God So Loved the World - Part 1 - Racism | Acts 10:34-43 | June 7, 2020

Theme: God so Loved the World – What does God say about racism?

• ·       He does not show favoritism (judge by appearance)
• ·       Racism isn’t as simple as we think
• ·       The gospel gives us the best model to address racism

This has been a difficult week in many ways. Our nation is hurting and suffering. We see images daily of anger and fear. This, in turn, causes us to lash out at others, whether in word, in deed, or in the heart. Everywhere we look hostility seems to exist and grow. Part of what makes this tough is that these events cause overwhelming feelings. We are continually reminded that we have so little control, as if we hadn’t had enough reminders of that fact this year. We also feel overwhelmed when we don’t know what to do for change or where to turn for hope. These feelings can be powerful enough that cynicism and despair seem inevitable.

God speaks to these issues in His Word and there is hope for our lives. We seek to analyze some of these topics in the next few weeks and look at each main theme according to God’s Word. This will help us understand what we’re facing and the causes behind it, but also what God can and has done to help us. Our series is simple – “God So Loved the World” – the very message of the gospel which we always need to hear – especially at this time.

This morning we take part one in our series, by addressing the topic on everyone’s mind – racism. What is it? What does God say about it? and What can we do about it? There’s no doubt you’ve heard a lot about this topic already this week. Everyone seems to have their own understanding of what we’re up against when it comes to racism and what needs to be done about it. Yet, these opinions are often laced with personal bias and agenda, which doesn’t help anyone in the end. Perhaps we get so caught up in arguing with one another that we forget to consider what God says. Let’s take a step back from the narratives of the world and listen to God.

While we readily grant that the word “racism” doesn’t exist in the Bible – God most certainly addresses the core issues of the sinful heart that lead to racism In the Bible, we have a clear teaching against racism because it directly connects to the core of our faith – salvation in Christ. There is strength in the Christian faith in this regard. We speak out against racism, in fact any sinful judgment of others based on appearance, not only because we know it to be wrong by experience, but because it directly endangers the promise of salvation in Jesus – a promise given and won for all people. This point alone offers a tremendous amount of hope in terms of attacking the evil of racism today and working toward changing the ways that people look at and treat one another.

To see and learn from such an example today, we turn to our text from Acts 10:34-43:

Then Peter began to speak: "Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ-- He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins." (CSB)

The first thing we see is that racism is wrong because of your relationship with God. We often think of racism in terms of how we view one another, which certainly applies. But it doesn’t matter who you are, God directs your attention to how He views you. We see this in verse 34 as Peter says, “Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism.” An application to racism comes out in the word favoritism. We tend to think of favoritism as preferring one thing over another, but it is a stronger word in the Bible. Here it means to make unjust distinctions between people by treating one person better than another. This certainly fits as a just condemnation of any racist thought, attitude, or action – but there’s an even deeper connection.

In the Greek, this word for favoritism is actually the combination of two words. The literal meaning of these two words is “to look upon someone’s face.” This was the cultural way of expressing favoritism among the Greeks – that you are making a decision or judgment of something based on what another person (lit. their face) looks like. Think about that for a moment, doesn’t that fit with the inherent nature of racism? 

Some people may assume the Bible doesn’t directly speak to racism, but passages like these, of which there are many throughout the Scriptures, really show how well God addresses the topic. And it comes back to how God views people. Because He doesn’t show favoritism, we shouldn’t either.  

What we also see from our text is that racism can come in many different forms. It’s not simply a matter of doing evil to a person with a different skin color than you, it’s about what’s in your heart and how you think of others. We’re learning this as we grow in our understanding about racism in our country. It’s not just about what you’ve done, but also what you’ve thought.

Similarly, it’s important that we recognize the ways that prejudice and discrimination affect the way we think of others and how we treat them. Prejudice is a word that points to those thoughts and feelings in the heart. It’s easy to hide prejudice, because others can’t always see it; and therefore it’s easy to stay prejudiced against someone without thinking that it’s racist. But evil thoughts in one’s heart lead to evil actions, what we might call discrimination. Continually throughout Scripture, God teaches about the connection between the heart and actions. Therefore, if left unheeded, prejudice will lead to discrimination in action. It’s important that each of us look at our lives to see where prejudice has taken root, and then to repent of this and ask God to cleanse our heart.

We also come to learn that racism can exist in different contexts, on an individual, an institutional, and a cultural level. These three domains are separate but linked together. A person may not be racist on an individual level, but that doesn’t mean the culture they live in is free from it. Likewise, there may not be any clear laws condoning racism on an institutional level in the United States, but that doesn’t mean racism isn’t shared from person to person in certain situations, or that isn’t part of certain cultures with the United States. As we seek to address this problem in our nation, we need humility and honesty about how pervasive racism can be and the many different forms it can take.

This lesson about Peter is valuable in this regard. We see the connection between culture, institution, and the individual quite clearly in Peter himself. We also see how prejudice affects attitude and action. Here in this context (and I invite you to read all of Acts 10) Peter is speaking to a man named Cornelius and his family. Cornelius was a believer, but he was also a Gentile. There was racial tension between Jews and Gentiles that affected the faith of each. This theme is present in many of the New Testament letters of Paul, almost as if God was provided a model for us.

Peter struggled in his heart about how to minister to Gentiles like Cornelius, not because Peter was overtly hateful of Gentiles, but because Peter had been raised in a culture that taught about separation between Jews and Gentiles. This culture manifested itself in the institution of the Temple and the ways in which the Jews practiced their faith. As Christ entered the scene and fulfilled these protective measures of the Old Testament that were designed to keep God’s people focused on the coming Messiah, many Jews struggled with how to transition into the New Testament era.  

Peter was one who found it hard to overcome thoughts in his heart that would lead him to look at Gentiles in a lesser light – even though that’s never the way that God intended people to think. So God gave Peter a vision at the beginning of chapter 10. This vision involved a sheet of ceremonially unclean animals coming down from heaven – things that were forbidden for the Old Testament believer. God called Peter to rise, kill, and eat. When Peter objected to this, God responded, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Three times God did this.

The next day, as Peter spoke to Cornelius, he realized what the Lord’s message was. Peter said in verse 28: “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” God’s message was not just about animals, but about people. This led Peter to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel to Cornelius and baptize his entire household. God helped Peter realize what we see in verse 43 of our text, “All the prophets testify about Him [Jesus] that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

Racism is a problem from sin. At its core, racism is idolatry because it seeks to devalue and put a different label on a person whom God has created and redeemed. It’s valuable for us to recognize how prevalent racism can be, it’s unique history in our nation, and how easily it can affect our hearts. It’s necessary that we immediately turn away from it in repentance. But there are also a few things that racism is not…

·       It’s not a sin greater than any other.

·       It’s not something new.

·       It’s not a sin beyond the hope for healing and forgiveness in Jesus.

Sometimes the noise can be so loud in the world, that we forget these simple points. In this one chapter, we see both that which points out the evil of racism and that which fixes it – redemption in Jesus Christ. Use what you have before you now – education, activism, listening and empathy – to learn more about the destructiveness of racism and how it tarnishes the way God wants us to think of and treat others. But never leave out Jesus – He is the most important person that all people need – whether they are on the giving or receiving end of racist pain. Think of the power of Jesus as Peter described it: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. But sadly, as our nation heaves with anguish over this issue, as communities react, as individuals speak – I’ve seen very little of Jesus on peoples’ thoughts and lips.

God grant us humility and wisdom to learn from our mistakes, and to apply the painful message of the law to our hearts. Peter, too, was confused and uncertain. But God made the answer clear and opened up a way for healing through the gospel, the very message that Jesus defeated the devil – through His crucifixion and resurrection – and overcame the racial discord of the early Church. God accomplished this seemingly impossible task, not because of the skill, education, or intuition of the early Christian culture, but because the gospel revealed to people the simple love of Jesus in being able to love others in a way that we can’t, and it reminded people – time and time again – that Jesus forgives the repentant sinner.

This good news changed hearts, which changed thoughts, which changed attitudes, which changed words, which changed actions. Racism may always be something we struggle with in this fallen world, but it doesn’t have to tear apart our nation, our communities, our families, our relationships, or our faith in Jesus. He is able to make the same change happen in our lives, and He pleads with us to listen to and use His Word for that very purpose.

We have a God who does not judge by looking at a person’s face – He can certainly lead, strengthen, and equip us to do the same. And through Jesus, God shines His face upon us – the enlighten, to forgive, and bless. Let us share that with the while world. May we look to Jesus – the Savior of all people – as our Leader and Brother in this task. Amen.