The Apostle Paul affirms the unity and diversity of all nations in Acts 17. He was addressing Greeks who regarded themselves as superior race. Race matters only to racists; the rest of us care about character. It is distressing how people have twisted this passage to justify segregation. In His Providence, God determines where we live. I’ve lived in 4 countries and 10 states. To interpret God “fixing the bounds of our habitation” racially, most of us shouldn’t be here in America!
Prejudice is a social evil present in every culture of our fallen world. It is holding negative attitudes towards others based on generalizations and stereotypes, resulting in discrimination. It is forming conclusions without consulting the facts. And it is regarding one’s race as superior. Prejudice fosters hatred. When I taught Race Relations in the Army, I’d jokingly say “Never dislike people because of their race; once you get to know them, you’ll find much better reasons to dislike them!”
The richness of America is found in our diversity. In President Kennedy book, A nation of Immigrants, he notes that “You can move to France but you’ll never fully be considered a Frenchman; you could move to Germany, but you’ll never truly be a German; yet anyone can come to America and be an American.” My grandparents came here from Norway and Sweden. Kennedy stated that “A nation’s greatness can be measured by the number of people trying to get in as opposed to the number trying to leave.”
Anyone can be a target of bigotry. At Fort Meade, I was introduced to a Sergeant who shook my hand, noticed I wasn’t wearing jump wings, then said with a sneer: “You’re not Airborne.” He then spat on his hand and wiped it on the back of his boot. I was too stunned to remind him that he had insulted an officer. By the way, I discovered that I can do something Airborne troops can’t do: I can land in a C-130!
In verse 26 we’re told “From one man God made every nation of men.” There is one common origin for all people; therefore, we’re all brothers and sisters. Charles Darwin disagreed with this. He claimed that the various races were evolving at different rates and concluded that some were superior to others. This appealed to Hitler, who used Darwin’s theory to justify the extermination of the Jews, whom he regarded as an inferior race. Hitler wanted to dedicate his book Mein Kampf to Darwin. Scripture insists that despite our differences, there is ultimately one race--the human race. We’re all one family!
The early chapters of Genesis affirm that we have a common ancestor and that we’ve all been fashioned in the image of God. We stand on common ground, with dignity and worth. “God did not create racism; God created humanity. Racism goes against the need to see others as God’s image bearers” (Emmett Price).Jesus declared in Luke 13:29 that “People will come from the east and west, north and south, and sit together at the feast in the Kingdom of God.: Are we willing to sit together now?
Our faith compels us to respond to the wrongs of society, which we sometimes do reluctantly. Tom Lehrer wrote a satirical song, “National Brotherhood Week,” that pokes fun at superficial attempts to promote unity. Lehrer sings, “All of my folks hate all of your folks, it’s American as apple pie; but go up and shake the hand of someone you can’t stand. But don’t worry, don’t shed a tear. Be thankful that it’s only once a year!”
Jesus taught that one soul was worth more than the entire world, Matthew 16:26. Every person is of infinite worth. Any society that devalues people is headed for destruction. We can’t claim to love unless we love as we should--regardless of race, gender, rank, personality, culture, economic or ethnic background. “God so loved the world,” not a select group, but everyone. To oppress anyone made in God’s image is to oppose God. We can’t hold racists beliefs and love our neighbor as ourselves.
In the late 1950’s, two African-American families moved into Samuel Marcus’ suburban neighborhood. Within a week, six “For Sale” signs appeared on the lawns of angry residents. Marcus also put up a sign; his read: “This house is not for sale. We like our fine neighbors. All who take pride in their homes are welcome on this street.” Within a few days, all the “For Sale” signs disappeared. Most African-Americans have had a life-altering experience burned into their memory: the moment when they realized being black was a problem.
In the Army, when someone moves next-door, all we want to know is their rank and unit; race is irrelevant. We we’re all green guys, and race is largely a non-issue. When people who appear different from us move next-door, we need to say “How wonderful we live in a diverse community.” In the Epistle of James we’re told, “As believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, show no partiality or favoritism.”
Conflict between neighbors existed in Bible times. The Samaritans were a half-Jewish, half-Gentile ethnic group that lived apart from Jews and Gentiles and were looked down upon by both. People traveling would go around Samaria to avoid “defiling” themselves by contact with Samaritans. Jesus not only went there, He approached a Samaritan woman at a well, and to her surprise offered her the water of life. His parable of the Good Samaritan contains a message to those who think they’re superior. We can’t express compassion to our neighbor until our hearts experience God’s love, the source of love.
The Rev Dr Martin Luther King warned that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” King also said that “Racism must be challenged at the dinner table, at our places of work and worship, in schools, the media, and in every institution of society.” We can be agents of reconciliation. Prejudice is taught; so is tolerance. We need to care when people are being discriminated against. German pastor Martin Niemöller wrote during WWII: “When the Nazis came for the Jews I didn’t protest because I wasn’t a Jew; when they came for the gypsies I didn’t protest because I wasn’t a gypsy. When they came for the Catholics I said nothing because I’m not Catholic. Finally, when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.”
I remember when soldiers couldn’t be stationed at bases in certain states, because inter-racial marriage was illegal there. When Moses married an Ethiopian, his sister Miriam criticized him…and God struck her with leprosy. I’ve known soldiers who, when stationed overseas, married without honoring their brides’ culture or learning their language. In my travels I’ve appreciated being exposed to many cultures; the experience was enriching.
An old friend and neighbor of mine, Ron Downing, tells this story of his Army days: “In 1977 I was a new 23 year old US Army Lieutenant stationed in Germany, as a Platoon Leader with about 35 people. One day unannounced, an Equal Opportunity representative walked into my office. He introduced himself and asked, ‘Lieutenant, how many minorities are in your platoon?’ I was embarrassed; I had to tell him, I didn’t know. I walked over to the manning board and looked at each name, had to think for a moment and reported to him what appeared to me to be each person’s race; black, white, Hispanic, Asian. I said, ‘I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t think I needed to keep that information. All of these people are my soldiers.’ He said to me, “Lieutenant, you answered my question perfectly’.”
Paul tells us in Galatians 3, “We are all children of God through faith in Christ…there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ.” We have a fellowship that brings about harmony and reconciliation. The Apostle John writes, “Whoever does not love does not know God.” Love is not a sentimental feeling but unconditional acceptance.
God expects us to love and respect one another, not just with words but with actions. This means we don’t let differences become a determining factor in how we treat others. We can be welcoming even when we can’t affirm someone’s lifestyle. Poet Edwin Markham wrote, “He drew a circle that shut me out, but I drew a circle that took him in.” All who are within the circle of Christ’s love must be within the circle of our love. The grace that brings us to Christ binds us together, because we live in the transforming power of love.
The Apostle Paul concludes his message to ethnocentric Greeks with a call to repent in verse 30. When we receive Christ as Lord, He breaks down the barriers we’ve set up. We turn from prejudice to friendship. The goal isn’t color-blindness but celebrating diversity. Knowing Jesus makes possible the words of Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” In God’s Kingdom there are no undesirables. We are one family where Jesus is Lord and people are loved.
Prayer: God of the Nations, Your grace reaches out to all of us. You call us to live as citizens of Heaven, working together to bring about change, healing and wholeness. In Your Kingdom there is grace enough for all. Strip away ethnic division so that we may seek peace and justice in our community. Help us to lament over what grieves You. Cause us to show empathy for those who suffer discrimination. We have some hard work to do. Equip us, Lord. Our broken world needs a heavenly perspective. Makes us agents of reconciliation, for our good and Your glory, Amen.
