Racism is a sin against God.


Racism denigrates the beauty and majesty of God’s 


diverse creation. As God gives grace in our cultural, 


contextualized expressions, so should we.

Racism has been and unfortunately still is a psychological 

trait or defense mechanism generated by feelings of 

insecurity, unease, inadequacy and anxiety for many who 

are prone to status seeking, materialism, prejudice and 

aggression in human societies. 

Racism is prevalent because it is beneficial for the 

oppressor to increase their own access to resources by

 subjugating, oppressing and depriving other groups of

 resources. This kind of behavior enhances one's sense of 

significance, belonging and/or value. 

Some people purposely try to disarm, for easy control of 

rebellion, even if it means lying, cheating, stealing 

or accusing others of crimes that were never committed. 

This keeps the members of the other groups in a lower

 status position.

Regardless of race, color, creed, gender, language, age, 


culture, disability, political beliefs, educational 


background, or socio-economic differences, experiences, 


or realities... all of humanity are equal in the eyes of God.


If we go back far enough, each one of us has a shared 


ancestor with every other person on earth. Scientists 


estimate that the most recent common ancestor of all 


humans lived just a few thousand years ago. Let that sink 


in for a minute. There was someone, a specific man or 


woman, who probably lived in either Egypt or Babylonia


 during the classical period, to whom we can all trace our 


ancestry.

Racialism is the idea that humanity can be easily divided 


into well-defined categories ("races"). 


Racialism was first developed in the 1700s. It remained 


virtually unchallenged until the 1930s-1960s, when  


genetics showed it to be erroneous. 


Simply put, modern racialism is designed to appear 


scientific, but it is pseudo-science... a sham.

Most people know that racism is wrong. We continue to 


be more alike than different. So, why continue to carry the 


heavy and burdensome baggage of racism, injustice and


prejudice? 


Mistreating and belittling another makes one neither tough 


or impressive. To belittle another... is to be little, 


unproductive, very petty and primitive. 


To self-reflect could open one to the possibility of being 


wrong and righting it.

America's ongoing struggle with 


racism is not so much about black and 


white... it is more about wrong and 


right. Historical injustice and past 


moral wrongs committed are still


impacting the well-being of many


 black people.

The most infuriating thing about


injustice is the absence of the


acknowledgment of wrong.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are all 


interconnected, living the human experience, breathing the 


same air, and eating food grown out of mother earth... and 


no matter how far away we live... every one of us are 


literally sharing her. 



Our deep-seated aversions to different races, tribes, colors,


 genders, languages, cultures, etc., may actually be our 


response to fear that those qualities we see in others... also 


exist in us.



There is One God and Father.



We all share and depend on the same Divine Creator. All 


of creation are a part of God's exquisite and divine plan.


 God gives pure love, life, breath, and spirit to everyone. 


God transcends all as well as emanates in all. 



Every thread of humanity is guided by the unspeakably 


tender hand of God. Everybody's story is important in 


this huge, rich, beautiful, and diverse tapestry of life.


 

Every individual is like a thread and each thread has a 


vital contribution to make. Each thread has possibility. 


Each thread can make a positively good difference.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a bold transformative


vision that would end racism in America. His vision came 


from deep convictions that everyone, regardless of race 


creed or color would realize freedom ringing in and 


through their hearts, minds, nation and world. 


It has been almost 6 decades since 


the 1963 March on Washington; yet, 


many still lack the understanding 


about how to treat one another fairly. 


Equal justice for all is a law and an 


ideal our country has unfortunately


failed to live up to.

Black people are being bombarded 


by continued brutal incidents which  


are painful, appalling, disgusting, and 


heartbreaking reminders that racism, 


hatred, animosity and injustice


 remains a very serious challenge, for 


the land of the free, where on paper, 


there is justice for all. How shameful 


to see America, in



2020,


still deprived of justice and equality for all. These 


antiquated ideals are what our country should be 


embarrassed over.

Research supports the idea that 


many are turning a blind eye and are


refusing to challenge this brutal, 


inhumane status quo which deprives 


black people of justice and equality.


Most would agree, we can no longer


 deny the realities of implicit bias and


systemic racism anywhere in this


world! 



So much has to change. Mistreating 


people of a particular race is 


racism. Using tactics like intimidation


and threats when blacks are seeking to 


exercise their rights is devilish.



Most perpetrators consider themselves


 to be racially superior and others...


inferior. 



How can one say that they love God


 and treat people who were made in


 God's image with such disdain?



God makes it clear, in His Word, that 


no man is superior to another. The


Scriptures do not condone, but 


actually condemns this kind of 


behavior.

Humans fall short when we take the view of the narrow 


minded and give in to stereotyping. 


Black people and white people have profoundly different 


views on race and inequality. Many blacks have 


experienced being treated like they were suspicious or not 


smart and have experienced discrimination at a much 


higher rate than whites. Whites are less likely than blacks 


to perceive unequal treatment. 


Many blacks have experienced unfair treatment with 


police, the criminal justice system, when applying for loan 


and/or mortgage, in stores and restaurants. They know all 


too well what it is like to be discriminated against.


Now is the time to rise above all destructive and violent


 rhetoric. The idea of difference, worldly isms, and class


 privilege are interlocking systems of oppression. They 


appear to be natural; however, they are, in fact, socially


 constructed and are used to rationalize inequality and all


 kinds of isms.

Our deep-seated aversions to different races, tribes, 


colors, genders, languages, cultures, etc., may actually be 


our response to fear that those qualities we see in others... 


also exist in us.

Now is the time 


to rise above all destructive and violent rhetoric. 


The idea of difference, worldly isms, and class privilege 


are interlocking systems of oppression. They appear to be 


natural; however, they are, in fact, socially constructed


 and are used to rationalize inequality and all kinds of 


isms.

An arrogant person is often rude and very fond of 


offending others. They cannot take abuse, but can be


 abusive and very condescending to others.


According to our research, this kind of arrogance is 


sometimes used as a coping mechanism for people who 


are secretly insecure. Their insecurity is disguised as 


confidence, self-worth, or self-importance.


The problem of racism can be found in the Scriptures. 


God chose to work with the nation of Israel, however 


made it a point to tell them that they were not superior to 


anyone else because of this. 


Leviticus 19:34 states “the stranger who dwells among 


you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall 


love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of 


Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

 


"That they may be one"... does not 


imply a group of people who were 


somehow physically morphed together 


creating the existence of a modernistic,


 different, uncontaminated or superior


 physical race. There is no Scripture


 that backs up such a ludicrous claim.



Although we are diverse in many 


ways, we are one in God... with God 


in our being. Those who are joined to 


God become one spirit with God. 


One Voice
Gladys Knight (One Voice)
0:00/1:27

May we unite in the purpose of 


glorifying God's Name.

What is the origin of the different 

races?
In actuality, there is only one race... the human race. 

Within the human race is diversity in skin color and other 

physical characteristics.
Since God obviously desired humanity to be diverse in 

appearance, it makes sense that God would have given 

Adam and Eve the ability to produce children of different 

skin tones.

God created Adam. From Adam, God made Eve. In these 


two people were the genes to produce black, brown, and 


white offspring (and everything else in between).


Within the human race is diversity in skin color. 



God made genetic changes to humanity to better enable 


people to survive in different ecologies, such as the darker


 skin of Africans being better equipped genetically to


 survive the excessive heat in Africa.


 When the different languages came into existence, at the 


tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), groups that spoke one 


language moved away with others of the same language. 


In doing so, the gene pool for a specific group shrank 


dramatically as the group no longer had the entire human 


population to mix with.


As further inbreeding occurred through the generations, 


the gene pool grew smaller and smaller, to the point that 


people of one language family all had the same or similar 


features. 


Closer inbreeding took place, and in time certain 


features were emphasized in these different groups. 


Paul said, 

“God made from one man every nation of mankind” 


(Acts 17:26).

Whatever the explanation, the most important aspect of 

this question is that we are all the same race, all created by 

the same God, all created for the same purpose... to glorify 

Him.

Spirit makes us relevant to anyone, anywhere, anytime.


 The Scriptures affirm the fundamental equality of all 


people before God. God's Word is very clear in telling 


us that no one is insignificant. Every single person is 


important, vital, and valuable to God. 


May we embrace the common thread that weaves the 


complex tapestry of all life together.

It is absolutely absurd and delusional to hold on to the

 idea that there is some supreme race that has the right 

to dominate others. This is a belief or impression that 

is contradicted by reality and/or rational argument. 

The philosophy which holds one race superior and 

another inferior is completely incorrect and unrighteous 

both morally and scientifically. 


“God is no respecter of


persons”


(Acts 10:34).

The gentiles were just as much of God’s plan as those in 


Israel and no group was superior to the other. Nationality,


 lineage and race never determined where the Israelites or 


gentiles stood with God.


According to Scripture, God delights in taking what the 


eyes of the world may see as worthless, meaningless, 


insignificant and unimportant to do the most 


extraordinary things. 

From one person God made all nations 


who live on earth.

The Bible reminds us that there will be "A great 


multitude, which no one could count" in heaven, and that 


these people will be "From every nation and all tribes and 


peoples and tongues."

As far as the Scriptures are concerned, there are many 


nationalities, but there is only one race...


the human race.


We are all one image...originated from the same blueprint! 


God, who created the world and everything in it, made 


every nation of men from 


“One blood."

God designed us: to love, to care, to build up, to share, to 


be gracious, and grateful. This is a great benefit to all 


mankind. To do the opposite is a disservice to all.


Before leaving, Jesus told the apostles to make disciples 


from every nation, reaffirming the value of all people.



Diversity benefits society. It


prevents stagnation and 



allows for richness and 



innovation... which leads to 



economic growth.

 


One of the many advantages of diversity is the 


opportunity to learn from others with different 


backgrounds and perspectives. Without diversity, things 


can become very bland and stagnant.

Racism is a very blatant and pertinent issue in today’s 


society. These issues cannot be healed by denying them or 


saying they don't exist.


Racism is real, and it is a major problem we can no longer 


ignore. To ignore the pink elephant in the room is much 


like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound.


There is a common bond of humanity 


found within each person!


America's ongoing struggle with racism is not so much 


about black and white... it is more about wrong and 


right. Historical injustice and past moral wrongs 


committed are still impacting the well-being of many


 black people.

Race is a social construct derived

 

mainly from perceptions 


conditioned by man's recorded history,

 

and it has no basic biological reality.


Racism is shameless ignorance that continues to affect our 

society. It is a terribly treacherous, appalling, harmful 

and crafty human problem. Racism is broadly recognized 

as an affront to basic human dignity and a violation 

of human rights. 

For one race to arrogantly claim superiority over another 

offends and grieves the heart of God.

Look around, God loves diversity!

God showed Peter that... 


"No race is better than any 


other!"


Let us grasp that profouond 


reality.


For anyone to think, believe or act in 


any way smug and superior to another, 


based on the color of one's skin or 


birthplace... is not only shallow, but  


they commit the sin of racism. 

Jesus embraced others with a radical disregard for 


their race, tribe, creed, color, class, religion, language, 


age, culture, disability, political beliefs, educational


backgrounds, or socioeconomic differences, experiences, 


or realities. 



"Jesus ransomed people for God from every tribe and 


language and people and nation."


Revelations 5:9



Jesus did not allow social status or cultural barriers to 


dictate His relationships with people.



Jesus was criticized for His actions, 



but what prophet ever lived without 



criticism???


Contrary to the belief of some, implicit bias is happening 


on every level. Sometimes these biases can be very 


obvious... and at times... very subtle.


Some people tend to feel that blacks are acquiring too 


much power, and they don't deserve the same rights and


equality and "need to be put back in their place".  


We live in a society still hell bent, centuries later, on


keeping blacks from reaching their fullest potential. It is 


time to move beyond these antiquated isms and transform 


the ways we think about and engage with all of God's 


children. No matter what color we are, no one is more 


worthy or deserving of rights and equality than any other.


James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as 


“judges with evil thoughts.”

Racism is not some distant memory that can be swept

under the carpet and/or denied away. Racism is an 

indisputable fact, in America.

Some people have convinced themselves that it is still not


 acceptable in our society to think of black people as being 


intellectually equal. 


Insecure people have a tendency of trying to make others 


appear to be defective, inadequate or lacking validity. 


When people go out of their way to try to belittle 


another.... the question becomes... whether it's the accused 


or the accuser who lacks. 


To belittle... is to be little. 


Racism is a sin against God. It is 


morally wrong, and it does not 


reflect God when one treats another


poorly... especially based on 


haughty, distorted, misguided 


thinking and ignorant convictions.



There is only one race—the human race. We are all 


different ethnicities of the human race. 


All human beings have the same physical characteristics, 


and we are all human beings who are equally created in 


the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). 


God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay 


down His life for us (John 3:16). 



The “World” clearly includes all 


ethnic groups. 


God makes it clear that no man is 


superior to another. We are one in 


Christ Jesus.


Who is mere mortal man to think that 


he is superior and/or the determiner of 


one's significance?

Man was created by God and there is one race... the 

human race. All are created in the image of God and have 

equal intrinsic worth. To propagate anything different is 

sin and leads to sin. 

To show favoritism over certain people or act indifferent 


towards the plight of others is to show partiality. Partiality 


is a sin.

God made from one man every nation of mankind to live 


on all the face of the earth, having determined their 


appointed times and the boundaries of their 


habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they 


might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far 


from each one of us; for in Him we live and move 


and exist.


Acts 17:26-28

Understanding how we are made in God’s image helps us 

to see the basis for the dignity and purpose of our life and 

work.

If we are to be successful in eradicating racism, we must 


first try to recognize and understand the insidiousness of 


one's own white privilege. Let us examine our 


own biases andwhere they originated. Even while it may 


seem an impossible task, when it comes to racism, anti-


Semitism and other forms of bigotry, it is necessary for 


us to recognize and understand how privilege plays out and


 then, if appropriate and possible, use that privilege to


 collectively empower the oppressed and dismantle 


systemic racism... long shot, but possible.


Denying the truth of our history or developing selective 


amnesia becomes part of the problem. It is harder to 


address historical mistakes if we are unwilling to face 


them honestly. 

None of us ever wants to think of ourselves as 


racist. Denying the truth and/or dismissing the real 


injustices that many face, as a result of race, is a huge part 


of the problem. 



Silence can be a betrayal. Not saying anything or going 


along with unrighteousness... just to get along implies that 


one is okay with the status quo and/or they agree. 



For many white people, talking about race, confronting


 privileges, prejudices, injustices, etc., is uncomfortable


 and they may rush to dismiss the conversation. Some


may harbor illusions about racism that prevent a deeper 


understanding of the problem. For black people, it is


 difficult to ignore the pink elephant in the room. 


There are some things black people and white people 


do not share. If you are white and you have not been 


marginalized, racially profiled, ostracized, wrongly 


incarcerated, denigrated, dismissed, had guns drawn on 


you, beaten, choked, screamed at, disparaged, lied on,


humiliated, for no reason pulled over, pulled out of 


your home/car, thrown down to the ground and 


frisked, been called boy or gal in front of your minor 


children and wife/husband just because of the color of 


your skin... it will be hard for you to truly understand


these hard truths about racial injustices many black 


taxpaying citizens experience just trying to live in the 


United States of America.

.

In talking about the sting of racial inequalities one can 


discover that whites have been privileged and are not 


subjected to unsound, idiotic and insane criminalization, 


based solely on skin color, but these things are realized 


by black people. 


It may behoove white people to get a glimpse of what it is 


like to be black in the context of the harsh realities blacks 


face, i.e., racial profiling, unnecessary harassment, 


dehumanizing and unacceptable verbal abuse, police


 brutality which could lead to unnecessary incarceration, 


which could snowball into the creation of a bad record 


that goes into a database and hangs over one's head, like a 


plague, and labels one as a habitual felony offender. This 


could mean taking one's voting rights and creating


 difficulties for one to obtain employment. In other words,


 this is an insulting, dangerous, damaging and destructive


 form of redesigned slavery! 


Yes, the legacy of slavery lives on in mass incarceration of 


black people. Racial disparities in sentencing and 


incarceration underscores the injustices of the United


 States. 


These are a few of the injustices black people face on a 


regular basis. Yes, it is absolutely necessary to have 


these conversations in an effort to seek justice for all... 


just as it is written! People of color are all too aware that 


our society is racialized...


yes, racism exists. 


Black people live and feel the pain of  


injustice every day.

Some attitudes of extreme aggression and hatred toward 


blacks are usually based on the fears that their own level 


of security, importance, or control is being threatened, 


even when it is not. Some officers have been known 


to come out of a bag of defensive thoughts and behaviors


 when engaging with people of another race. 



Why?

Some whites have no idea what blacks are and have 

experienced in America. It is irresponsible to deny that 

systemic racism exists. 

Many have sought to deny or view racism as irrelevant; 

although, these deeply embedded, inhumane acts and 

conditions still persists in our societies, in


2020.

The first step towards getting a handle on structural 


racism is acknowledging its existence.

Let’s face it, prejudices and systemic racism are built into 


our nation's history and they run deeply. There has been a 


long legacy of dehumanizing hatred that we need to 


acknowledge. 


The act of having the conversation and addressing


 structural racism, analyzing it, discussing it, or just


 pointing out that it exists makes some people 


uncomfortable.


 But discomfort pales in comparison to the 


lingering economic disparities, psychological and 


many other structured ills of racial inequities blacks are


faced with, in some form... on a regular basis.

The fact is, police officers react differently to white 


people who are pulled over as opposed to black people 


they pull over. For those who refuse to acknowledge the 


dehumanizing inequalities… just imagine what you would 


feel like if the situations were reversed. 


When people say black lives matter, it does not mean blue 


lives, white lives, red lives, yellow lives and brown lives 


don’t matter. All lives matter is an accurate statement, but 


this is not a matter of devaluing or comparing lives. When 


black people have encounters with biased people within 


the judicial system and police officers, it becomes very 


apparent to black people that they can't or won't see the 


humanity in black lives. Black lives have been grossly 


undervalued and to try to rationalize the horrible injustices 


is just wrong and mean-spirited. 


How would you feel if the police 


patrolled your community the way 


they patrol the black community?



Imagine this as being your experience 


in the United States of America?



How would you feel if every move 


you, your child, your brother, sister, 


mother, or father made had to be made 


with severe consideration for their life


 being threatened or taken by those


 who are to preserve law and order?



Far too many bad police officers 


routinely hurt and maim black people. 


How would you feel if the police and 


the justice system treated you as they 


treat blacks?



YOU WOULD BE OUTRAGED!



Black lives are at risk. Blacks are twice as likely to be 


hurt, arrested or killed by an officer. It is said that there 


are more black Americans in the United States justice 


system than there were slaves in 1850. 



The "Black Lives Matter" slogan is to raise 


awareness of the violence and discrimination blacks 


regularly face in the United States of America. This is a 


fight against injustice.



Black lives matters denounces systemic racism and police 


brutality, that is excessively used against black people. 


Let us be honest, many whites have unearned advantages 


over blacks, and when it is brought to the light... some 


tend to deflect, dismiss, misunderstand and read into it... a 


whole different meaning. That is cruel and selfish. It 


is time that we all look through a more righteous lens 


and stop deflecting the real issues minorities have to face 


when they interact with bad officers.



The big "aha" is that blacks are racially profiled and are 


more vulnerable to less than transparent judicial 


processes. Blacks are disproportionately targeted and 


subjected to biased and corrupt police bullying.



Let us not miss the point, black people are being murdered 


and brutalized by police who in many cases get a slap on 


the wrist. These are real lives that are being taken. These 


are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, sons 


and daughters. These are livesthat have been ripped 


away from their loved ones either through wrongful 


incarceration or tragic acts of violence. 



Contrary to what some may believe... 


Black people are also a part of God's 


amazing creation!



Whether all humans accept it or not... 


black lives really do matter and should 


not be subjected to blatant injustice,


 treated with contempt and/or regarded



 as subhuman, 



that is the point.

Racism today isn’t the racism that our ancestors or 


even the older generations experienced, but it is still 


very much so a problem... it's just warmed over 


differently.


Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us 

(John 13:34). If God is impartial and loves us with 

impartiality, then we need to love others with that same 

high standard. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 that whatever 

we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we 

treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person 

created in God’s image; we are hurting somebody whom 

God loves and for whom Jesus died.


No race is better or worse than the 


other.

It would behoove us all to recognize, identify, learn from, 

and educate ourselves regarding inequality, basic human 

rights, morality, justice, racism, ignorance, hypocrisy,

prejudice and our shared humanity.  


We cannot stand by and be complicit to... or complacent 


about racism. 


Enough is enough!


May we break the demonic chains of 


injustice and oppression.


All inhumanity, racism, inequalities, injustices, prejudices, 


hypocrisies, biases and psychological slavery are


destructive and must be 


overcome.

It doesn’t take rocket science to sense that the soul of 


America is wounded, and it is in a very unhealthy place.



We are now witnessing the painful wounds of 


COVID-19, systemicracism, natural and man-made 


disasters, injustices, inequalities, divisiveness trickling 


from the top rungs, police brutality, hatred, senseless


 incarcerations, propaganda, endless malicious, cunning, 


cruel, controlling and deceitful lies from people who


 should be honest and trustworthy. These wicked and 


deeply hurtful ills have been and are very damaging 


to the soul of our great country. 



Satan, the antagonist, loves to see others in shambles, 


distracted, uncertain, and at the edge of the cliff. He has 


had a field day performing just about every ugly deed he 


could in order to traumatize our land and perplex our


 souls... thus, leaving America in a very fragile state of 


disorder.



In times of trouble... if our eyes are fixed toward the 


world, we will run in a worldly direction seeking help. 


Trust, comfort and safety does not come through the 


power of the flesh. 



May we, individually and collectively, lift our eyes to the 


hills and remember where our help comes from. Our help 


always comes from God. 



May we allow God's light of compassion, empathy and 


justice to abide. Let us thank God that His promises still 


apply today. 



By the grace of God, we can never fall so far that we 


cannot be revived and restored. If our hearts are blinded 


by racism, God can fix it. When wicked people plot, 


terrorize and try to destroy the lives of other people, based 


solely on the color of one's skin, God can fix it. Where 


there is injustice, immorality, bigotry, and hatred, God can 


fix it. Where there is dishonesty and divisiveness, God can 


fix it and nothing can stop or hinder God's work.



May we trust and find solace in God's Divine Way, Will 


and Timing. There is nothing God cannot do. 

God does not support the authority of 


any ethnic group above another.

Humans fall short when we take a narrow view of 


the world and give in to stereotyping. Now is the time 


to rise above all destructive and violent rhetoric. 


The idea of difference, worldly isms, and class privilege 


are interlocking systems of oppression. They appear to be 


natural; however, they are, in fact, socially constructed


 and are used to rationalize inequality and all kinds of 


isms.

The diversity of race, color, language, and sect helps 


us realize the dignity of each individual. This typically 


means being less self-serving, overcoming ego,


 overcoming self-righteous indignation, elevating our 


consciousness and emulating the characteristics of our 


Creator.


When our attitudes and actions are consistent with the 


teachings of Jesus... we can share, act, and come 


together. We believe everything that is needed to build 


a culture of peace already exists within each one of us. 

God's sovereignty is not limited to a single nation or 


certain people. God's love extends far beyond imaginary 


man-made barriers and worldly designations, i.e., race, 


tribe, creed, color, gender, language, age, culture,


disability, political beliefs, educational background, 


or socio-economic differences, experiences, or realities.


God is the Lord of all the world, 


and God is the Creator of all.


2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us:


“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble 


themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their 


wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will 


forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God does not show partiality 


or favoritism


 (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 


2:11; Ephesians 6:9), 


and neither should we. 


God created us all and God sees each of us 


as precious and valuable. 


May we live God's truth.

God makes everything beautiful in its time."


Ecclesiastes 3:11