NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
December 19, 2024CHRIST, THE CHRISTIAN AND OUR CROSS
December 19, 2024We live in a world, which thinks and operates with narrow and mean mindset. It intentionally excludes, all who are not our “own” – while excusing anything and everything, done by our “own” people. We see such discriminatory dynamics, in various forms and shapes, among individuals, families, groups, societies and nations. Some of such immoral discriminations are casteism, racial superiority, and discriminations based on religion, language, region and colour…the list goes on.
Many times, the people “chosen” by God, be in Old Testament, and the New Testament, have and are abusing their “chosenness” to practice and propagate, their supremacist ideas and ideologies by discrimination of “other” people.
George P. Wood, writing in his article “Twelve Bible Verses about Race and Ethnicity” comments thus on choosing of Abraham, by God Almighty, in Genesis 12.
– “In Genesis 12, the biblical narrative turns from the nations to one nation — Israel, the descendants of Abraham. Genesis 12:1–7 describes God’s election or choosing of Abraham (and his descendants). It is easy to misinterpret God’s choosing of Abraham as an example of partiality, as if God favours one people group over others. In reality, however, Abraham’s election is missional. God chose Abraham and his descendants to bless the nations:”
Sadly, the People of God, from both the Old Testament, and the New Testament, have abused such texts, and have used them, to provide a theological framework for discrimination and supremacist ideas, down through the ages.
Let us see what Abraham himself, the grand Patriarch of the Hebrews, and the “spiritual father” of all the faithful of the LORD, has to say on this matter. He demonstrates clearly, the heart of God, towards all people of the world. Let us read Genesis 15:1-2 to see what we can learn from Abraham and his scriptural outlook towards different races.
– “1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
We see Abraham counting Eliezer, his chief servant, who is from Damascus, Syria, as his heir. Abraham was not joking, nor was he being casual about it. He was dead serious, because the conversation is between, God and Abraham. Abraham looked at Eliezer in all purity, humanly possible. He looked at his bonded slave, as his heir, and not someone to be used now, and thrown away latter.
Can you imagine what a scandal it would be if Abraham said those words in today’s world – a Hebrew calling a Syrian, his heir? Probably he would be disowned by his own as a crack-pot, and stoned to death for blasphemy of the “worst” kind. Don’t you think so? Oh the heart of man…is desperately wicked, evil and beyond cure – Jeremiah 17:9-10
Abraham, nor the God of the Bible, as I gather after reading from the Holy Scriptures, do not support racial superiority, racial prejudice, and discrimination of any kind. Such practices are not only unbiblical, but are utterly detested by YAHWEH. Such practices are wrong and evil. Such practices reflect the evil in our hearts, not the God of the Bible.
– “24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth…he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,” – Acts 17:24-27
God wants us, as His chosen people to treat everyone the same, without prejudice and discrimination, just like He is, and just as He works. His instructions to the Hebrew children, even before they entered the “Promised Land” are crystal clear. The same is seen being practiced by the Patriarch, who is reverentially considered, the “head” of the “Chosen” People of God. Let us read Leviticus 19:33-37
– “33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 35 “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. 36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the LORD.”
May Abraham, the grand Patriarch of all of us, lead us to treat all people equally and kindly, just as he did practice. Even so the LORD help us.
