AP Discusses Ties Between Racism and Religion

Thirty-six years ago, Jesse McGee’s son reported something McGee considered unfathomable: he had married a white woman. McGee’s feeling of discomfort over his daughter-in-law continued for another three decades, but today something is different.

“I’ve gotten past that now,” McGee, now 84, said. “When we started studying about ‘one blood’ that was a big help.” McGee is referring to an older Answers in Genesis resource, One Blood, that focuses on the origin of people groups as recorded in Genesis. The Associated Press reports on the efforts of McGee’s church:

At New Hope Baptist Church, Bible study classes have been reading about the concept that all God's people are connected. In small groups, hovering over Bibles, members were taught that mankind is descended from Adam and Eve and that blood shed by Jesus Christ is a means to salvation for everyone of every race.

The AP story is even accompanied by photos of McGee holding a copy of One Blood, McGee and his wife in church, McGee’s son, and Rev. Jerry Young, pastor of the church McGee attends, who “preaches to his congregation about the unity of believers,” the AP reports.

It’s always encouraging to read about the positive effect biblical teaching can have on individuals’ day-to-day lives, and it is even more encouraging when biblical teaching transforms and corrects destructive lifelong attitudes. Answers in Genesis is thankful to play a part in God’s workings, and we are overjoyed when the secular media reports on Christianity in a positive light (though no mention of Answers in Genesis was made).

The AP report also tells the saddening story on Brandon Taylor Sides, who “was caught between two conflicting visions of God”—one that had God sending homosexuals to hell, another that taught that homosexuals have a place in heaven. Today, 21-year-old Sides is a deacon at a Chicago church that “celebrates” gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered black parishioners.

“We’re still stuck on getting people to understand that God loves them the way they are.”

“We’re still stuck on getting people to understand that God loves them the way they are,” Sides said. The problem is, sadly, that Sides and others have forgotten (or deliberately ignored) passages such as 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, which make it clear that any sex outside heterosexual marriage (which certainly includes homosexuality) is displeasing to God (sin). Romans 6 makes it clear that Christians should not continue in sin. Condoning, much less celebrating, another’s sin is both harmful and sinful in and of itself! Thankfully, God in His grace has not left us in bondage to our sins, but sent His Son to save us. 1 Corinthians 6:11 continues, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

Prejudice, bigotry, and hateful attitudes toward other humans are inappropriate attitudes for Christians, who are commanded to show God’s love to the world. But ignoring or whitewashing the truth is not Christian love.