Answered Question from GotQuestions.org

I have a question with several parts: What does God want for black culture? Can God remove crime from black culture? What can Christians do in a world where self-segregation and racism looks safer than trying to get along? What does the Bible say about self-segregation and "the bounds between the nations"?

Even many decades post-civil rights, race still seems to be a great source of division in America today. However, the Bible teaches us another truth. The only truth- which provides a Way for us to rise above our differences.

What does God want for black culture?

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26–27

While we are told that God Himself set the boundaries between nations, it is important to remember that what God wants for one culture, He wants for all cultures. We all descended from the same bloodline, and God’s ultimate purpose for every culture is that we find our way back to Him. More specifically, Jesus gave us two commands to follow.

“Jesus said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets.” Matthew 22:37–40

Ultimately, God wants man to love Him, and He wants us to love one another. Everything He wants for and from us revolves around those truths. Knowing then, that our ultimate purpose as humans is to find Him and love Him, what does that mean for black culture?

Well, God wants the black community to grope for Him and find Him. All men as individuals, regardless of color or culture must turn from their sin and accept Christ as Savior. An entire culture doing so is absolutely God’s heart.

“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Crime in black culture

While God “can” do anything (Luke 1:37), crime does not come from His heart, and thus it is not His to stop. As I mentioned in that verse from 2 Peter, anything resembling crime or violence is not His wish for us. But when given an absolute paradise, the first two human beings chose to sin, even knowing it would lead to death. (Genesis 3). We were given the “gift” of free will, so that we could choose God – grope for Him. He didn’t want mindless followers. He wanted us to choose Him. We chose sin, and because of that, we are all sinners. (Romans 3:23).

Unfortunately, our tendency to choose sin over God has played out in countless horrific ways throughout the history of the world. This includes crime in the black community. If we were to obey those two commandments back in Matthew 22 (Love God, love others), crime would not exist. One cannot properly love God and others and then commit a crime against one of His children. The solution for every evil in this world is to love God and love others. If crime occurs, it is because one simply did not choose God’s way. This is true in any culture.

Self-segregation vs. Unity in Christ

Self-segregation is essentially the practice of separation of a religious or ethnic group (sect) from the rest of society by the group itself. The Bible has a similar term, and it is called sectarianism. The Bible tells us that this practice is wrong. Just before this next verse in some versions of the Bible, this section is titled “Sectarianism is Sin”.

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

One might argue that this concept doesn’t apply to race, but it does. Any perceived differences are all negated at the cross of Christ. Many are mentioned here:

“…there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian[i], Scythian[ii], slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11

Therefore, any division within the body of Christ is repeatedly discouraged throughout the New Testament. As Christians, we must strive wholeheartedly for unity within the church. Yes, it is easy to self-segregate. But it is absolutely against God’s heart for His church. As we are one with Christ, we must also be in unity with one another.

“I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1–6

Boundaries

My favorite example of God breaking down boundaries between cultures with the unity of Christ is the Biblical account of the woman at the well (see John 4). In Jesus’ day, the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. However, Jesus chose to go out of His way to speak to a Samaritan woman, one who was not even accepted by her own people. He revealed Himself to her as the Messiah. When Jesus did something, it meant something. His love. His sacrifice. Was meant for everyone. Not only that, but we must not refuse to have dealings with anyone that can be reached for Christ, even across cultures.

Another example is part of my own testimony, when I choose to mention it. I am wholly accepted by a loving God. And I’m black. And white. Self-segregation is not only something I don’t choose. It is something I cannot choose. I’m thankful for the perspective that we must all choose Christ as individuals, being unified in Him, and little else.

Conclusion

Whatever our culture or background, we are to seek God as individuals. If we use our free will to love Him on a large scale, as well as reach out and love one another, sin would undoubtedly have less of a hold over black, and every, culture.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

[i] The Greeks often used this term to describe anyone who had not been trained in the Greek language and culture. When other cultures spoke, it sounded to the Greeks as if they were saying “Bar-bar-bar”, thus the term “barbarian”. It was essentially used to describe all non-Greeks and the term was not used quite like it is today.

[ii] An ancient nomadic and warlike people, noted for their savagery. They were hated and feared at the time.