Two Classes

It’s a sad reality that we have been and continue to be indoctrinated to think of humanity only in terms of skin color. Some would prefer I use the term “race” instead of skin color but it’s time to get rid of that word and the way we currently use it. The Scriptures teach us to view people in two categories: those who belong to the kingdom of Christ and those who belong to the kingdom of Satan (Genesis 3:15). A father who raises his children to divide humanity along different lines has rejected the teaching of Scripture.

It’s a challenge to raise children with this biblical view of humanity. Many of our primary cultural institutions worship at the new altar of “race.” And, they want us to do the same. Educators, politicians, corporations, and media seem to desire that we view “race” as the ultimate definition of a man – indeed, that we learn to hate each other for it. “A man is his race,” they might say.

Not only that, they want us to believe certain stereotypes about these “races.” Take for instance a recent search I did on the media website, http://www.npr.org. I searched for two, simple terms: “white man” and “black man.” The search results for each term were vastly different. Every result for the term “white man” was linked to an article about killing someone of the opposite “race.” The results for “black man” were linked to articles about philanthropy or victimhood and oppression. Are they simply reporting the news? Or, are they trying to get you to buy into a narrative?

Don’t let me lose you here. I’m not saying the events they reported weren’t true. They were. But doesn’t it make you just a little bit curious as to why those terms were only linked to those articles? Why didn’t NPR write any stories about a “white man” doing something philanthropic? Or, why didn’t they write any stories about a “black man” committing a crime? Curious, isn’t it? Just a little?

How many interactions do you think there are between black men and white men every day? Millions? Billions? Some of those interactions are evil, on one side or the other. Skin color doesn’t determine your capacity for evil. Some of those interactions are good, encouraging, and neighborly. How should we decide which of those interactions define “race-relations” in the United States?

We could take all of the good interactions and put those in the news. Then, we might be tempted to say, “Hey! Look! Everything is fine! The Garden of Eden has returned on earth.” But, that would be a lie. It is equally a lie to take only the evil interactions, put those in the news, and try to convince humanity that all race relations are evil!

Here are some take-aways. First, don’t develop your view of humanity from what you watch on TV or read in the newspaper. This is a strong temptation, but you have to resist it! Read the stories. Watch the news. But do not fail to compare what you read to what Christ teaches you in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6). Second, do not fail to teach your children and grandchildren that there are only two classes of men – those who walk with Christ and those who don’t (Ephesians 5:6-14). Third, do not fail to teach your children and grandchildren that those who belong to the kingdom of Christ should look with pity upon those who do not (Matthew 5:43-48). You belong to the kingdom by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Romans 4:1-8). By that I mean you don’t deserve it any more than anyone else (1 Timothy 1:15). Fourth, remind your children and grandchildren that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to human hatred (Ephesians 1:14-16).

As a final note, let me answer those who might say, “Why is he hitting this issue repeatedly?” To answer simply, we have to go where the battle for the truth is.