The Racial Revolution

MEMORY VERSE: “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin.” —James 2:8,9

LUKE 10:25-28

THE Bible was not written for the world, therefore its teachings are not designed to regulate the affairs of the world, either racial or otherwise. For this reason the scriptures assigned for this lesson do not relate to the races, and certainly they are not instructions as to how the various races of the earth should get along together.

The Bible was given as instruction to God’s own people, and sets forth the principles which should guide them as they serve and worship together to the glory of God. And even these wonderful laws of the Bible are ineffective in the lives of God’s people unless they are taken into the heart. Simply an outward effort to keep God’s laws would fall short of changing the heart and life of anyone.

The lawyer who “tempted Jesus by asking what he could do to obtain eternal life” was referred to the Law. He quoted Moses’ summary of the Law, which calls for complete love for God and a love for our neighbors such as we have for ourselves. Jesus said that this was a correct answer, and that if the lawyer would do this he would have life. God’s law given through Moses promised life to those who would keep it inviolate. But none was able to do this, so none gained life under the Law.

COLOSSIANS 3:11

At the time of the Early Church there was more or less friction between the Jewish and Gentile converts, and the disciples are encouraged by the apostles to overcome this by being filled more and more with love. But there is nothing in these instructions to regulate the racial affairs of the world.

As Paul sets forth, there are no racial distinctions in the body of Christ. He mentions several types of people, including even the “bond,” or the slaves, who may have been Roman captives of different races. He indicates that the Lord does not recognize these differences, and expects us to deal with all on the same basis; which, of course, is the basis of love—in the heart, not merely as an outward veneer.

Paul uses similar language in Galatians 3:27-29, which reads, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

God had promised that through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth would be blessed. (Gen. 12:3) Paul identifies Jesus as this promised seed of Abraham, and to this he adds the information that as many as are baptized into Christ, and have put on Christ, are also a part of the promised seed of Abraham. And in the selection and preparation of these, who are to be, with Jesus, the future blessers of the world, God is no respecter of persons. Just as all the families or nations of the earth will be blessed through his called-out class, so this class will be representative of all; and the final condition is that they must abound in heart love for one another, and thus they will be fit subjects for blessing all mankind during the messianic kingdom.

JAMES 2:1-9

In the hypothetical case outlined in this scripture no racial problem is involved, but rather the possible difficulty that might arise when rich people and poor people associate themselves with the brethren. James indicates that the case he describes suggests a lack of faith on the part of those in charge of the meeting. Perhaps it was feared that the coming into the auditorium of the very poorly dressed would cause others to leave, so these were seated in a secluded spot, while the obviously rich were treated with honor.

James reminds the brethren that God has chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith. However, so far as material wealth is concerned, there are exceptions to this. It is the “poor in spirit” in whom God is interested; and there are rich men and women who have this quality. The principal lesson here is to be impartial in all our dealings.

QUESTIONS

Could a Jew gain life by keeping the Law perfectly?

Should we for any reason be partial in our dealing with people?

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