Christian and Racist: those two words should never appear juxtaposed in a sentence without some form of the word not being involved. For the Biblical Christian racism is an evil to be expunged from the face of the Earth and those who would simultaneously espouse racist views and Christianity clearly don't understand the latter. Unfortunately, Christianity has always had those proponents who ignore or twist its teachings to promote hate. These jokers in Charlottesville, at least any who would claim Christianity, are a perfect example. Far from being consistent Christians, they are fanatics whose religion pays homage to their political and anthropological ideology instead of informing it.
The Gospel has no room for racism. The New Testament is full of language that reflects the universality of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, partly because of the insular views of the Jewish people. The Jews, through years of persecution and exile, had developed something of a superiority complex. They viewed mankind as divided between Jews (good) and Gentiles (bad). While God had set them apart as a people group and called them to reflect that separation in their society, He never instructed them to view other nations or races as inherently sinful. In contrast to the prevailing Jewish (and Roman) view of the first century, the New Testament authors describe the Church of Jesus Christ as going beyond those kinds of boundaries. John 3:16 tells us that God sent His Son because He loved the world. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that there is only one mediator between God and man. In John 10:16 Jesus says that He has sheep that were not of that fold (Israel) that He would gather.
One passage particularly speaks to this issue. In Galatians 3:28 Paul makes it clear that "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Simply put, the Gospel transcends all earthly distinctions. When it comes to salvation, things like race, class, and gender are all insignificant. Neither whites nor blacks have more or less access to the throne of God. Rich people have the same access to God's grace as their less affluent counterparts. The female gender can approach God as surely as males can. All these distinctions that we humans emphasize disappear before the throne of God. Note particularly the final phrase of this verse. Paul tells these Gentiles, so long despised by the Jews, that all of Christ's people are one in Christ Jesus. We are one not simply because we share a Creator, but because we share a Savior. So we as Christians should view people in two categories, much like the Jews did, only our categories should be evangelically-informed. Mankind can be divided into two groups: those who are saved and those who need to be saved. We are called to love both groups, but in different ways. The former we are to love with the affection of brethren, while the second group need our love in the form of evangelism.
So regardless of what these White Supremacists may claim, they are not Christians (at least they are not behaving like Christians). The Christ of the Bible taught no such Christianity. Jesus had no place for such petty distinctions. I pray that these people will discover the true Gospel and the unity that it produces.
The Gospel has no room for racism. The New Testament is full of language that reflects the universality of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, partly because of the insular views of the Jewish people. The Jews, through years of persecution and exile, had developed something of a superiority complex. They viewed mankind as divided between Jews (good) and Gentiles (bad). While God had set them apart as a people group and called them to reflect that separation in their society, He never instructed them to view other nations or races as inherently sinful. In contrast to the prevailing Jewish (and Roman) view of the first century, the New Testament authors describe the Church of Jesus Christ as going beyond those kinds of boundaries. John 3:16 tells us that God sent His Son because He loved the world. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that there is only one mediator between God and man. In John 10:16 Jesus says that He has sheep that were not of that fold (Israel) that He would gather.
One passage particularly speaks to this issue. In Galatians 3:28 Paul makes it clear that "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Simply put, the Gospel transcends all earthly distinctions. When it comes to salvation, things like race, class, and gender are all insignificant. Neither whites nor blacks have more or less access to the throne of God. Rich people have the same access to God's grace as their less affluent counterparts. The female gender can approach God as surely as males can. All these distinctions that we humans emphasize disappear before the throne of God. Note particularly the final phrase of this verse. Paul tells these Gentiles, so long despised by the Jews, that all of Christ's people are one in Christ Jesus. We are one not simply because we share a Creator, but because we share a Savior. So we as Christians should view people in two categories, much like the Jews did, only our categories should be evangelically-informed. Mankind can be divided into two groups: those who are saved and those who need to be saved. We are called to love both groups, but in different ways. The former we are to love with the affection of brethren, while the second group need our love in the form of evangelism.
So regardless of what these White Supremacists may claim, they are not Christians (at least they are not behaving like Christians). The Christ of the Bible taught no such Christianity. Jesus had no place for such petty distinctions. I pray that these people will discover the true Gospel and the unity that it produces.
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