FAITH QUESTION: My pastor recently taught that black people are cursed by God. Is this true? I need to be very honest here: immediately find a new church to attend. Racism is a heinous sin that is incompatible with true Christianity. It is not simply that racism is something Christians should avoid. Rather, if one demeans or devalues another human being on the basis of color or ethnicity then that person’s very salvation is called into serious question. A true disciple of Christ can be a racist about as legitimately as he can be an abortion doctor.
All human beings are cursed because of our sinfulness. This includes blacks, but it also includes whites, Hispanics, indigenous peoples, and every other people group under the sun. Because we are all equally cursed, we all stand equally in need of Jesus’ salvation.
Frankly, your pastor will stand before God one day and be judged for his satanic, racist ideology that was authored in the darkest corners of hell. He is a false teacher, a pawn of Satan, and a heretic. By this teaching he has distorted the doctrine of humanity, the doctrine of the church, and even the doctrine of redemption. Scripture teaches that we are all created in the image of God (doctrine of humanity), the church is comprised of every tribe, nation, and tongue (the doctrine of the Church), and Christ is no respecter of persons who redeems all who accept him as Lord (doctrine of redemption). The center of the Gospel is the message of the love of Christ. Looking down on others, and elevating ourselves above others, is a mark of hatred and pride. These lead to death and hell, and are the very things Christ came to save us from.
Scripture teaches us that Christ came to call all peoples unto himself. The Old Testament declares, "Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him" (Daniel 7:14). The gospel is preached "to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Revealtion 14:6). John's vision of heaven was one of "a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands" (Revelation 7:9). There is no room in Christianity for those who would deny the very center of the Gospel.
My African-American fellow believers are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We once stood equally guilty before God and equally deserved hell. Now we stand equally forgiven before God as equally loved children.
They are no longer cursed, but your pastor may very well still be…
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You can also follow Pastor Josh on Twitter: twitter.com/JoshGelatt. Questions about faith, scripture, theology, or daily Christian living can be submitted via Email. "Faith Questions" is a feature in the monthly newsletter of Indian River Baptist Church. This blog republishes those Questions, along with others not selected for print publication.
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