Racism And The Bible–Part 1 -- By: H. C. Felder

Journal: Christian Apologetics Journal
Volume: CAJ 12:1 (Spring 2014)
Article: Racism And The Bible–Part 1
Author: H. C. Felder


Racism And The Bible–Part 1

H. C. Felder

H. C. Felder, M.A. from Southern Evangelical Seminary, is currently a Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics student at SES, and he is founder of “Giving An Answer” ministry.

The former leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad once wrote, “The Bible is the graveyard of my poor people.”1 Muhammad viewed Christianity as a slave religion based on racism that was based on the Bible. This is a common belief among certain segments of blacks and African Americans.

However, this view is not just relegated to black separatist groups. White separatists groups such as the Kingdom Identity Movement and the KKK use Bible passages to justify their teachings on hate and white superiority as well. Additionally there are atheist, agnostics, and adherents of other religious traditions such as Islam that have the same view of the Bible. Authors Forrest G. Wood in his book The Arrogance of Faith and Helen Ellerbe in her book The Dark Side of Christian History blame much of the world’s ills, particularly those of racism, on the teachings of the Bible. They say that it was the Bible that made

slavery in America possible. It was white Christians who used it to justify not only slavery, but all forms of racial discrimination. In fact, with the aid of the Bible, Christians were able to justify the idea that blacks were less than human.

Actually, this is the point of this article. As a Christian African American, I am very sensitive to these charges, and I feel that the Bible has been erroneously maligned. This article will examine what people have claimed the Bible says and compare that to what the Bible actually teaches. It will demonstrate that not only does the Bible not teach racism, but it also teaches the exact opposite. In fact, the Bible actually teaches that because all men are made in God’s image, all men are equal.

Responding To Arguments Of Racism

Does The Bible Condone Slavery?

Advocates of this view allegedly find their support for the justification of slavery in America in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Arguments Based On The Old Testament

It is quite true that Christians and non–Christians alike have used Old Testament Bible passages to justify slavery in America. One such passage is Lev. 25:44–46, which reads,

Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents ...

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