Bigotry. Hatred. Racism. Murder. All connected, and all stand loudly condemned by both believers and unbelievers. There is little worse we can see in this world that the ugliness of hatred vomited out so proudly, so publicly, paraded around and “justified” by an ungodly abuse of freedom. There is no excuse for such evil. Yet there it is, inches from our faces, belching its putrid stench on us as we try to catch our collective breath.
Are we surprised? We live in a world of mixed messages. We are told that morals are relative on the one hand, but not so relative when it comes to hatred and bigotry. But why? The moral outrage of this world is a testimony to our moral nature, but when we start examining the divine foundations of our moral nature, we are shut down. People know that the bigotry on display is evil, but they don’t know why. They rail against it on the basis of feelings, but do they understand foundationally where the real problem lies? If we don’t know why, we’ll never be able to overcome it.
Why are bigotry and racism wrong? I would say that everyone knows these are wrong, but apparently, some, deluded, perverted, and convoluted in their minds, think it is right, as events of public hatred testify. Rational people know better. Why is bigotry wrong? We can shout down those who disagree all day, but if we cannot articulate the why, what have we really accomplished other than joining in a shouting match that will never have a satisfactory conclusion?
Is bigotry wrong because some people feel it is wrong? Is it wrong because some say it is wrong? Or are there deeper issues here? If we base this entirely on feelings, then we cannot deny the feelings of others. Once we open up right and wrong as matters of how we feel, there is no stopping place, and all feelings are on the table regardless of what we think about them. At some point, when our own feelings “feel” violated, we will draw the line. The problem is that people don’t draw the line at the same place. Why is your line better than mine, or vice versa? Line-drawing based on feelings is not a workable solution for a moral foundation. Such can only create more bitterness and anger. Isn’t this what we continue to see and experience? By placing feelings as the standard for right and wrong, we have opened up doors we never wanted open, and now we don’t know how to shut them.
Is bigotry wrong because a majority of people say it’s wrong? Is it wrong because a government says it wrong? If we base right and wrong on majority rule, then what happens when the majority changes? What happens when government changes for the worse? Now who gets to decide what’s right and wrong? This simply cannot work.
What, then, is the answer?
First, the answer lies in our created nature.
We are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). This includes male, female, and all ethnicities and races. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). All human beings share in this. This means that humans, regardless of skin color, where they come from, what language they speak, and so on, are to be treated with the respect that the image of God deserves. Bigotry is evil because it is a fundamental denial of the image of God in which all are made.
Immediately some will object because they don’t want “religion” brought into this. Then what is the answer? Evolution? Mindless, purposeless, accidental processes with no ultimate meaning? How can that help us in understanding this? If evolution is the answer, devoid of God, then bear this one thing in mind: the evil that is being acted out in bigotry and racism is based on evolutionary development. If that is the case, then on what basis is it evil? It would just be the way evolution works? Is that really where we want to be on this?
If there is no God, then there is no fundamental difference between human beings and any other evolved animals. We can protest this problem all day, but at the end of the day, we are back to the same problem. As Dawkins famously wrote, “In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.” (River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life)
If there is no good, no evil, and only pitiless indifference, then what exactly are people protesting when it comes to bigotry, racism, and hatred? On the other hand, if we understand that God is our foundation, and we are made in His image, then we have reason to understand the problem of evil. The evil of bigotry is based in human will that ignores the truth of their own created nature.
Second, because we are made in God’s image, and God is love, we are made with the capacity to love.
Love is not just a feeling. It is a decision to act in a responsible way toward other fellow human beings. Paul wrote,
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:8-10).
The capacity to love, however, also means that we have the capacity not to love. When people choose not to love, then we see the fruits of evil acted out in bitterness and hatred. Bigotry, at its base, is a lack of love for fellow humans. Racism is a lack of love. Murder is a lack of love. These are choices to ignore our own capacity to be what God intends for us to be.
“But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).
People try to justify hatred because they are blind. Bear in mind that when people show hate for others, they are really showing hate for God, in whose image all are made.
The gospel is the ultimate solution.
We can condemn how people act morally, and we can shout down people and tell them they need to change. Yet without the gospel, their end result is the same, regardless of how they act. The gospel, the good news of peace, happiness, salvation, and God’s reign (Isa. 52:7) will not only change how people act; it is will change their final destination. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4), and He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
Bigotry, racism, and hatred can be defeated with a proper foundation and solution. If we try to do this only by political means, then we will only provide a solution so long as that political force stays in power, and it will not change hearts. The gospel, on the other hand, is a permanent solution when people actually understand why we all need it and are willing to submit to it.
Since all of us stand condemned by sin (Rom. 3:23), then all of us need what Jesus offers. The gospel reverses the sin problem. It brings us together in Christ, offers peace with both God and others, and provides healing. In Christ, “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war” (Isa. 2:4). In Christ, the wolf dwells with the lamb, and no one following Him will hurt or destroy in His holy mountain (Isa. 11:6-10). Forgiveness is the norm in Christ. Love is the way of living. Compassion and grace are part of character development.
Paul sums it up this way:
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Col. 3:12-15).
Imagine a world in which we all repented and came to Christ. Imagine living with a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Imagine learning to bear with one another, forgiving one another, and loving one another in true peace, unity, and thankfulness. When we have done this, we have moved well beyond politics. We aren’t basing everything on feelings. We are acting in the best interest of others because this is exactly what our Lord did, and “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col. 3:24).
What it means to be human is fully realized through Christ in His gospel. Sin is an attempt to escape the image in which we have been made. Hatred, bitterness, bigotry, and racism are the fruits of the flesh devoid of God, love, and all that is good. This is what sin does. If we really hate what bigotry stands for, we will hate sin. If we hate sin enough, we will come to the solution provided by God in His gospel.
“Opening his mouth, Peter said: ‘I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)…” (Acts 10:34-36).
Doy Moyer
