Race

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The question of race is one that has sparked much debate and division in human history, yet from a traditional Christian perspective, the answer is both simple and profound. Race, as commonly understood, is a human construct that does not alter the fundamental unity and dignity of all people as created in the image of God. A biblical understanding of race, rooted in Scripture and the historic Christian tradition to affirm the unity of humanity and the call to love one another as Christ loves us.

The Biblical Foundation: One Human Family 

Scripture provides our starting point for understanding race. In Genesis 1:26-27, we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This foundational truth establishes that all human beings, regardless of physical differences, are created in the imago Dei—the image of God. The Bible does not categorize humanity into races, but presents a singular human race, descended from Adam and Eve, united in origin and purpose (Gen. 1:28).

The New Testament reinforces this unity. In Acts 17:26, Paul declares, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.” The Greek word translated as “nation” here is ethnos, which refers to various people groups but does not imply inherent racial divisions or a hierarchy based on skin color. Instead, it underscores the shared ancestry of all humanity.

Race as a Human Construct 

What the world calls “race” is a social and historical construct, not a biblical or ontological reality. Physical differences such as skin color, facial features, or other traits are part of God’s creative diversity, much like variations in height or eye color. However, these differences do not constitute separate “races” in the eyes of God. The modern concept of race emerged largely in the context of colonialism, slavery, and social hierarchies, often used to justify discrimination or superiority.

Such uses are contrary to Christian teaching, which affirms the equal dignity of all people. Traditional Christian theology has long held that sin, not race, is the true divider of humanity, and Christ’s redemptive work reconciles all people to God and to one another (Ephesians 2:14-16). As Revelation 7:9 envisions, the redeemed in heaven come “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,” worshiping together in unity, as a supernatural family.

The Sin of Division 

While race as a category is not biblical, the misuse of racial distinctions often stems from sin. Prejudice, discrimination, and racism are violations of the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) illustrates that our neighbor includes those who differ from us in culture, ethnicity, or religion. Historic Christianity condemns any attitude or action that elevates one group over another as being more valuable, as this contradicts the humility and love modeled by Christ.

Christians have not always lived up to this ideal, however. Historical failures, such as the complicity of some Christians in slavery or segregation, reflect the reality of sin. These failures call for repentance and a renewed commitment to the biblical truth that all are equal before God.

Diversity within the Church 

The Bible describes the origin of cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) and the incident at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Some Christians see these descriptions of early human migration as the result of God’s sovereign will, while others see them as an on-going consequence of Adam's Fall.

Where Christians are unified is that the body of Christ is composed of members from every nation on the earth. All people are invited to believe in Jesus as the Messiah (Matt. 28:19-20). Those who do form a new and invisible nation (1 Peter 2:9) or kingdom, yet all are united by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). A traditional Christian view of humanity, therefore, embraces the reality of cultural and ethnic differences while also rejecting any attempt to use these differences to create hierarchies or exclusion.

A Call to Unity and Love 

The historic Christian perspective affirms that all humanity is one, created in God’s image, descended from a common ancestor, and redeemed by one Savior. Race, as a divisive category, is a human construct that often fuels sin rather than reflecting God’s truth and has no place in the Christian worldview.

The calling of the true Christian is to reflect the unity of humanity and the reconciling power of the Gospel. As such, we ought to work to ensure that our actions and attitudes toward others reflect the impartial love of Christ. Practically, this means creating an environment in our local churches where members of every ethnicity will be welcomed, valued, and treated with dignity. It means confronting unbiblical forms of prejudice and racism with the truth of Scripture and the grace of Christ. It means acknowledging historical wrongs and, above all, it means proclaiming the Gospel, which crosses every cultural barrier and unites all of God's people as family.

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