By
Lonnie C. Hendrix/Miller Jones
The Church of God International has posted a new "web chat" entitled
"Revisiting the Biblical Origins of USA and Britain" with Pastors Bill
Watson and Wayne Hendrix (this blogger's father). For those interested,
you may see the video at this address:
http://cgi.org/armor-of-god-web-chat/2015/7/8/revisiting-the-biblical-origins-of-usa-and-britain
This production seeks to rebut the argument that the church's teachings
with regard to the physical ancestry of the English speaking peoples are
inherently racist. In their attempt to make the doctrine of British
Israelism more palatable, they seek to distance themselves from the
teachings/writings of Herbert W. Armstrong and the various proponents of
it over the last almost four hundred years. Mr. Watson and Mr. Hendrix
insist that God only segregated the Israelites because "He" is a jealous
God and didn't want "His" people to be worshipping other gods. They
point out the fact that Ephraim and Manasseh were themselves the product
of an interracial marriage (between a Hebrew and an Egyptian) as proof
that God didn't really care about the physical ethnicity/ancestry of the
folks in question. Of course, the entire discussion is based on the
premise that the Bible is an infallible account of God and "His"
purposes and plans for mankind.
However, for those of us who do not share this view of Scripture,
several objections immediately come to mind regarding their defense of
this obnoxious doctrine. There are numerous statements within the Bible
that make plain that the Israelites were regarded as God's special
people - above all of the other nations on the face of the earth. The
Israelites were instructed in numerous places not to intermarry with
other folks (pagan, heathen, uncircumcised Gentiles). In fact, they are
instructed in several places to annihilate non-Israelites - to
completely destroy the people and their culture. In numerous places, God
is portrayed as fighting on behalf of "His" people and against other
people. Interestingly, the Israelites often enslaved the people they
conquered, and there are numerous provisions within the Torah which
outline the proper treatment of those slaves.
One could argue that the whole Bible is a book about Israel. Moreover,
even in the New Testament, we find much evidence that the Jews looked
down on the Samaritans, Greeks and Romans. In fact, the context makes
quite clear that the Jews regarded themselves as being superior to those
other folks - not even worthy for a Jew to associate with them. The
Israelites themselves are often described collectively as being a
"stiff-necked" and sinful people.
Google defines racism as "the belief that all members of each
race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race,
especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another
race or races. Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against
someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is
superior." Clearly, based on the evidence of the scriptures themselves,
we would have to conclude that the human authors of Scripture were
mostly racists.
There is, however, another view of race expressed within the pages of
the Bible. It is a view that American Abolitionists found to be more
compelling and believable than those noted above. This view is presented
in numerous places where God's care and concern for all of the peoples
of the earth is made clear. This view is found in the places where it is
made clear that God chose the Israelites for a special mission - to be
an example to the other nations - to tell the other folks about "Him."
John the Baptist told the Jews of his day not to rely on their physical
descent from Abraham. He went on to tell them that God could raise up
offspring to Abraham from the stones at their feet. This view is found
in Christ's parable about the Good Samaritan, and in his instructions to
his followers to make disciples of all nations. It is made clear in the
vision that was given to Peter about what (who) should be regarded as
clean or unclean. Finally, it is also made plain in the
ministry/writings of the Apostle Paul that God does not regard one
people over another - that Christians lose their Jewish or Greek
designation when they are baptized into the Church. Paul went on to say
that God considers Christians to be Abraham's descendants, and the
proper heirs of the promises made to him.
And if all of that is not enough to convince us, we would still have the
very plain statements of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians and the
author of the epistle to the Hebrews to completely discredit this
teaching. Paul wrote: "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his
seed. The Scripture does not say 'and to seeds,' meaning many people,
but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ." (Galatians
3:16, NIV) Likewise, after recounting the stories of many of God's
faithful people down through the ages (including Abraham), the author of
the letter to the Hebrews tells us: "These were all commended for
their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had
planned something better for us so that only together with us would they
be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40, NIV) In other words, there doesn't
have to be any fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham in this
life! And, when those promises are finally fulfilled, they will be
fulfilled through those who belong to Jesus Christ (from all nations)!
Likewise, Christ is the fulfillment of the promises made to King David.
Christ is the one who will sit on his throne forever and ever. It is
ridiculous to suggest that the British royal family has any role to play in fulfilling that promise!
Hence, there is legitimate reason for Christians of good will to say
that God is not a racist. Nevertheless, for those who cling to this
pernicious doctrine, you are stuck with defending a teaching that is
racist at its core. It is unfortunate, but the Church of God
International (along with all of the other descendants of the Worldwide
Church of God) cannot escape the baggage that this doctrine carries with
it, no matter how hard they may try to do just that.
