Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA)



Constructing a Biblical View of RaceDefinition of Key Terms (Merriam-Webster on line)Race:“any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry.”“a group of people sharing a common cultural, geographical, linguistic, or religious origin or background.”“the descendants of a common ancestor: a group sharing a common lineage.”Culture:“the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.”“the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time.”“the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic.”Society:“a voluntary association of individuals for common ends.”“a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests.”Ethnic/Ethnicity:“of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background.”“a member of a minority group who retains the customs, language, or social views of the group.”Race and Races in Scripture (See Dr. Guy Richard, “A Biblical View of Race.” Available at ; and Dr. Gerald McDermott, “The Bible On Race.” Available at ; Dr. John Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life: A Theology of Lordship, pp. 648-681; Dr. Wayne Grudem, Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning, pp. 637-653)The origin of the ‘races’:Genesis 11:1-9, the Tower of BabelGenesis 11 describes a time when humans rebelled against God by settling at Babel and refusing to spread out in the world. Because of this, God confused their language, and groups of people separated and moved away from one another. As a consequence of Babel, the people groups could not easily mix. They became genetically isolated, meaning that they married and had offspring primarily within their particular group. As the years passed, each group developed its own culture and ways of doing things. Genetically isolated, certain physical traits became more prominent in each group (Dr. Tommy Mitchell).New Testament (Greek) terms for a person’s identity:“Race”–Refers to ‘kind,’ or one’s DNAsarkagenos“Tribes”–Refers to lines of common descent and familiesphule“Tongues”–Refers to dialects and languagesglossae“Nations”–Refers to people of different skin colorsethne“Peoples”–Refers to groups who share a common historylaoiHow many ‘races’?One: The ontological use of ‘race’ in Scripture: Acts 17:26–“And he made from one man every nation (ethne) of mankind to live on all the face of the earth . . . .”All humans are descended from Adam [Noah].All humans are created in the divine image and likeness.1 Peter 2:9–“But you are a chosen race (genos), a royal priesthood, a holy nation (ethne) . . . .”All redeemed humans are members of God’s new family.All redeemed humans are members of the mystical body of Christ, the Church.All redeemed humans share a unique identity and unity (which transcends all other relationships) based upon their relationship to Christ.Two: The existential use of ‘race’ in Scripture:Mark 7:26–“a Syrophoenician by birth (genos) . . . .”Acts 4:36–“Barnabas . . . a native (genos) of Cyprus . . . .”Gal. 1:14–“And I (Paul) was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people (genos) . . . .”Phil. 3:5–“the race (genos) of Israel . . . .”‘Race’ in the New Jerusalem:Rev. 5:9–“by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe (phule) and language (glossae) and people (laoi) and nation (ethne) . . . .”Rev. 7:9–“a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation (ethne), from all tribes (phule) and peoples (laoi) and languages (glossae). . . .” Some Truths and Implications All human beings are made in the image of God, and share a divinely constituted equality before Him.All human life is sacred in the eyes of God.All humans are descended from Adam (and Noah).All humans are sinners, equally corrupt and guilty before God, and without hope apart from divine grace experienced in Christ.All ‘racial’ distinctions recognized among people are irrelevant to all discussions of a person’s dignity as a divine image-bearer and their need for redeeming grace.Therefore . . . 1)2)3)4) ................
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