Racism and the Bible

The bible is clear that it is wrong for a person to treat another race as inferior.

“So God made humankind in the image of God”

Genesis 1:27

God made all people in his image, so no-one should be discriminated against.

“Do not mistreat foreigners living in your land. The foreigner must be treated as one of your own. Love him as you love yourself, because you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”

Leviticus 19:33-34

“Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or a foreigner living in one of your towns.”

Deuteronomy 24:14-15

The Jews were God’s chosen people, yet the Old Testament makes clear that they must not take advantage of foreigners. Christians today might be concerned about attitudes towards immigration and ethnic minorities.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

St Paul in Galatians 3:28

St Paul tells the early churches that all prejudice is wrong because Christ has drawn all people together. The Church should see Christ in everyone, and concentrate on unity, not diversity.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan -Luke 10:25-37. The hero of the story was a Samaritan, a race hated by Jews. Jesus says that love (agape) should not be restricted to people who share your nationality, but should be shown to everyone.

“My brother, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favouritism………..if you keep the royal law, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

James 2:1-9

St James says that Christians must treat all people equally. To show favouritism to one group is wrong.