I am seeing an increasing pull for racism, and it concerns me. Thanks to social media, openly racist people are more open than they have been in generations. Some of them even claim to be "christians," but they need to read their Bible and submit themselves to the authority of a Bible believing church.

First, let's define terms: Racism is bigotry or hatred against someone for specific inborn genetic traits. Criticizing certain cultures or religions is not racist. Culture is not race, and neither is religion. We need to be very careful when we talk about racism that we actually are criticizing racism. We do not want to be "the boy who cried wolf," nor should we want to bear false witness by crying "racism" where it does not exist.

Moving to the topic, let's start with Genesis 1:27. Man is made in the image of Almighty God. When we demean others because of their race, we demean the very image of our Creator. Part of loving God means loving those made in His image, and racism denies the image of God in the pinnacle of His creation. We cannot fulfill the second greatest commandment if we harbor racist sentiment.

This teaching is expanded in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12 that we are all equal in Jesus Christ. We have all sinned, and God sent His son to shed His blood that we might be saved. We are all equal at the foot of the cross - sinners condemned to eternal damnation in Hell Fire for our rebellion against the only true God who created us. We granted grace and mercy that we do not deserve through His blood, shed to atone for our sin.

Racism is a wicked sin against God. All races can be racist, because we are all equally vulnerable to sin. Race-baiting (trading on society's general dislike for racism for personal gain) is also wicked and shameful. We need to move beyond this sin. If we do not love our neighbors of all races, we cannot love God. If we say we love God and hate our neighbor, we are liars and we will face His wrath. Repent!