Racists Are Sinners. So Are Those Who Hate Them.

Most Christians, I trust, are familiar with the greatest commandment. It is two commandments that Jesus said are one because they are like each other.

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:36–40). ¹

There is not, nor has there ever been, any question about this truth in Christianity. It is as plain as day and very simple.

Simple, but not easy.

God’s people have spent their entire lives trying to be obedient to this greatest commandment, but not one of us throughout history has perfectly succeeded. Our failure to keep it reveals to us our inadequacies and stubborn sinful nature. Thus, we should be continually thankful for the Lord’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness of our sins.

The care for one’s neighbor is embedded in our country’s culture, as it is in many others and almost always honored. This societal care is nothing new. What is new is the recent demand to love each other as we should or otherwise be punished by experiencing nasty, unforgiving hatred for sins we have committed. The focus of this unrelenting animosity is the sin of racism.

Christians should know that the color of one’s skin has absolutely nothing to do with our love or God’s love for people. They should not view others as less than themselves based on race. or any other reason. All people are created in God’s image and should be given respect. If given any thought, to discriminate against someone because of the color of their skin or the shape of their face is very shallow, stupid reasoning, but it is and has been prevalent all over the world for a very long time, probably not long after human beings were created. Christians—and unbelievers as well—should know that this song is sung in heaven before God’s throne:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9–10).

However, in our culture at present some have become—what shall I call it—hatefully legalistic about the sin of racism. It has become a sin that can never be forgiven, regardless of one’s repentance. I can understand the reason for this. These accusers are not Christians. That is plain. Otherwise, they would forgive, as all Christians are required to do. They do not and cannot offer any solution for this sin except to demand that it end. They are trying to enforce God’s greatest commandment, strangely, by the use of hatred. They do not understand that there is only one cure for sin of any kind and do not believe in the God who changes the human heart and forgives all sins—yes, including racism. This secular attempt to change the hearts of people has been, is, and always will be, futile.

So, what shall Christians do? If we have committed this sin—and there are other heinous sins which are difficult for sufferers to forgive—we would have to find that place in the Lord where we believe, in faith, that our loving God has forgiven us, regardless of what hateful, unforgiving people may say.

The secular accusers are as sinful as those whom they accuse. Of course, they will never have this enlightened view without the knowledge of the God of grace and mercy through our Savior, Jesus. They reject Him, although those gifts of grace and mercy are available to them if they would believe and ask to be forgiven for their sins.

Father, please save those who are attempting to abolish hate by being hateful themselves. Please bring them to the knowledge of the nature of sin and Your merciful remedy in Jesus.

¹The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016).). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Gif courtesy Bing images.