When you append the suffix ism to the word race, as in racism, you go from a noun to a verb; and every verb involves a demonstrable and tangible action. In the case of what the culture calls racism, that action is attitudinal and behavioral which, by definition, moves the discussion of racism from the sphere of the sociological to the theological because, for better or worse, attitudes—and the behaviors that flow from them—are matters of the heart (see Mark 7:17-23). The culture would have you believe that something as static and immutable as skin color is inherently capable of authoring motive, intent, and impetus as it relates to how persons of different ethnicities treat one another (as if melanin had a mind and heart of its own). Needless to say, it does not. Melanin is static, not dynamic. Melanin does not think, it does not feel, it does not love, it does not hate, it does not discern between good and evil, right and wrong. All those things take place at the deepest levels of the heart, not at the superficial level of one's skin. The truth is there is no such thing as biological human race. Race is a social construct. Even critical race theorists acknowledge this. For example, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, the former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and faculty affiliate in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (the academic birthplace of Critical Race Theory) who, in The Handbook of Critical Race Theory in Education (2013, pp. 38-39), declared: "Biologists, geneticists, anthropologists, and sociologists all agree that race is not a scientific reality. Despite what we perceive as phenotypic differences, the scrutiny of a microscope or the sequencing of genes reveals perceptible differences between what we call races. As members of the same species, human beings are biologically quite similar. . . . However, human beings have constructed social categories [emphasis mine] . . . that rely heavily on arbitrary genetic differences like skin color, hair texture, eye shape, and lip size. . . . Thus, while critical race theorists accept the scientific understanding of no-race or no genetic difference, we also accept the power of a social reality [emphasis mine] that allows for significant disparities in the life chances of people based on the categorical understanding [emphasis mine] of race." The evangelical church must do a better job of exegeting the vernacular of the culture. What the culture calls racism, Scripture simply calls hate (see 1 John 3:15). All this to say that the problem of society isn't some ism but our sinful hearts (see Genesis 6:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20). Sin has been the problem not only of society but the entire world since Genesis 3. Consequently, the only solution to any discord between human beings, whether ethnic or otherwise, is gospel of Jesus Christ which, when imparted by faith by the Spirit of God to sinful hearts, reconciles us first to God and, subsequently, to one another (see Ephesians 2:14-16). Biological human race is a myth. Hearts must be changed, and only the gospel of Jesus Christ can accomplish that. ~ DBH.
@D_B_Harrison 👊🏻 and this is why external laws and programs have negligible impact and cannot solve the problem. The elimination of meritocracy will prove to be worse than a placebo, it’s a poison. Fix the heart, find the health.
@D_B_Harrison Born in 1940 I was raised believing otherwise in a white culture environment. I still today am filled with resentment at those who kept me from knowing wonderful people. I learn so much from you, Pastor. Thank you and God bless you! I Iook to Rev 7:9 becoming a reality.
@D_B_Harrison I experienced REAL racism because my first platoon sergeant(black) owned me as property (as close as you can get modern day). He tortured me. But the next guy in the door was a black man who had character. He trained me. Cared for me. God showed me the difference that fast.
@D_B_Harrison 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; It's funny how scientific the bible can be. It's almost as if the author was omniscient or something. 🤔
@D_B_Harrison Well written Genetic inheritance gets all the attention but memetic inheritance is ignored Ideas/beliefs about reality as passed down through instruction & stories Much of our social unrest is due to the institutionalization of education & storytelling rewriting our memetic "DNA"