One Race

 Biologically, God created one race. The human race started with Adam and Eve. So why don't we all look the same?  Man in the middle to late 19th century began to understand the genetic material known as DNA and have continued to  learn much about how different traits came about. We have learned about dominant and recessive genes. The various combinations of genes can produce a variety of hair color, eye color and skin color. God built into the DNA of Adam and Eve different types of genes to provide the variety of human beings that we see today. 

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:24-27

So where did racism come from?  There is so much depth scientifically in these verses about the times and bounds of habitation. Never the less there is still one race in God's eyes. The Bible says we all descended from one blood. Man has come up with the idea that there may be as many as 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 races. Racism didn't come from God's creation of one blood/one race. Racism has arisen because of the differences in the way men see things based of color of skin. Humans are responsible for racism.

Many years ago, my husband and I were involved in a fellowship in an urban community outside of Chicago. We were running a class on how to understand the Bible. We were the only ones in the room with white skin. I sat next to a wonderful lady who was very quiet at the start of class. During one session, the verses above in Acts 17 were taught and this beautiful woman elbowed me and then threw her arms around me smiling with joy. She got it and she knew I got it! It was something I will never forget. I realized then how powerful the Word of God is when it comes to dispelling racial issues. 

Many groups down through the ages of history have been marginalized and persecuted due to color of skin, religious beliefs, culture, status, wealth, profession and many other unsound excuses for men to divide against each other. There are racists in every culture, black, brown, white and red and yellow.  Jesus Christ was supposed to have dark skin. Does that mean that if a group doesn't have dark skin they have less of a relationship with him because they are white? That is silly. Human nature causes divisions not God.  We are all equal in God's eyes and everyone has the responsibility to believe and act accordingly. Life is pretty simple when it is viewed from God's point of view.

 

Individual Freedom

The Bible says quite clearly the 'the truth will set you free'. What does that mean to us really?

31 Then said Jesus to those Judeans which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:31-36

Jesus was addressing the Hebrews that recognized who he was. He told them they had to continue to soak up the word he spoke. He told them to stay at it.

Worldly wisdom offers "Yes, buts"  to the truth. The Hebrews asked a question that sounded like a "Yes but".  Jesus answered their question with the reason he was there. Abraham wasn't going to carry them, he was/is dead, but Jesus Christ was there now and after his death he was raised and is alive forever. God's word should not go in one ear and out the other. We need to think about enduring truth and find out what we can about how to apply it.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-17

Also in Matthew 13, Jesus speaks the great parable about the sower that sows seed. It a great record why some get it and some don't; why some hearts wax gross, have ears that are dull to hearing, and have shut their eyes.  The fowls represent the adversarial worldly wisdom that competes with the truth for our minds and tries to steal it away.. The seeds are the truth.

Birds on alert for food

There are some people who get excited hearing the truth but they fail to keep it and when something negative arises they just give way to the negative. Another thing that really chokes the truth is the 'deceitfulness of riches' when people get lulled into a self-sufficient sleep and are too busy for truth. There is nothing wrong with having money, but the love of it is a trap.

God does not offer traps! He wants us free and he wants us to see those things ahead of time that take us down a thorny path. He sent his son to help us live life to the fullest. Gloom, hurt, guilt, depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, fear are nasty weeds that need to be pulled. When we truly understand the reason for Jesus Christ we will be unequivocally free INDEED! (Matthew 13 is a great read in its entirety)