Christ First, Not Ethnicity

In the last few years I have been exposed to old  doctrines that are making a comeback.  They are usually resurrected to the public eye in the arena of racial strife. 

First I read of the doctrine that is similar to British-Israelism. This states that the white people of Celtic, Anglo Saxon, Norman, Germanic, and Scandinavian descent are the ten tribes of the northern part of Israel.  Some presentations make them ALL the twelve tribes of Israel.  

Second I have more recently read of a doctrine promoted by a group called Hebrew Israelites.  This doctrine states that certain black Africans from the west coast of Africa are the true Hebrews and therefore the Biblical Israelites.

One thing that both groups have in common is the view that they are superior or the original people of God, to the discrediting of all other racial or national groups.  Another thing they have in common is an effort to follow and keep select precepts from the Mosaic law.  Neither group keeps the whole law, making their efforts an invalid practice.

Both groups promote racial hatred and bitterness, therefore denying the grace of God.  Both groups rely on manipulating Scripture with a large dose of selected and sympathetic, though questionable, extra-biblical writings to build their case.

I believe that I can show from the Word of God alone that both these positions are erroneous, but that is not apropos for this article. So, another time and piece.

My purpose for this article is to help us come to a genuine Biblical position that will promote peace and brotherhood in the Christ honoring world.  Obviously, to restrict it to Christ honoring people, means we will not solve the world's problem with racism.  However, if we who love the Lord can come together on a Christ honoring position, we may then, have a better opportunity to affect the way the world thinks.

1. No where does the Word of God make distinction regarding intermarriage on the basis of race.  It is always in regard to beliefs and loyalty to the one true God, the God of the Bible.
2. There are two times in world history where all people are of the same family; Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and Noah and his family on the ark.  To deny this, is to deny the Bible and therefore, you have no place in this discussion.  All people, all racial distinctions come through these two men, Adam and Noah.  No one really knows how or when racial distinctions developed, so please, quit propagating mythological explanations as reality when they are nothing more than theory, theory that cannot be substantiated.
3. It doesn't matter what color Adam or Moses was, UNLESS, you are endeavoring to promote some kind of racial superiority.  I have theories on this too, but this isn't an article about theory.
4. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  World doesn't have a modifier to restrict ethnicity or color.   Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;".  ALL have sinned, no racial distinction.
5. There are only two important distinctions among people today and all people fall into one or the other of these two.  Age, gender, ethnicity or race does not enter in to the qualifications for either group.  They are: the saved or lost, the Heaven bound or the Hell bound, the quick or the dead, the sinner or the saint (not the Catholic version), the twice born or the once born.  Where are you in this list?  If you are a saved, Heaven bound, living (quick), saint of God who has truly been born again, you are part of the family of God.
6. The distinction of being in the family of God supersedes any ethnic or racial superiority priority.  I am blessed to have met and known men and women who are of African, Hispanic, Asian, and European ancestry who consider me to be a brother in Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  If you claim any other priority as first in your life than that of being a child of God, you have fallen victim to one or more of the race baiters of varying colors. Escape, flee, run for your spiritual sanity from anyone that would cause you to give preference to anything above being a child of God.  There is NO RACIAL DISTINCTION in the family of God, NONE!!!
7. God has designated our behavior as a born-again child of God, as a member of His family and His kingdom.  That behavior includes Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Also, Colossians 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
8. We were, once, black, brown, yellow?, white, or any variation on the theme, BUT now, we are a new creature in Christ Jesus, created in righteousness, for His praise and His glory.  We, in turn, benefit as we faithfully follow Him.
9. If you identify first by racial status, you then incorporate in your status and therefore your pride, all parts of the social spectrum of your race.  Foolish indeed to identify with thugs and outlaws of your color against your brothers and sisters in the family of God.
10. Let us build our life on Christ, not our secular culture. For the child of God, there is no ethnic culture.  There is kingdom/family culture with Christ on the throne.
11. Born-again child of God, first and foremost, devil takes the hindmost, but I will stand with my God family against the ungodly ethnic family.  I have chosen.  What do you choose to do?