Controversial Issues Confronting Contemporary Christians

Martin Luther King January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its

creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brother-hood.

Martin Luther King August 28, 1963

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation

where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream… I have a dream that one day, one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope.”

RACE: “Any of the major biological divisions of mankind, distinguished by color and texture of hair, color of skin and eyes, stature, bodily pro-

portions, etc.: many ethnologists now consider that there are only three primary divisions, the Caucasian (loosely ‘white race’), Negroid (loosely ‘black race’) and Mongoloid (loosely, ‘yellow race’), with various subdivisions: the term has acquired so many unscientific connotations that in this sense it is often replaced in scientific usage by ‘ethnic stock’ or ‘group’.”

• The term “race” does not appear in the Bible. The Bible refers to differing peoples in terms such as family, tribe, people and nation.

• In fact, the word itself is of uncertain origin and does not occur in any language until about the sixteenth century.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Acts 17:24, 26 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

Spiritual not Physical

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… (cf. Luke 24:46-47)

Spiritual not Physical

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.

Matthew 6:9 “Our Father…”

Ephesians 4:4–6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Spiritual not Physical

Spiritual not Physical

Galatians 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• Skin Pigmentation

• Blood Types

• Intelligence Levels

Physical Not Spiritual

Physical Not Spiritual

Jesse Owens 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin

Genesis 9:18-19 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

• Numbers 12:1-16 Miriam and Aaron openly criticized Moses for marrying the Ethiopian woman. (cf. Numbers 12:2).

• Song of Solomon 1:5-6 (Shulmanite) “I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards…”

• Acts 13:1 "Simeon that was called Niger" and "Luis of Cyrene". Simeon was also referred to by his Latin name "Niger" ("niger" translates as "black" in English).

II Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 12:2–3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The Primary Cause for the Persecution of:

1. Israel

2. The Church

Racial?

Economical?

Spiritual!

• Race, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is not a Biblical term and nowhere can it be shown that physical characteristics of a people are a reason or a guide to distinguish one from another.

• Both the Old and New Testaments show that God does not hold any significance as to race.

• God sees us as one people; as "man." Physical characteristics are not a part of God's evaluation of man ". . .for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (I Samuel l6:7).

• God states clearly He is not a respecter of persons and that includes race or nationality. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him." (Acts 10:34-35)