Different Colors, One Bible: What Does the Bible Say About Racism?

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    What does the Bible say about racism?

    For centuries, verses in the Bible have been used to promote racist ideologies. But does the Bible condone racism, or have people been twisting its words?

    Here we’ll take a look at what the Bible really says.

    Prejudice in the Bible

    There’s no doubt that interracial tension and slavery are present throughout the Bible. Abraham, the “Father of Many”, owned slaves. We see Moses cut down an Egyptian in cold blood.

    These people were revered and protected by God. So, does that mean the Bible supports racism and prejudice?

    Deuteronomy 7

    In Deuteronomy chapter 7, the Israelites are being told about the new land they are “entering to possess.” In this land are “many nations” who they are forbidden from intermingling with. If they disobey, “the Lord’s anger will burn against” them.

    This example stems less from race and more from differences in religious belief. However, it can still perpetuate prejudiced thought. The passage goes on to say that the Lord “has chosen [Israel] out of all the peoples… to be His chosen people.”

    Exodus 7

    In Exodus chapter 7, God brings down multiple hardships on the people of Egypt, particularly the Pharaoh. He does this so that the Israelites will be released from the hard slavery they have been subjected to in Egypt.

    However, God also serves to “harden Pharaoh’s heart.” So, despite the plagues that befall him, Pharaoh will not let the Israelites go.

    This is a challenging passage. It shows God using his power in the good interest of one people group at the expense of another.

    Slavery

    Slavery is present throughout the Bible. As mentioned before, Abraham had slaves. He even slept with one of his slaves to try and fulfill a promise made by God.

    The Israelites had servants, too. Even in Jesus’s time, owning slaves or having servants was commonplace.

    These passages, among many others, have been referenced in support of prejudiced behavior. Prejudiced individuals latch onto specific verses as a means of justifying their beliefs. But are they right or wrong?

    The Root of Racism

    Racism stems from a belief that one’s race is superior to another’s. This kind of thinking can be rooted in a few different things.

    Pride

    Inherent in pride is a lack of humility. When someone is in the grip of pride, they are unwilling to put themselves beneath anyone else.

    When a group of individuals comes together under this belief, that’s when racist thought and behavior can snowball into violence. Pride can ignite like a fire, especially when groups are acting under mob mentality.

    Prideful people often lack the ability to be humble and lean on others for support. So perhaps of the roots of pride is fear—a fear that one must take care of oneself at all costs.

    Fear

    Fear may be another root of racism. Fear of an unknown “other” may cause people to feel like they must protect their own.

    Skewed news reports can paint certain people groups in a negative light. This then perpetuates fear among members of other groups.

    Fear can cause people to withdraw, attack, and dismiss. People can develop fears about certain people who are different than them. They become afraid to interact with those people.

    Eventually, their fear can bloom into prejudice.

    Fear, when mixed with pride, can also lead to racism. Members of one group may be proud of their status as a majority, or perhaps as people with certain long-held traditions. They may end up fearing that, by letting in members of another group, they could lose their status or traditions.

    These fears are usually manifested out of a rational place. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto traditions (as long as they’re healthy) or wanting to maintain a hard-earned status. But those desires can be held at the expense of someone else’s well-being or inclusion, and that’s when problems start to arise.

    Anger

    Another potential root of racism and prejudice is anger. When anger morphs into hatred for a particular group, racism and violence can surge. Often at the root of anger is shame, grief, fear, or self-loathing.

    When the true reason behind anger is not expressed or understood, it can be projected onto others. Instead of someone realizing that they’re angry at themselves, they may project that anger and assume they’re upset with someone else. It’s not an uncommon problem, and can easily balloon into prejudice.

    What Does the Bible Say About Racism?

    You can read more here if you’d like to learn about the themes in the Bible. When you read it in full, the most common theme that comes across is not prejudice, but love.

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