God’s Stance on Race - Sermon Blog

We’ve been in a series called Hot Ones, and we’re turning up the heat on real issues that need biblical clarity—not culture’s spin. This past Sunday, we tackled a big one: racism and favoritism.

Let’s get this straight from the start:
Racism is not of God.
God didn’t create racism—we did. It was never a part of His original plan.

And here’s another truth:
Racism isn’t born. It’s taught.

Not a Skin Issue—A Sin Issue

Racism isn’t just about color. It’s about pride—the belief that my kind is better than yours. At its root, racism is favoritism, and Scripture is clear:

“If you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin.” – James 2:9

It’s not just wrong. It’s sin.

Favoritism is elevating someone because of what you see on the outside—money, status, race, politics—and reducing others because of what they lack externally. Whether we exalt the powerful or disregard the poor, it’s sin in both directions.

But I Want God to Judge Me Fairly...

Here’s a little confession: I want God to show me grace. A lot of it.
So if that’s how I want to be treated, I have to treat others the same way.

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” – John 7:24

That means we stop making snap judgments based on looks, status, or stereotypes. That means we see people through God's eyes—not our filters.

The Pharisee Spirit Is Still Alive

Remember the Pharisees? They thought they were God’s favorites because of how they looked and behaved. The Jews said, “He’s our God, not yours.” But God’s heart? Every nation. Every race. Every person.

“From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.” – Acts 17:26

There are no favorites in the Kingdom of God. Just family.

What Does Favoritism Look Like Today?

Sometimes favoritism shows up subtly—how we treat the poor vs. the rich, those with influence vs. those with none.
It even shows up when we assume based on stereotypes.

You’ve heard it:

• “All church people are hypocrites.”

• “All cops are bad.”

• “All people like that act like this.”

Those statements are rooted in assumption, not truth. And assumptions breed sin.

I’ll be honest—I’ve done this too. I judged someone once based on tattoos and piercings before ever hearing their story. And in that moment, God checked my heart:

“Chris, you don’t know what I’ve done in his life.”

Convicted.

Love Your Neighbor... As Yourself

It’s one of the hardest commands.
Not “love them like you tolerate them.”
Not “love them when it’s easy.”
Love them as you love you.

Some of us don’t even love ourselves well. We wake up struggling to believe we have value. If that’s you—hear this clearly:

God loves you. Right now. Just as you are.
You can’t earn it. You can’t mess it up. He doesn’t play favorites with His kids.

So What Now?

1. Speak Up.
Speak God’s truth, not just your opinion. Ask yourself, Does this unify the body or divide it?

2. Pray.
Pray that stereotypes and favoritism won’t take root in your heart. Pray for healing in our city. Pray for wisdom in what you say and post.

3. Love Well.
Jesus said they’ll know you’re His by your love. Love across color, class, and category. Don’t just tolerate. Embrace.

Final Thought: Represent Jesus Well

We are Christ’s ambassadors. That means how we treat people matters. How we speak matters. How we post online matters. And how we carry ourselves reflects the One we represent.

So let’s do it well.

No favoritism. No pride. Just Jesus.

Watch Sermon Here:

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