)

1. Political Correctness: (This hypersensitive attitude indulges pride. For example, the school that trained reporters they couldn't use the term "watermelon". Such hypersensitivity fosters bitterness.)

2. Black Supremacy: (This reactionary philosophy doesn't change white supremacists. It is no less ludicrous or criminal than Hitler.)

3. Racial Pride: (Self exaltation in response to racial slurs changes nothing for the good. Think about man who was ridiculed as a child. He felt being Hispanic made him inferior. As an adult he grew out of that, but went too far. He said, "the best thing about me is I'm Hispanic". Blacks fought suppression by saying, "black is beautiful". What if I said, "the best thing about me is I'm white", or "white is beautiful"? It would be wrong! There is no inherent virtue in national heritage. The best thing about us should be that we are disciples of Christ.)

4. Reverse Discrimination: (Racism is racism, no matter who is the perpetrator and who is the victim. It is wrong to favor one over another because of their skin color, whether it is ungodly laws that refused service to someone because their skin was too dark, or the ungodly Affirmative Action laws that refuse jobs or promotions to someone because their skin isn't dark enough.)

6. Conclusion: (Our ultimate goal should be to be totally colorblind. You should strive to be totally fair with people. A friend shouldn't be your "white friend" or your "black friend", etc. You should just see people as people.)