A Note on the Word "Race"

Strictly speaking, the word “race” is not an accurate anthropological term. Typically, “race” is defined in the following way: “any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid,and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics” (dictionary.reference.com).

The usage of the term has an unfortunate history: 1) evolutionary theory was founded on the premise that some races were more advanced mentally than others because they were evolutionary superior, hence the word “racism”; 2) leaders such as Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein used this concept to exterminate other people groups.

According to the Bible, the truth of the matter is that there is one race: the human race. Acts 17:26-27 describes both our origin and our purpose in two beautiful verses:

17:26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,                             17:27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Acts17:26-27)

Everyone is a descendant of Adam and Eve, so we are all cousins. True Christianity realizes this fact, and loves others as themselves because this is Christ’s commandment (Mark 12:30-31). The apostle Peter learned this lesson after he realized that he could not love God and hate Gentiles at the same time:

10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

10:35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

May we learn to love others with the love of Christ!