Race and the Bible
For many years, race has played a major factor in modern day religion. Nations were against nations; tribes were enemies of other tribes but it had nothing to do with skin color. Unfortunately, race has become a cornerstone to many religious teachings over the past 400 years and is gaining momentum among a few religious sectors.
HOW DID RACE AND THE BIBLE JOIN?
Make no mistake about it, color was highlighted in the Bible, but it was not used to devalue an individual, unless it was based upon God’s thoughts. God often spoke on behalf of people like David, who was described as ruddy (of a reddish/brown skin tone). David was also young, and short in stature, Solomon, by his own account was “black but comely.” as black as the tents of Kedar – Song of Sol. 1: 5; 5:10; 1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42; and Lam. 4: 7. Even though other nations may have attempted to overlook these individuals discriminately, it was not practiced among God’s people. Despite what some may have thought about their candidacy as King, God appointed each one of them as King over his people, regardless to their difference in height, skin color or etc, for either God nor his people were colorblind in the sense that they had trouble distinguishing between certain colors, but they were colorblind in the sense that they were not influenced either positively or negatively, by the notion of race because this concept had not yet manifested itself. This point is strengthened, by the fact that the word “race” as used with respect to divisions among populations, does not appear in the Bible, and any reference to the biblical categorization of the human species was limited to words like “nations,” “kindred,” “people,” and “tongues”, and then, these classifications included people of all colors and languages (dialects) – Rev. 7: 9.
THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN
It was the creature, not the creator who was first motivated by the color of an individual’s skin; to point out the differences between men and the need for segregating groups on the basis of some outward manifestation like lips size, hair color, skin tone. Racial prejudice, then, was not a biblical concept; because the idea of “race” is a modern man-made term. Even though the Bible had been identifying groups of people for a long time, the term “nation” was used without much regard to a person’s pigmentation, or the lack thereof. Even the indentured servants of biblical times, who hired themselves out to the service of others over selected periods of time was not based upon color.
Unlike chattel slavery experienced in America, where individuals were considered property or considered three-fifths human, they were never treated as such. A preoccupation with who was and was not God’s chosen people may have caused many individuals and groups to focus more and more attention upon skin color and entitlement.
The desire to be identified as God’s chosen people eventually led to many Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups identify themselves as such. Not only were the descendants of slaves drawing parallels between their condition and the plight of the children of Israel but slave owners and religious leaders who recognized this desire, capitalized on it by using the authority of God and the Bible to keep the slaves orderly and under subjection –
While some members of certain religious organizations appear neutral with respect to skin color, others are apparently color stricken to the point that most, if not all of their religious beliefs pertaining to entitlement are based upon skin color. It is, therefore, refreshing to know that the Bible has never supported the idea of racial prejudice, either on the part of God. As a matter of fact, in order to curtail any tendency to discriminate against others based upon some outward trait, God’s people were forbidden from having respect of persons.
RASICM WITHIN RELIGION
Like many people of his period, Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, harbored racist views. New York, where he grew up, was still a slave state at that time. In an environment where Negro slavery was tolerated, it was easy for Smith to look down on black people, and his disdain for them was incorporated as doctrine into the Mormon scriptures he allegedly translated.
For example, many passages in the Book of Mormon speak of dark skin as a curse for sins, as opposed to the “white and delightsome” appearance of the righteous (2 Nephi 30:6, cf. 1 Nephi 12:23, 13:15, 2 Nephi 5:21, Jacob 3:8-9, 3 Nephi 2:14-15)
These passages in Mormon scripture served as the basis for every Mormon prophet since Smith to teach that blacks were cursed for their supposed sins before 
earthly birth. Brigham Young, Smith’s successor, also underscored the racist stand of Mormonism: “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so” (Journal of Discourses 10:109).
Groups like this have softened there stance in the 21st century. Mainly because it is easier to grow their membership base worldwide when you are more inclusive verses being exclusive. Also, racial bigotry is less accepted today than it was at the time of Joseph Smith. The fact they have never denounced their founder (Joseph Smith) as well as his successor (Brigham Young) and continue to use the Book of Mormon as the nucleus of their religious teachings, show that their stance has not changed but their feelings of superiority still resides among the upper echelons of their organization.
On the other side of the coin, today in the 21st century, many Hebrew-Israelite leaders may have been motivated by the idea of revenge, greed, zealousness or some other variable, but many of their followers have come to accept the notion that giving the descendants of former slave owners a taste of the medicine dished out by their fore-fathers. Some of the sons and maybe the daughters of former slaves decided to find a way to use God and the Bible against their oppressor’s offspring. So that they did not seem evil, Caucasian converts were allowed to join many of their assemblies, but they are not allowed to teach, minister or hold prominent positions within the groups, much of what we saw with Joseph Smith and the Mormon movement. This time the premise that they (the Hebrew Israelites) were descendants of God’s chosen people was used to place limitations upon others; however, like those who had enslaved their people, biblical passages were either taken out of context, and/or they were simply lied to.
JACOB VS. ESAU THEORY
Even though Esau and Jacob were twin brothers of the same mother and father, somehow, the story was misconstrued to portray Jacob as belonging unto the black race and Esau as belonging unto the white race; furthermore, all Caucasians are classified as Edomites in their eyes.
While we assure our readers that race was not a factor in the bible, let’s look at this from a commonsense point of view. For the sake of argument, let’s just say there is a strong probability that Jacob was the color of African descent. This would mean that his Father and Mother had to be of African descent. Jacob had a TWIN brother named Easu (are you seeing where we’re going?). How could Easu be of European descent or the Father of such? Where is that found in the bible? Many Hebrew Israelites also teach that these people, who were called Edomites were strangers from the Children of Israel. For the sake of argument, let’s go along with that theory. Let’s say that they were strangers and separated from the Children of Israel, which we here agree that anyone that was not part of Israel were strangers. But because they were strangers, who made the Hebrew Israeiltes today judge and jury over the Edomites souls?
FACT CHECK
Whether you are a stranger to the people of Israel. Whether you possessed a white, light or dark complexion, the Father ALWAYS gave man a chance to be part of his royal family if they would love him and express their love by obeying the same laws, statutes and judgements that he gave to the Children of Israel. This is echoed in both the Old and New Testament.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isa.56:-6-7
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 19 NOW therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Ephesians 2:11,12,19
When the Father has cleansed you and has circumcised your heart; when you begin to follow all of his laws, statutes and judgements, he has promised to join us to his household. He will treat us all as his sons and daughters. The soul has no color.
