End Racism!?

Catchy phrases with ambiguous meanings have become normal in our day!  “Choose love,” “Science is real,” and “End Racism” are slogans that can be found on a football field, a bumper sticker, or a political yard sign!  But what do those messages really mean?   Should we join the chorus and proclaim these statements?   We need to be like the men of Issachar, “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).  The Hebrew word for “understanding”, “bînâ,” is closely connected to the Hebrew preposition, “bên”, which means between.    Understanding is the insight and wisdom that is gained from distinguishing between two or more worldviews.   The sons of Issachar distinguished between the various philosophies of their day and as a result they knew how they ought to respond.

The appealing announcements of “End Racism” or “Stop Hate” are subtle statements that are used as pretty packaging for a certain worldview.    The packaging even allures others that don’t align with that worldview by hiding their deceptive philosophies around words that have elements of truth.   For example, the Christian worldview says that hatred is “sinful”   (1 John 3:15).  A Christian should desire to “stop hate.”  However, since the Scriptures warn against false teachers who will twist the truth, we need to be on guard against those who use catchy phrases to promote a false worldview.   False worldviews are increasingly being wrapped even in biblical terminology today.  For example, Governor Newsom of California used the Biblical principle, “love one another” to promote access to abortion on demand.  Likewise, Governor Kathy Hochul, proclaimed that God is on the side of those that support abortion.   How we need understanding to distinguish between truth and error, especially when truth is twisted to support error!

But is there a deceptive worldview behind “end racism”?   Could an element of truth be twisted to promote error in that phrase?  The United Nations Development Program wrote an article on September 21, 2022 entitled, “End Racism.  Build Peace.”   Sounds like a great article!  But the devil is in the details as the worldview of the author becomes apparent in her summary statement, “Let us embrace tolerance and inclusion for an enabling environment for development.”   Tolerance and inclusion are key words used by those who desire to tear down a Judeo-Christian standard for ethics so that morality can be determined by man, not by God!    The ambiguous meaning of “End Racism” intentionally and deceptively draws people into a worldview that rejects God and His Law.

So how should Christians respond when we see the idolatrous worldviews being so frequently proclaimed?   First, we need to keep ourselves from idols (1 John 5:22).   We need to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”   (2 Corinthians 10:5).  We need to know the King of kings and Lord of lords and His Word so that we can distinguish between truth and error.  Second, we need walk as children of light in this dark world.   The church of Jesus Christ is to be a powerful testimony of peace between various ethnic groups.  True peace is found not by changing God’s standard for ethics, but rather through the forgiveness of our sins against a holy God through the Lord Jesus Christ who died so that all nations could be blessed  (Ephesians 2:14-18; 4:3, 32; Genesis 12:3).   Finally, we need to have our waist girded with truth and we need to speak truth. (Ephesians 6:14; 4:15, 23, 25) Speak the truth that though mankind is separated into various nations and therefore ethnic groups as a result of the tower of Babel (Genesis 10-11), we all come from Adam’s race and God created Adam (Genesis 2:7).   Paul said in Acts 17:26, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.”  Because Adam sinned, death has entered into this world.   (Romans 5:12).  Sin breaks our peace with God and also with one another.  The hope for the ethnic groups is found in our God, who became a man to die on the cross for our sins, so that there could truly be “Peace on earth” (Luke 2:11-14).  When you bring this message to the world, you will likely find some who will not want to include your worldview or tolerate your worldview.   It is then that you will know that you have struck a chord with those who like to use ambiguous phrases to promote and package a false worldview!   It is then that you will be a person with understanding who will bring clarity to the ambiguous phrases that abound today.

Here you will find encouraging articles to equip you with biblical principles for the practical issues of life.  Read along, be encouraged, and stay updated with the ministries of FBC as we continue to be changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!