Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
May 21, 1970
NUMBER 3, PAGE 5a

Respect Of Persons

Forrest Darrell Moyer

Before our eyes the television and newspapers are constantly parading the developments of the integration moves across the nation. Many deplorable actions and attitudes have been manifested. Bloodshed, abusive language, deep-rooted hatred are all things completely foreign to the Lord's standards. It is not our purpose to discuss the racial question per se, but we want to examine what the Christian's attitude toward one of another race should be.

The Jews were, of course, segregated from the other nations that the Savior might be born of Hebrew stock. God gave the law as a "middle wall of partition" between Jew and Gentile until Christ came. At Jesus' death that wall was broken down that all nations might be one in Christ.

Peter had to be shown by revelation that the Gentiles were gospel subjects and that there was no sin in mingling with or eating with the Gentiles. He realized that it was right to "eat with the Gentiles." (Gal. 2:12)

Hence, we see that a Christian will:

(1) Preach the gospel to those of any nation. Any who would hinder a person from entering a church building to hear the gospel preached because that person's skin is of a different color is not demonstrating the spirit of Christ. One who would not enter a colored person's home to teach him or bring a colored person into his own home to teach him is following Satan's rule rather than God's.

(2) A Christian will not refuse to eat with one of a different nation. He recognizes that God made all men. God loves all men. How could I have the kind of love that God has if I make a distinction in the way I treat another?

James says, "Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all." (James 2:8-10) This ought to impress upon us the fact that we must treat all men with proper respect. All men are just a little lower than the angels. We cannot put ourselves on a pedestal above those of another race. This does not mean that I am advocating inter-marriage between the white and negro; I am not. But I am advocating that we treat all mankind with the respect that our Father desires that we have. Therefore, let us seek to teach truth to all people. Let us bring them to hear the truth. We dare not withhold the gospel.