RACISM: It's a Belief Issue.

Why the Bible is Important - to me. #11

RACISM. It’s a Belief Issue!

Its ugly head was recently raised in a few football games in Australia. Politicians are passing laws against it. No country is free from it.  ‘IT’ of course is racial vilification.

Racism goes beyond a liking or disliking another person. We all have those feelings. Racism however doesn’t treat the man or woman with different coloured skin or cultural heritage as a person to like or dislike. Such an attitude of the mind expressed through words or actions considers him or her as an ‘it’, inferior and infectious.



women dancing in Zambia
welcoming Aussie team



Passing laws will not change the heart and mind. This is especially true when from an early age children are taught the theory of evolution. This creates the impression that some races are superior to others. Combine such teaching with envy of another culture’s achievements, unfortunate experiences with unscrupulous people of different origins and a jihad hatred of a particular country, racial discrimination breeds.

This is another reason why the Bible is so important not only to me, but to all. In it we discover how the Lord God created one man and one woman, Adam and Eve, and through them all the races of the world. Whether we like it or not, we are all related. We are all of one blood as the apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill as recorded in Acts 17.

More than that the Bible tells every one of us that we all have sinned and fallen short of the Creator’s standard. That ‘Fall’ had and continues to have serious consequences on our outlook on life. Inwardly we are corrupt even when we are being nice outwardly. The great news of the Bible proclaims our Creator God has provided a cleansing of and a control system for our darkened hearts and minds. That is the testimony of the cross of Jesus Christ. He died for all men and women across all time. Jesus is not a racist. He is colour blind. He deals with the heart issues. He knows we are all infected with the same sinful nature.

When any person from any culture accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour He bestows on them His righteousness and gives them of His Holy Spirit. This makes them family. Each is either a brother or sister to the other believer. Lest you think a Christian can then look down on a non Christian, think again. Jesus actually tells us to love them, pray for them and remember they are of the same human stock as you.

 

The Bible is the only book that treats humans as equal and unique. That is why it is important to us all. Racism is a belief system which only a different belief system will overpower. It will not come from evolutionary theory. It will not be found in Islam. It cannot be dictated to by Governments. Only an acceptance of the teaching of the Bible and a submission to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will overcome the ‘IT’ called racism.

Ray (a descendent of Adam and Eve) Hawkins

HUMAN DIGNITY BEGINS HERE

The Importance of the Bible to me #5

Human Dignity Begins Here

Even to a casual observer there are some–things so different in Christian influenced countries than non–Christian countries. We who are privileged to live in Christian countries take so much for granted and fail to appreciate our heritage.  Yes we are far from perfect. Yes Church attendances are falling. However the Christian influence is strong and lingers.

 

Mary,Ray and Zambian family



Look at Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu countries and their treatment of women, the outcaste, and the inequality before the Law of non country citizens. That is naming but a few instances. What has made the difference between West and East? The teaching, preaching, living and motivation aroused by the Judeo–Christian Scriptures.

Let’s look at a couple of directions for a safe, sound and satisfying society. In Leviticus 19 are some very fundamental yet imperative words from Yahweh. ‘You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind.’ (verse 14) Why make this a big deal? The deaf cannot hear you and the blind cannot see your actions.  What is at stake? Human dignity and personal integrity! Why bother? If you believe in evolution all are merely matter in motion. No dignity there. If you accept Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism with their Karma then such afflicted people deserved their condition.

The Judeo–Christian view is human life is due in the beginning to a creative act of God.

Genesis also stresses this uniqueness stems from Adam being made in the likeness of God. Again the example of Jesus in His treatment of the blind, the deaf, the outcaste motivates a caring concern. In Australia there is being introduced a Disability Insurance scheme.  True Australia is fast drifting out of being a vibrant Christian country. However its values are heavily influenced by its Biblical Heritage.  People from other religious persuasions want to enjoy our heritage and yet pervert it with their own religious law. Are they unable or unwilling to see the contrast between Christian and non–Christian belief systems and behaviour?

However not speaking ill of the deaf or putting stumbling blocks before the blind is more than a nice religious ideal. It is the command of the Lord God of Creation and Glory. Therefore you can see it does matter what you believe even in such a seemingly small social issue as treating the deaf and the blind. An unbiased look back over history will reveal men and women leaving home and security to serve the welfare of others in distant countries. Why? Because they had a sense of God’s call on their lives, the example of Jesus, the need of suffering humanity and the motivating authority of the Bible.

That is just another reason why the Bible is so important ― to me. What about you?

Next week’ The Bible and Animal Welfare.’