Since Memorial Day and the death of George Floyd, the people of the US continue to consider and discuss race relations. This is true in families, churches, media, and among friends. For all of us, this is a good thing. The Bible condemns racism as partiality (James 2:1-13) and describes the wise person as one who is not partial (James 3:13-18). Jesus demonstrated an incredible love for people regardless of who they are – even the Samaritans (Luke 10:25-37; John 4:4-26; cf., John 8:1-11). Paul confronted it even among the apostles (Gal 2:11-13). Racism in any form is against the very nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These important questions keep coming up, “How do we get past racism? Where do we go from here? What is the best solution?”
If one wants to discuss the larger issue of historical racism, there is certainly much to be said and considered. However, as a Christian who is part of the body of Christ, the Bible gives us a much better way to view people and consider race. As saved individuals in Christ, we are different and therefore must view people differently. The simple categories of black and white do not suffice the current realities of the redeemed in Christ.
The Bible provides for us a way forward. As Christians, it is clear that we are not to just simply think in terms of Black and White or any color. Instead, the Bible provides us a third category to consider: in-Christ ones/the body of Christ/the redeemed.
How do we view people?
Three key passages help us view people God’s way.
Ephesians 2:11-22
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. (Ephesians 2:14-16)
The larger paragraph describes the past relationship between the Jews and the Greeks and how it had since changed. In this paragraph, notice the term Paul uses to describe Christians. When one becomes a follower of Christ and part of the family of God, the individual in Christ is now part of one new man or a new humanity.
This is a new third category and eliminates for the Christian the other two primary ways of viewing people. He goes on to describe this new third race as fellow citizens, part of the household of God, fellow heirs, and in whom the Spirit of God dwells.
Get this: as Christians, we think in terms of one race not various races. We view others as equals in the image of God. The pigment of our skin as in-Christ people does not differentiate us any more than the color of our hair or our eyes. We are part of a new race which does not see the distinction of the previous two.
Colossians 3:5-17
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian [or] Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:10-11)
Once again, the Apostle Paul describes what takes place at salvation. As one gets saved, the former way of viewing individuals change. As an unsaved person, part of the unregenerate, sinful heart often uses race as a dividing rod between people. However, in Jesus Christ this again all changes. Notice how he describes it. There is neither Greek nor Jew but Christ is all and in all.
The new category is those in Christ. All the former ways of describing or dividing people are alleviated in Christ. We are one people. One race. One new humanity.
2 Corinthians 5:12-21
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,… (2 Cor 5:16-18a)
In this text, the Apostle Paul also exhorts us on how we view people. He explains that we no longer view people according to the flesh. We no longer look at those things associated with our flesh. For us today, these things would include skin color, tattoos, hair color, piercings, and any other outer distinction. Instead, we view people for what is inside. Any other individual in Christ is a new creation. He has reconciled us all to Himself through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the flesh no longer becomes a category through which we view each other. The third race or new humanity can be called many things such as the saved, in-Christ ones, the body of Christ, the redeemed, etc. However, it cannot be called white, black, or any other outer-man related distinction.
These are just three of many passages that teach this principle. We are one in Christ (Eph 4:1-6) united together as one people. Jesus describes this unity as a distinctive way to view followers of Him.
How do we see people?
The question remains, how do we see those in the church and those in the world around us? If we view those in the church under a new race of in-Christ ones, how do we see the differences of background, experience, and color?
These are great questions as well.
As individuals who are unified in Christ, we talk, listen, observe, and respond to each other through conversation. We serve each other in Christ. We seek to share our perspective. As we do these things, we celebrate our diversity. We worship God as the Sovereign Creator in our individual stories. We embrace Christ’s work in us as our Savior. It is not enough to be in the body of Christ, we must be the body of Christ together.
This new humanity – third race of in-Christ people – must live and function together in the unity of Christ. We do not look on outer things, we look to the heart. Instead of thinking of ourselves as different kinds of people, we see ourselves as the same in Christ. Different backgrounds, experience, and perspectives make us uniquely us. But these things make the body of Christ special, make individuals in the body of Christ unique, and emphasizes the beauty of the body of Christ. These things do not divide us.
When we see someone hurting, we help. As we hear someone’s story, we enter into it as an ambassador of Christ. We speak, live, and function as Christ.
Just as in any family, people are different as individuals, but we are still family. This is also true in the body of Christ who is also the family of God. We are in the same household. The differences are alleviated and eliminated in Christ.
What is true in Christ then changes everything else.
As we understand this, it changes the way we see all those who have yet to become part of the family of God in Christ. All other humanity is in the image of God and have the opportunity of accepting Christ and entering into the family of God. As such, we would see them no differently. Although they are not yet in the family, we would respect them, love them, and desire God’s best for them as candidates for such.
We as the family of God become light to the world around us. Internally, the way we both view and see people totally changes. We become examples of a true humanity where we are not limited by race and what divides us. Instead, we see the true image of God in man and our commonalities as mankind.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
Good job. So much in the Scriptures to help us in this.