JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A explores the question, “What does the Bible have to say about race relations?”

Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Different national origins, languages, or color of skin are not barriers between two people who have the love of God in their heart. God is the maker of the different races and called his creation of humanity very good. So, He celebrates the variety of His creation.

It was the dream of Martin Luther King that one day his children would live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

What we learn about the nature of God is that He looks beyond the surface of things and evaluates the motives of our heart. Proverbs 20:27 says, “The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.” God’s perspective takes us beyond the surface to appreciate the beauty of godly character. With that perspective, racial differences do not deter followers of Jesus from rich, Christian fellowship.

The humility and love of Jesus dissolves attitudes of race superiority in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com