“THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON” – 28 August 1963

Today, the 28 of August, precisely 62 years back, in 1963, a large civil-rights demonstration, popularly known as,  “The March on Washington,” gathered in Washington DC, the capital of the United States, on behalf of the “blacks” or “negros” as they were called, for their civil rights. The march brings together, the then major civil-rights organisations, and many Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religious groups. This is considered as the first determined effort, by a large number of white clergy, to join the cause, to end racial discrimination. This is where, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, gives his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

What was sparked by an “insignificant” incident, of an ordinary black woman, Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus, for a white passenger, when ordered to do so, by the bus driver, and was later arrested for this crime, turned into a rallying point, and a raging fire, against the racial discrimination, and racial segregation.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the better known Christian leaders, who fought against the racial prejudice, discrimination and segregation. Dr. King, a Baptist minister, became an activist for the civil rights of blacks, early in his life. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott. Even though his life was under threat from white supremacists, several actual attempts on his life, and multiple arrests, Dr. King was consistent in his application of the principles taught by Jesus as recorded in the Bible. Ultimately, his enemies succeeded in murdering him. – according to BBC [the British Broadcasting Company] records.

Racism manifests itself, and is experienced by people, through the racial discrimination, and the racial segregation. They both are, two different shades of the same shameful sin. This sin is prevalent in almost every culture and society. It is founded on the principle of the superiority of one group of people, as against the rest. 
– “Racism includes all the laws, policies, ideologies and barriers that prevent people from experiencing justice, dignity, and equity because of their racial identity. It can come in the form of harassment, abuse or humiliation, violence or intimidating behaviour.” – Australian Human Rights Commission – “What is Racism?”

What pains me, and seriously disturbs me; and why it should pain and disturb everyone of us, is the fact that, the Church and the Christians, are complicit by practicing it, promoting it, and protecting it, by providing theological, legal and logical framework. This sinful practice has not died, though restrained to a large extent. It is still prevalent even today, albeit, in a more refined, sophisticated and civilised way. It is like the ray of light, when seen with naked eye, it appears white in colour; but when the same is viewed through a glass prism, we see seven different colours, and white is nowhere in that list of colours.
– “Throughout history, many racist actions and institutions (eg slavery) have been justified using stories from the Bible. Alternatively, Christian churches have simply turned a blind eye to them. Some people even justified the apartheid system in South Africa by citing Christian teachings. Over time, most Christian churches have spoken out against these injustices, recognising them as perversions of the Christian message.” – BBC, UK – “Biblical and Church Opinions on Prejudice and Discrimination”

God hates the sin of racism, in every shape and form. As Christians, we should be aware of what God thinks, and follow Him faithfully. God is not the author of racism, racial discrimination and racial segregation. He sees every human being the same way. He does not have two sets of standards – one for Christians, and the other for non-Christians.
– “The teaching and example of Jesus shows that any kind of prejudice, racism, discrimination or simply treating people in an inferior way is not acceptable. Everyone is important to God and included in His plan of salvation, so people should not discriminate and treat others unfairly.” – BBC, UK – “Biblical and Church Opinions on Prejudice and Discrimination”
– “God does not show partiality or favouritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as “judges with evil thoughts.” Instead, we are to love our neighbours as ourselves (James 2:8). In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jews and Gentiles. God’s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross.” – Darryl Craft – Whitesburg Baptist Church

Let us look at some Scripture portions, to inform and enlighten us, about what God thinks on this matter.
– “26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,” – Acts 17:26 
– “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
– “26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:26-27
– “12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”* – Matthew 7:12
– “39…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Matthew 22:39
– “28 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 3:28

Some views of fellow Christians from across the Western world, for our benefit and blessing.
– “God’s word is blunt: “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). The Greek term James uses for “partiality” (prosopolempsia) means to show favouritism or prejudice, to treat one person as inherently better than another. The Bible considers all such forms of prejudice to be a sin against God and our fellow man because “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34).” – River West Church, USA
– “Paul stresses this in passages such as Galatians 3:28, “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The slightest notion of ethnic superiority is a denial of the theological reality of justification. Furthermore, Paul’s emphasis is not just on equality, but on unity.” – Ouachita Baptist University, USA, “- What does the Bible say about race?”
– “The first thing to understand in this discussion is that there is only one race—the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs, and Jews are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly, all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” obviously includes all ethnic groups.” – Andrew Walls – Professor of Missiology – University of Edinburgh, UK
– “As followers of Christ, we are commanded to “love your neighbour as yourself” regardless of their ethnic, racial, and cultural distinctions (Matthew 22:39, Leviticus 19:18 , Leviticus 19:34). At its root, racism is a spiritual heart issue.” – River West Church, USA

The future of all the redeemed human beings. This should be an eye opener about how God if the Bible sees all dimensions of racism, in theory and in practice.
– “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” – Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95)

May we actively seek the LORD, to help us not to discriminate anyone, wherever we may be living on the earth. May we learn the lessons from the LORD our God, who loves and cares for all people, equally, and without any preference, prejudice and discrimination. May we be imitators of the LORD Jesus Christ, and not the children of the devil. Even so, the LORD help us.