Is it biblically correct to use the term "race?"

[Guest NHisMage]

I have my own opinion on this but I would like to hear what others have to say on this subject. Is it biblically correct to use the term race when referring to someone that is of a different culture, nation, language, etc. than yourself? Why or why not?

Blessings,

NHisMage

[Leonard]

The Scripture teaches we are all "Adam's race." Fallen man invented the concept of race, to justify his inate "otherism," you see, I do not believe people are 'racists' but 'otherists.'

[kittylover0991]

Honestly, now that i think about it, it coudl be looked at both ways. It could seem wrong considering that no one is better than anyone else considering that we are all sinners, however, even Jesus refered to people as the Gentiles and the Jews. I doubt that it would make it wrong to use the term "race". I think it depends more on how it is used. For instance, as with guns; it isnt' the gun that is evil, but how it is used. It isn't the word that is used, but rather HOW it is used.

Edited November 25, 2005 by kittylover0991

[apothanein kerdos]

Absolutely it's okay

Physical we are all different which shows the diversity of God. Though we are ontologically the same we do bear different tastes, characteristics, and colors. This should not be hidden or subdued, instead it should be celebrated to show the diversity within God's creation.

[nebula]

I don't know about "Biblically correct."

But what I believe is that we focus so much on race that we don't see the real issue.

Prujudism isn't about skin color -

It's about the culture they perceive behind the skin color and facial features.

And often economic status.

[other one]

Well said Neb........

[Guest NHisMage]

I don't know about "Biblically correct."

But what I believe is that we focus so much on race that we don't see the real issue.

Prujudism isn't about skin color -

It's about the culture they perceive behind the skin color and facial features.

And often economic status.

Nebula, I believe that sometimes even using the term race (except when speaking in terms of the one race - the human race) causes us to do just what you said - focus on it.

To the issue of focusing too much on race, well quite honestly I don't see enough focus within the church on what to do about racism. The attitude that I've come across in most churches and with most Christians is "We know it's wrong, let's move on." In my opinion, it should be, "We know it's wrong, what are we going to do about it?" (By the way, Dr. Tony Evans has written a great book that addresses this issue called, "Let's Get to Know each Other." I highly recommend it.) I know that this is a hard issue and a lot of Christians don't want to talk about it but I think it's time for Christians to stop shying away from hard issues and address them in God-honoring ways.

I disagree that prejudice isn't about skin color. I would say that in most cases it is, based on my own experience. What we first notice about a person is what they look like and unfortunately we make our opinions/judgments (or whatever you want to call it) based on how the person looks. Have you ever turned down someone for dating (or even been turned down) because of how they looked without even getting to know the person? It's kind of like doing that. I was talking to my boss the other day and we were talking about this issue and she said, "God has made me color-blind in regards to other people so that I won't be prejudice." I said, "We'll I can't honestly say that I'm color blind because I do notice a person's skin color when I first look at them. However, I don't let their skin color be the criteria that I judge them by."

The verse that I live by in regards to this issue is 1 Samuel 16:7:

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Hey, everyone, I'm new here and I'm not trying to stir up trouble. I just like to discuss issues that God has placed on my heart with others.

Be blessed,

NHisMage

P.S. - Another website that has some great articles regarding this issue and also that of creation is http://www.answersingenesis.org.

Edited November 26, 2005 by NHisMage

[apothanein kerdos]

I think it's almost throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We should not let the race or culture of a person determine how we treat that person. We must also realize that "race" is a very subjective term only to be understood within the eye of the classifier. It is a system of which to place a specific group of people into it without questioning if they truly fit. Such as the "white" race could be anything from Irish, to Italian, to German, to Romanian, to anything that is relatively light skinned. Two thousand years ago, these were all recognized as seperate races, now under a different classification system they are now part of a bigger race.

Unfortunately though, there is no reason (or need) to change that classification. There are African american people (with different shades), Latino people (with different looks), and others in this world. This should not be ignored and we should not be "color blind in the sense we do not notice a person's race (we shoudl be color blind in the conclusion we draw about the person based upon his or her race). If I shake the hand of a black man I'm going to notice he's black, it's a descriptive term and more importantly celebrates the diversity of the human race as a whole. So long as we acknowledge God as the creator of the races and do not draw a bias based upon how a person looks, I see no problem with it.

[nebula]

To the issue of focusing too much on race, well quite honestly I don't see enough focus within the church on what to do about racism. The attitude that I've come across in most churches and with most Christians is "We know it's wrong, let's move on." In my opinion, it should be, "We know it's wrong, what are we going to do about it?" (By the way, Dr. Tony Evans has written a great book that addresses this issue called, "Let's Get to Know each Other." I highly recommend it.) I know that this is a hard issue and a lot of Christians don't want to talk about it but I think it's time for Christians to stop shying away from hard issues and address them in God-honoring ways.

I'm going back to what I have learned -

Yes, when you see a person of a different skin color this is what you notice.

But is your opinion of the man (generic use of term) about his skin color, or what you perceive about the person based on that skin color?

Here's what I mean.

When I see a college aged young man with "black" skin wearing "prepie" clothes, my impression of him is that he's middle class and well-mannered.

When I see a college aged young man with 'black" skin wearing "ghetto" clothes, my impression of him is that he's an arrogant, disrespectful, bad-mouthed punk.

If I see a college aged young man with "white" skin dressed like this, I have the same impression as well.

So, again - I don't believe so muc that we are prejudiced against "race" as it is the culture we perceive of that "race" that we react to.

****

As for dealing with it - "racism" is just another manifestation of pride and hatred.

Pride - you are different from me in [whatever] way, and I am better than you.

Hatred - mistreatement in attitude and deed.

So, to deal with "racism", I say go for the real roots of the problem - not the outward appearance.

[Gerioke]

To the issue of focusing too much on race, well quite honestly I don't see enough focus within the church on what to do about racism. The attitude that I've come across in most churches and with most Christians is "We know it's wrong, let's move on." In my opinion, it should be, "We know it's wrong, what are we going to do about it?" (By the way, Dr. Tony Evans has written a great book that addresses this issue called, "Let's Get to Know each Other." I highly recommend it.) I know that this is a hard issue and a lot of Christians don't want to talk about it but I think it's time for Christians to stop shying away from hard issues and address them in God-honoring ways.

I'm going back to what I have learned -

Yes, when you see a person of a different skin color this is what you notice.

But is your opinion of the man (generic use of term) about his skin color, or what you perceive about the person based on that skin color?

Here's what I mean.

When I see a college aged young man with "black" skin wearing "prepie" clothes, my impression of him is that he's middle class and well-mannered.

When I see a college aged young man with 'black" skin wearing "ghetto" clothes, my impression of him is that he's an arrogant, disrespectful, bad-mouthed punk.

If I see a college aged young man with "white" skin dressed like this, I have the same impression as well.

So, again - I don't believe so muc that we are prejudiced against "race" as it is the culture we perceive of that "race" that we react to.

****

As for dealing with it - "racism" is just another manifestation of pride and hatred.

Pride - you are different from me in [whatever] way, and I am better than you.

Hatred - mistreatement in attitude and deed.

So, to deal with "racism", I say go for the real roots of the problem - not the outward appearance.

Don't forget fear. ( I'll get you before you get me)A lot of racists fear that certain people are trying to take over the world.