inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29), can and does become filled with arrogant pride. When
he does, man forgets his place, and goes to telling God how it is. One of the areas
where this occurs is in ethnic arrogance. Christ to the rescue, from Galatians 3:28:
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
the above verse. But man is too ignorant, stubborn and spiritually blind to see it. The
biggest problem of many is being unwilling to see their problem. Ethnic bigotry is a
lazy way that a person and groups of persons avoid overcoming their own faults and
sins. Instead they project their insecurities on to a convenient group of scapegoats.
Ethnic. In Revelation 5:9, “nation” is translated from the Greek ethnos (which is probably
derived from ethos: habit, convention, custom). Ethnos refers to those of the same habit,
tribe, as in nationality, ethnic [Strong's Greek Dictionary]. The word “ethnic” is defined by
American Heritage Dictionary as, “of or pertaining to a religious, racial, national, or
cultural group.”
Arrogance. Different ethnics have correlated to different physical traits, including skin
colors. In their prejudice and pride, humans have falsely prejudged others based on
ethnicity. Like preyed on animals in the wild reacting to the spots of a leopard, they forget
their higher creation in the image of God. In 1 Samuel 2:3 and Jeremiah 48:29,
“arrogancy” means “a sense of license; hard, stiff and impudent” [Strong's Hebrew
Dictionary]; Also (in the shadows of excellence and majesty) “pompous, swelling pride”
(falsely high opinion of one's self). However, as read in Colossians 3:1-11, through Christ
these sins can be overcome.
male - female, rich - poor, blue collar - white collar, east - west, and of ethnic traits or
color. Christ solved the problem in the first century A.D., but mankind is generally too
stubborn, ignorant and blind to see it.
(likely a Jew, who was now a Christian, Acts 6:5) was the teacher, and the student an
Ethiopian eunuch. Doing the work of an evangelist, Philip "preached unto him Jesus,"
8:35. The learner, the man of Ethiopia, asked for guidance, 8:30-31. He was a high
official of the Ethiopian court, but he did not try to lecture Philip on the mysteries of
Ethiopia. (See 1 Kings 4:29-30ff; Proverbs 9:10; Colossians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:15.
The root of any wisdom that is true, whether Egyptian or Eastern or other, is God of
the Bible.) He had overcome self, and asked Philip if he could obey Christ, 8:36. That
very hour he was baptized into Christ, becoming a Christian exactly like Philip. Now,
for us to have this kind of unity, perhaps it might help to take a panoramic view:
imaginations by scattering them into different languages and different lands. Before
that, the people were of "all one language" (verse 6). They abused that simplicity, and
failed to restrain their imaginations. Verse 9 says that this scattering out by God was
upon the face of all the earth.
preach the gospel to every creature. Here, "every creature" includes all ethnics, made
in God's image.
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Here we read that people of different religious, ethnic, and socio-economic
backgrounds can find unity in the way back to God, by Christ.
and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Here the people
of every kindred (ethnic) and tongue (language) and people (culture) and nation
(government) found their redemption to God by the blood of the Lamb, Christ.
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the
throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. In
this context of the writer's revelation, again we read that people praising the salvation
of God, are "before the Lamb" (Christ, John 1:29), and of all ethnicities.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
overcome self and are not in Christ, it remains a problem. Nevertheless, gender, class,
and ethnicity were consumed by Christ twenty centuries ago. Also, Abraham had a
son named Ishmael (...Arabs) and a son named Isaac (...Jews). Although they have
been fighting and warring, God has desired that these descendants of Abraham open
their eyes and minds to Christ. Then, along with all ethnicities who do the same, they
can all be "children of Abraham" in Christ Jesus.
Christ taught from the first century. Ephesians 2:14-22; 4:1-6; Hebrews 13:8.
a four minute presentation, "Beautiful Colors" (Tip: Hit the ball to go to the next color)