All Lives Matter
by John McGlone 08/17/17
Racism works both ways for and against all manner of colored people groups. I am 7/8ths Irish and 1/8th Cherokee. I am labeled as white though my skin is darker than many ‘black’ people. Both of my ancestor groups have experienced slavery, hardships, famine, pestilence, etc. Yet, I am supposed to feel guilty because of ‘white’ privilege because I have blue eyes, light brown/grey hair and appear to be ‘white’? I know Hispanic and white people who are pretending to be black in skin, thinking, and culture. I am happily married to a Filipina who is very beautiful and golden in color. Many ask her if she is Mexican and look down upon her and our children because of the scourge of racism within. Most of our children are adopted, they are a mix of; Irish, Filipino, Mexican, Portuguese, and some other races I believe.
So, for Christians how do we deal with these important and sensitive issues of acceptance or rejections by others in or outside the body of Christ? Well, we should do it from the Bible. Here is my favorite anti racist passage in God’s Word.
Act 17:26-31 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: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
But, then how do we forgive the way our ancestors were treated? Also, how do we get forgiveness for the way our ancestors treated others? Well, another appeal to the Bible is surely the only answer.
Eze 18:18-21 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. 19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
So, our grandfathers or beyond who may have done heinous things to each other, bear no guilt upon us. Past sins as horrible as they may be must not be applied to our current generation of people. I am not saying we should forget what happened but to learn from it and not blame those of current generation because they are white, or black or red or any other color. This must be taught by every dad in every family in our nation or we will destroy each other. How is destroying our historical monuments and records a way of fixing the problems we face as a people, nation, and culture?
Don’t you know God loves to create using color? Look at the sunsets, or the different birds or flowers or any multitude of creatures in God’s handiwork and try and say God prefers one color over another. Have you oxymoronic ‘Christian’ racists lost your minds?
Why do so many churches polarize into color and cultural groups? Because, that’s what they are comfortable with, and I suppose it is an insipid form of racism. The kind that isn’t really seen with burning crosses, white KKK hoods, and lynchings. This kind of racism that is down low in the conscious of our people and culture. I remember when I was four or five and our mother had kidnapped us from the home we were placed in. We were on the run, and our mother in a distraught condition not knowing what to do to get some water and go to the bathroom for her three little white children pulled into a run down trailer park. I had only seen a black man once before, but this whole neighborhood was full of colored folks. Dusty roads, but neatly kept homes, about dusk our car rumbled into the park. My mom stopped and spoke to a young black woman with some children on her porch. The lady got some nice cold water for all of us from her cooler. I have never forgotten that act of kindness for a bunch of poor ‘white’ children from that woman. Why can’t we just see the value of humans beyond the % of melanin in their skin? Like we say in the open air preaching, it’s not about skin, it’s about sin! So, how does the bad of one person’s acts negate the good that another does? It doesn’t, we simply are tempted to lump people together if we have a traumatic experience.
I thought that I would touch on Martin Luther’s writing, “The Jews and their Lies.” to expose how even a patriarch of the Protestant Christian movement can be so corrupted by racism. Here from that book the following :
Final excerpts, from pages 268 to 272, horrifically prefigure Hitler and the National Socialists as Martin Luther describes what should be done to the Jews:
“First, to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them… Moses… would be the first to set fire to the synagogues and houses of the Jews.”
“Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed… Instead, they might be lodged under a roof or in a barn…”
“Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings… be taken from them.”
“Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life…”
My German friend stood among the stacks reading, sweating, and translating faster until, under his breath, he began reading only in German. We both noticed his hands shaking. While we had heard accusations of Luther’s anti-Semitism, the extent of the actual hatred horrified us both. Luther’s suggestions continued:
“Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the country-side… Let them stay at home.”
“Sixth, I advise… that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them…”
Then Luther adds, “let us emulate the common sense of other nations such as France, Spain, Bohemia, etc., compute with them how much their usury has extorted from us, divide this amicably, but then eject them forever from the country.”
This filthy racism against the Jews is unwarranted and forbidden directly by New Testament teachings. Check the mysterious wisdom of God as He uses the Apostle Paul to instruct believers not to hinder from brotherhood or hate the natural branch the Jews.
Rom 11:18-36 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
I would like to deal with how certain gang, Muslim, or other racists cultures affect our culture. Gangster rap with all of it’s hideous lyrics which promote rape, drinking, drugs, dealing, greed, brawling, murder, and gang culture in general are an abomination that the black Christians need to deal with in their own communities. To the Muslims, I call you out of your hypocritical religion that won’t rebuke the jihadi but will rebuke the intolerance of westerners to accept your religious terrorism. To the racist; KKK, Black Hebrew Israelites, Alt right, alt left monsters you will give an account to the God of the Bible who made every color of mankind that you hate so much. Why do Christians have to warn their families, friends, and even enemies? Because you have a moral duty to warn your earthly fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers, sisters, and cousins. Well, if you love your neighbor as Jesus taught that would extend beyond your earthly family, even unto the whole world. The Christian witness to family members and beyond is one of the most difficult things for us to do as the fear of man creeps into our hearts. See, a blogpost I did on this very idea HERE.
Also, I would like to share a view from Pastor David Manning from Harlem’s ATLAH Worldwide Church on why, “The Confederates were Right Biblically and Constitutionally About Slavery”.
original weblink to video HERE
Another great teaching on racism by Pastor Joe Schimmel from
Blessed Hope Chapel here:
Lastly, Jesus taught His disciples to forgive 70 X 7, which equals 490 times. Do you really think God meant for us to stop forgiving at the 491st offense? Aren’t we supposed to forgive our enemies? Do you believe that teaching of Jesus? Do you know what color all of us have in common? Blood red, that which was shed on Calvary for the sins of every tribe, tongue, and nation. It’s also the same color that runs through every human being’s veins. What’s the answer? When it comes to race we all need to claim we are the human race, created by a loving and benevolent Creator who wants us to love each other. This should be apparent to every Christian of every color. Here is a wonderful word picture of what it will be like before the throne of God with all peoples.
Rev 5:6-14 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.