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LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are four major race groups in the world

1.      Australoid

2.      Caucasoid

3.      Negroid

4.      Mongoloid

5.      NOTE:  It is important to note before proceeding any further, all human beings are of the same species:  Homo (man) sapiens (wise).

 

B.      The things which distinguish the races today are:

1.      Color of skin

2.      Languages spoken

3.      Places people live

4.      Cultural practices

5.      Historical experiences

6.      Religious practices

 

C.     Sadly, rather than recognizing one another as human beings, we have a tendency to see each other through racial-colored glasses.

 

D.    Because of our differences, diverse ideologies, conflicting perspectives, hidden agendas, hatred, animosity, false allegations, division, and strife that exist between the races, we do not like to talk about it in the church. 

 

E.      In this lesson, we want to look at the subject.  I have entitled the lesson:  “Let’s Talk about Race.”

 

I.                   GOD CREATED THE RACES

 

A.    God is responsible for all things (Exo. 20:11)

 

For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…

 

B.      Note the phrase:  “…and all that in them is…”

1.      All of the races of man are in the earth.

2.      Thus, God created them all.

 

II.                ALL RACES COME FROM THE SAME SOURCE

 

A.    The first beginning for humanity

1.      Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26-27)

 

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

2.      This couple was commanded to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth (Gen. 1:28).

 

 

B.      The second beginning of humanity

1.      Noah’s family went into the ark (Gen. 7:13).

 

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them into the ark.

 

2.      After the flood Noah and his sons were given the same command given to Adam and Eve (Gen. 9:1).

 

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

 

C.     How could two people produce all of the races of people that exist on the earth?

1.      In humans, production of skin coloring agent is controlled by two pairs of genes:  Aa and Bb.

a.      The capital letters represent dominant genes that produce melanin well.

b.      The small letters represent recessive genes that produce melanin to a lesser degree.

2.      The possibilities:

a.      If Adam and Eve were both AABB, they would have produced only children with the darkest coloration possible.

b.      If they were both aabb, they would have produced only children with the lightest coloration possible.

c.       If the first couple both had two dominate and two recessive genes (AaBa), they would have been middle-brown in color.  From them, in one generation, racial differences could have occurred quite easily.

d.      In a single generation, one could expect (theoretically) these colorations to be produced:  1 darkest, 4 dark, 6 medium, 4 light, and 1 lightest.

 

D.    In Genesis 11, God confounded the languages and scattered humanity all over the world (Gen. 11:8).

 

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth:  and they left off to build the city.

 

1.      Where the various groups settled also impacted their features.

2.      This is referred to as environmental impact.

 

E.      NOTE:  Skin color has become the primary way to distinguish the races. 

1.      This is because it is outward and easily seen.

2.      But, there is really no sure way to distinguish the races one from another.  (Ex., millions of people in India are classified as members of the Caucasoid race, who have darker skin than most American blacks).

 

F.      The important lesson:  All of us have as our parents, Noah and his wife, and ultimately, Adam and Eve (Acts 17:26).

 

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

 

III.             DIVERSITY IS GOOD

 

A.    Diversity simply means many varieties.

B.      Variety provides many choices.

1.      There are varieties of apples.

2.      There are varieties of flowers.

3.      There are varieties of peas.

4.      Question:  Aren’t you glad there is not just one selection in each of these categories?

 

C.     The same is true of humans.  There are many varieties of them.

1.      There is plenty from which to select a mate.

2.      The variety adds zest and vitality to living.

3.      Variety adds color to the world.

4.      Variety increases business and profits for man:  make-up, hair styling products, industries (tanning), medical field, etc.

 

IV.             THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD IN EVERY RACE

 

A.    There are some things race does not determine.

1.      Race does not determine character.

2.      Race does not determine attitude.

3.      Race does not determine work ethic.

4.      Race does not determine intelligence.

5.      Race does not determine morality.

6.      Race does not determine personality.

7.      Race does not determine generosity.

8.      Race does not determine love for others.

 

B.      Two examples:

1.      The Jews, who were supposed to be God’s people, were often evil and immoral (Rom. 2:23-24).

 

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.

 

2.      Cornelius was a Gentile, but was a good man (Acts 10:1-2).

 

There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

 

C.     We need to be very careful in broad generalities when it comes to our judgment of various races of people.

 

V.                GOD IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT RACE

 

A.    When God looks down upon humanity,

1.      He is not concerned about the color of our skin, the type of hair we have, or the shapes of our eyes.

2.      He is not concerned about my race and culture whether I am in the church building or out of it.

 

B.      He knows that all of these outward things are a temporary shell that will be discarded in death.

1.      Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 

2.      II Corinthians 5:1-2

 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house when is from heaven.

 

C.     God looks far beyond our outward appearances.  He looks deep within, into the heart of man (I Sam. 16:7).

 

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature:  because I have refused him:  for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

 

1.      God could see the heart of a young shepherd lad named David and made him the king of Israel (I Sam. 16:12), instead of the tall, strong older sons of Jesse.

2.      Jesus saw the good heart of an elderly lady who gave two mites (Mark 12:43-44), rather than all of the rich who surrounded her and cast in much.

3.      Jesus saw the hearts of 12 men from Galilee who were not trained in the rabbinical schools, and called them to be His apostles (Matt. 10:1-4), in lieu of the priests, elders, scribes, and lawyers of His day.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    This is our first of two lessons on race.

 

B.      In this lesson, we have seen five things that should shape our personal views about race.

1.      God created all races.

2.      All races can trace themselves back to the first couple, Adam and Eve.

3.      Diversity is a good thing.

4.      There are good and bad in all races.

5.      God is not concerned about our race.

 

C.     If all of these things are true, why is there so much importance placed upon race?

1.      Race been blown out of proportion by mankind.  By this we mean, that we place far too much emphasis upon it in our society.

2.      Satan has used it to bring hatred, division, evil speaking, and even murder within humanity.

 

D.    It would be a true blessing if the day could come when we could look upon each other simply as homo sapiens, that is, “wise men.”  Again, this is precisely how God sees each one of us.