THE RACISM CONTROVERSY!


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

IS RACISM ALIVE TODAY IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES? WAS IT IMPROPER FOR GEORGE BUSH, THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO HAVE SPOKEN AT A UNIVERSITY ACCUSED OF RACISM?

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the BUSH-JONES CONTROVERSY, and the truth about racism…

…Well, today as America moves towards its national elections, I would like to talk about a flap that originated a month or so ago in the U.S. Republican campaign of the front-runner George W. Bush. It appears, he chose to accept an invitation to Bob Jones University of Greenville, South Carolina, USA for a speech to be given before an audience of over 5000 people. Well the results are history, but the ruckus it caused lives on in the minds and hearts of Americans, but sadly with much confusion and I might add ¾ moreover, dis-information and error that we would do well to clear up today. So after we pause to listen to this lovely music, I'll return with today message entitled: THE RACISM CONTROVERSY. Stay tuned…

…America's national elections are always a time of fierce competition between candidates running for congressional or presidential positions. Such is the case in the major political parties of the Republicans, the nation's conservative party, and the Democrats, the nation's liberal party.

The Republican primary race was between George W. Bush, the favored candidate, and John McCain, the underdog who made a fantastic run for the money. It appeared that each candidate accepted invitations wherever and whenever it seemed to provide a huge forum of listeners. Such was the invitation for George Bush to come to the well-known 73 year old Christian college, called Bob Jones University. What cause such a ruckus was the fact that this school became known as a racist school, because it had its tax-exempt status removed by the U.S Government because of its "interracial dating policies," and other discriminatory practices charged against them.

After Bush's speech before the audience there, charges in the media began to reverberate against George Bush for going there knowing that this school was the promoter of hate and racism towards minorities and condemnation of religious systems particularly Catholicism. Now I've told you all this because as I have listened to all the rhetoric and fanaticism of words spoken against the University and its policies ¾ I've felt strongly that I must clear the air over the controversy that rages on the race scene. But before I share with you God's truth allowing you to be the judge on this matter of racism and Bob Jones, let's pause one more time and listen to this…

… IS BOB JONES UNIVERSITY, in the U.S.A., a racist school? Well, to find out I checked the school out, to find exactly what was their policy that enflamed the press, and brought the ire of the politically correct establishment to rain down upon this Christian University. What did I find? Well, speaking from a secular point of view, their policies towards interracial relationships seemed disappointing and worse racist. However, being a Christian, I also weighed their position and what they claimed for support from the Word of God. So here now is my view on the matter of this RACISM CONTROVERSY…

First of all, we need to define racism. Racism is, "the belief that mankind is composed of biologically differing sub-species of greater or lesser evolutionary progress, where distinguishing social and cultural features of the lesser species are inferior and worthy of discrimination and prejudice." Through the centuries of man's existence, specific groups of humanity have considered themselves superior to other groups, and have acted against these others, with prejudice and discrimination. For instance the "Caucasian" sub-species has traditionally been charged, in America, of discriminating against the "Negroid" sub-species of humanity and bringing untold hatred, harm and human suffering as a result. Therefore, as we've defined racism, such actions and attitudes are surely an evil and corruption within the differing groups of people that make up the human race.

However, racism as real as it is, is often wrongly charged against some simply because of their views of life and religion being different from what today is called the "politically correct" view.

Bob Jones University has been so charged because of its "INTERRACIAL DATING" policies at the school. Now exactly what is the rule there that caused the ruckus? Let me tell you in simple terms.

Bob Jones University back in the early 50's composed a statement that said in effect, that promoting interracial dating was wrong for the differing people groups of our world because it "promoted the ONE-WORLD SYSTEM of humanity, government, religion, economy, military, unisex and RACE WHICH GOD CONDEMNED!" It was on this basis that the university's directors decided that they would not permit interracial dating on their Christian campus. Now in the highly inflammatory mindset of today's prejudice seeking world of vigilantes ¾ this was a flaming torch!

However, let's first try to understand the school's policy thinking, and then look in the bible itself to see what God has to say about the differing species of humanity. First let's outline Bob Jones position as they themselves see it. We'll do that by some simple questions and answers.

QUESTION #1 ¾ DID BOB JONES HAVE A POLICY OF FORBIDDING INTERRACIAL DATING? The answer is yes. It believes that God's Word teaches that the formation of the differing families of humanity was by an act of God, and as such it was God's purpose to separate mankind into diverse families and groups, by the distinctiveness of language, culture and physiological differences, with no intent of discrimination, or prejudice!

QUESTION #2 ¾ DOES BOB JONES UNIVERSITY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERRACIALLY MARRIED, OR PREVENT THEM FROM ATTENDING THE SCHOOL? The answer is no! I found amazingly that the school enrolls interracially married couples. In fact, I discovered that in 1998 the school gave the annual ALUMNI APPRECIATION AWARD to a black BJU graduate. Moreover, the current student body president is an Asian-American. The school has no "ax to grind" against the different people groups of the world. It simply states in its school policies that the university will not cooperate with or promote the loss of diversity and ethnic distinctions of the world's peoples.

QUESTION #3 ¾ DOES BOB JONES TEACH AND PRACTICE DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE AGAINST DIFFERING PEOPLE GROUPS? The answer is no. Nowhere could I discover that any people groups, "black, yellow, red or white" were discriminated against or shown prejudice, or made an object to ridicule. On the contrary great respect for them with a consistent loving attitude was exhibited to all ethnic people and interracially married couples.

So, is Bob Jones a racist school as the American press and politically correct police state?

The answer according to a correct definition of racism is NO!

However, Bob Jones does teach that interracial dating and marriage is not God's plan for the human race, nor ever will be. So let's examine this now from God's Word and His perspective and see what we can find.

First of all, in the Bible we discover that our modern day definitions of humanity are not correct. For instance, godless evolutionist often talk about the different races of mankind. Yet, in the Bible the concept of race is not biblical! There is no mention of different races anywhere in the pages of Scripture. In fact, the concept of "race"" is therefore biological and philosophical, and an invention of non-Christian thinkers for their own convenience in biological and anthropological studies. You see biologically, a race is generally thought of as a variety, or sub-species, within a given species. In terms of evolutionary philosophy, our humanity today is composed of different sub-species of human life called "races." They base this on the different physiological, cultural and biological efficiencies or deficiencies caused, they say, by mechanism of mutation, segregation, and natural selection. All meaning of course ¾ the human race is composed of differing sub-species with greater or lesser abilities and desirability of character, intelligence, and physical features. Yet to believe and accept this, promotes one thing ¾ RACISM!

For if you are of a species that is superior, you would not want to intermingle with any sub-species of inferior stock. Therefore you would discriminate against them, possibly persecute them, or in the least exploit them for your own evolutionary growth.

This of course, verifies that true RACISM, that is the belief that mankind is composed of inferior and superior "races" of people are in a struggle for survival of each sub-species. Evolution which alone supports this teaching and belief, has therefore been the prime cause of racism around the world. In fact, the terrifying racism of NAZISM and MARXISM that persecuted and killed tens of millions of "inferior" races is evidence of this faulty unbiblical philosophy. Now what does the Bible say about the origin of differing races? The answer is the following:

First, the Bible teaches that there are no "races" of mankind except the single one human race that God created in the beginning. We read in Scripture,

Acts 17:26 (NIV) "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."

Furthermore, we find the Bible teaches us that all humanity today, is directly descendent from one man and woman and their three sons. Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Again we read, in the Bible:

Gen 9:1 (NIV) "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth."

Gen 9:18-19 (NIV) "The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the earth."

Now the Scriptures do not mention "races," but it does tell us much about "nations and languages." For this we go to the story of the Tower of Babel found in Genesis chapter eleven. Let's read a portion now,

Gen 11:1 (NIV) "Now the whole world had one language and a common speech."

Gen 11:6-9 (NIV) "The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth."

Today, no evolutionist can explain the origin and complexity of human language. There is simply NO EXPLANATION, except what the Bible offers. Indeed, God's Word says human language is God given and divine. In the beginning from the time of Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race, up to and through Noah, His three sons, and the peoples who came forth from them at the Tower of Babel event ¾ all spoke ONE LANGUAGE, a God given divine enablement of the human species.

But, at this event in Genesis 11, we discover God further created the variety and diversity of human language we see today; And, by creating it "instantaneously" in the minds of distinct families at that time ¾ it was the cause that separated people and thus cause the human race's advancement to be SLOWED, and CONTROLLED.

Mow, we cannot explain "how" God did this, except to say, through some kind of physiologic miracle and instant change in the centers of the brain controlling speech, families suddenly were separated from others. Those who began speaking a different fully formed language we are told were "scattered" and moved across the face of the earth to live and work together.

Now in addition to the miraculous changes in the brain center of these human beings, God may have also created other physiologic changes at the same time in order to create the establishment and identity of different groups or nations of people which today we call "RACIAL TRAITS."

Through isolationism, and national family inbreeding the human race's and the genetic factors of early humanity had not yet been established. But down through the centuries, different groups or "nations" or "families" of people arose giving us the diversity of people today. As the couplet goes, "red or yellow, black or white, they are all precious, in God's sight!" From a true Biblical perspective then, the variety of people groups, the distinctive physiological characteristics are the result of God's plan and purpose to have a great diversity and variety of humanity and… to SUPPRESS man's ability to create a ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT AND HUMANITY ¾ without God as head!

Now this is where, I believe, Bob Jones University's policy of forbidding on campus, interracial dating rests. The university believe as Christians, they are under a mandate from God to PRESERVE the differing people groups and nations. Therefore to work toward blending the human race, is to counteract God's suppression of mankind's desire to unite against God through a ONE-WORLD SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT & LIFE, as was intended way back in Genesis eleven.

Now although I can't fully agree with all that Bob Jones does and says, I must as a Christian minister and student of the bible confer that "interracial dating" does lead to interracial marriages, and such action on a large scale, does conflict with God's plan to keep mankind separate for the sake of keeping sin from multiplying.

In fact, in the Bible we discover it may well be God's plan that the differing people groups and families with their distinctives will be a part of God's eternity forever and ever. Listen to God's Word which tells us what the human race will be like in heaven and eternity,

Rev 7:9 (NIV) "After this I looked and there before me [in heaven] was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."

Rev 21:24 (NIV) "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it."

Here God mentions that the "nations, tribes, people and language" will stand before God's throne in heaven, and furthermore… in the millennium and eternal state there STILL WILL BE differing people groups identified by their physiological characteristics. What does this mean?

[1] It means that there are no inferior people groups. Therefore we must NEVER discriminate against people because of color or ethnic background. We must afford to each human being the same opportunities, amenities, love, care and concern. This is the teaching of true Christianity. Yet we can do that without promoting a one-world race as our world is trying to do today. [2] God's plan to separate and make distinctive the human race, IS GOD'S ONGOING PLAN, and as such we should consider staying within our natural people groups for propagating the human race. This is NOT RACISM! It's DIVERSITY PROMOTED, AND ENJOYED. So, we must learn to discern between the fanaticism of the evolutionary-one-world-anarchists who are working feverishly to destroy the diversity of peoples, families, nations and groups of humanity. [3] From this we can find that because God Himself the Creator made us so diverse, none of us will ever come short or be denied God's love and concern. This is why the Bible teaches us,

John 3:16 (NIV) ""For God so loved the world [all nations of humanity] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

You see, all nations are alike before our Creator God. He will not deal differently from one nation or family of humanity for none is better or less than another. As such, the Bible teaches that all nations of humanity have sinned,

Rom 3:23 (NIV) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Eccl 7:20 (NIV) "There is not a righteous man [or nation or family] on earth who does what is right and never sins."

Therefore, Christianity must also teach that all nations NEED A SAVIOR! God has given to all the world such a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ.

John 1:10-12 (NIV) "He [Jesus Christ] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all [people groups] who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—"

Yes, although we are diverse, and different as people, we are all one-race, born of one-stock and as such ALL CAN COME TO THE SAVIOR AND BE SAVED. There is no people group that does not deserve to hear the GOOD NEWS GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.

Mat 11:28-29 (NIV) ""Come to me, all you [every people group and nation] who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

The Christian mandate then is simple ¾ Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and all people need to hear His saving message and be saved from their sins. This means not only all people groups, but those who are separated by their human philosophies too. Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics ¾ all need to turn away from the "work's righteousness" of their diverse teachings and turn to the one true God, Jesus Christ.

That, I've discovered, is Bob Jones message and as such I cannot find fault with it in principle. Yes, the world will find it strange and offensive, but truth is always that to those who do not have it. May God open your eyes regardless of where you live in the world, and regardless of what people group you come from and realize¾ GOD LOVES YOU and SO DO I, and it is for this reason we have proclaim this Good News. Yes, come to Christ today, now is the day of salvation, trust alone in Him who saves all from their sins, and turn your life and heart over to the one true God who waits for you...

...Well I don't know about George Bush, or the fracas that surrounds Bob Jones University. The only thing I know is God's Word and its message of love, care and concern for all people. May each of us show forth the love of God without discrimination toward anyone because of physiological or ethnic differences. I for one believe we are "one people." Red or yellow, black or white ¾ you my friend are my brother in life, and most of all I want you to be my brother or sister in life eternal through Jesus Christ, our Lord. May God so bless your hearts today.

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 18 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

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