Last week in Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacists and Antifa (far left radicals) clashed, and one person died in the carnage. While Antifa members are radical and violent, they generally do not pretend to be in Christ. However, some white supremacists would claim to be Christians. So how should Christians respond to white supremacists, and racism in general?
First, we must recognize that racism is a result of a fallen world. Racism is a sin, just as murder, lying, and cheating is a sin. The heart is not just touched by sin, it is completely infected with sin. Sin infects our mind, our thoughts, and our actions.
Racism is contrary to Christian teaching. From the very beginning, we are taught "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27). All of mankind is created in the image of God, both Christian and non-Christian, black and white are made in the image of God. To think that because of the color of the skin you are born with, makes you more valuable than someone else because of their skin, is at odds with Scripture.
All believers are one in Christ. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28). Christians find our identity in Christ, not in our race, nationality, or economics. All Christians are one in Christ.
Jesus made it clear that if you hate or anger towards another, you will be judged as those who have committed pre-meditated murder. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." (Matthew 5:21-22) When you look at someone with hate, you have committed murder of the heart. "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15).
Scripture teaches us that there will be believers among every tongue, tribe, and nation. Jesus died for those who the Father gave him, and this would include people from all races. "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10). "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands..." (Revelation 7:9)
Christians everywhere must condemn and reject racism in all instances. If you are truly in Christ, hatred for another based upon race can not be in our hearts. Jesus is the King of every tongue, tribe, and nation. All racists will face judgment unless they repent and turn to Christ. The only solution for racism, as with all sin, is found in Christ.
