Answers

Q:

I grew up believing that my race was superior to every other race, and the reason (I was taught) was because that's what the Bible teaches. Does it? If so, then I don't want anything to do with your faith.


A:

No, this is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, the Bible teaches exactly the opposite, because it tells us that God created every race equally in His image, and He loves every race equally. The Bible says, “From one man he made all the nations. … We are God’s offspring” (Acts 17:26, 29).

It’s true that some have tried to use the Bible to justify racism. You may have heard, for example, that God supposedly put a curse on Ham (one of Noah’s three sons), some of whose descendants eventually migrated to Africa. But nothing could be farther from the truth. God actually was warning about the future of one of Ham’s sons, Canaan, who became the founder of some of the peoples in the ancient Middle East (See Genesis 9:24-27; 10:15.)

Racism of any type is wrong in God’s eyes, and it should be wrong in our hearts and minds as well. God’s love is not restricted to one group or one race—and neither should ours. When Jesus went to the cross, He gave His life for people from all races and all backgrounds. And some day in Heaven we’ll join with all those for whom Christ died, “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Don’t let the errors of a few keep you from Christ. God loves you—and the most important step you can ever take is to respond to His love by committing your life to Jesus Christ. Open your heart and life to His love today.