Racism

Racism

There has been much in the news about the National Socialist Movement and their involvement in the “Adopt a Highway” program through the Colorado Department of Transportation. This article is written to help people understand our position on groups and thoughts such as those of the National Socialist Movement.


Elmwood Baptist Church (Elmwood) is opposed to racism and any such organization that promotes racism. Elmwood is a multi-cultural, multi-nationality church. Our congregation includes numerous ages, races, cultures, and nationalities.


We believe the Word of God and hold to the Bible as our sole source for faith and practice. From the very beginning God created Adam and Eve, he created mankind, not a color group or organization. In Adam and Eve was contained the DNA strands that would one day make-up all of the world. Individuals that argue Adam and Eve were white or any other color have no proof. There are no pictures or documents that have recorded this information. Adam and Eve could very well have had children of different color.


Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the King of kings, Lord of lords. He is the Lamb of God, whose shed blood on the cross of Calvary has purchased His people “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”


“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” – Revelation 5:9


“The Gospel of Jesus Christ will lead people from all the nations of the world to come to His kingdom.” – Isaiah 2:2-3


The Great Commission given to the church is to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). God’s Word also reads, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.” (Psalm 22:27-28) . “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 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.” (Galatians 3:26-28)


There is no religiously important category for race in the Biblical scheme. The only two groups who figure into the history of redemption are those that believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and those that reject His atonement for their sins (believers and unbelievers). Since Jesus Christ, as Lord of His church, has given us such great promises as these mentioned above (and many more), we should expect that the ethical imperatives of scripture would prohibit racist practices and attitudes. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.


Racism is not only prohibited by the God’s Holy Word and the Biblical situation in which we live, but Scripture also instructs us concerning our motives in life and the way in which we live. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) This passage informs us that we are to seek to honor other persons in every situation and to put them before ourselves. There is no mention of nationality, race, culture, color, etc. One way to picture this is that we are to treat others as if they were royalty or authority. We treat royalty and authority with respect, honor, decency, courtesy and graciousness. This implies that our heart attitude must not be arrogant, paternalistic, or denigrating to others. This understanding clearly precludes racist attitudes.


Lastly, God’s Word clearly shows impartiality toward all men through judgment. “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Deuteronomy 1:16-17) “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 24:2)


We pray this will be an encouragement for our community to show support for Elmwood Baptist Church and our stance against racism and all groups and so called “movements” that promote racism. Racism is unbiblical, ungodly, immoral, wicked and hateful. God’s Word reads, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) If the Creator God, who created all people and nations, desires to see all men come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and loves all men; then we must have the same love toward all men. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

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