Is Christian Love Egalitarian? Familial Duty In The New Testament

Christianity is often presented today as a religion whose adherents are to care for everyone “equally.” One logical tendency of this egalitarianism is to flatten all human affection, and thus deny the particular, natural affections for one’s own relations. But this denial runs counter to the explicit teaching of the New Testament whereby affection for kin is permitted, expected, and even demanded — a teaching affirmed by the example of Christ Himself. Continue reading “Is Christian Love Egalitarian? Familial Duty In The New Testament”

Christianity & Non-Discrimination: Equal In The Eyes Of God?

Christianity today is often portrayed as a religion of non-discrimination, whose adherents are not supposed to recognize or act upon distinctions between groups on the basis of race, sex, etc. But the arguments typically put forward are insufficient to establish non-discrimination as a matter of doctrine. A few of the more common viewpoints will be addressed here, namely that non-discrimination is demanded by some sort of equality of men in the eyes of God, by the supposed unimportance of biological differences, by man’s creation in the image of God, and by man’s common ancestry. Continue reading “Christianity & Non-Discrimination: Equal In The Eyes Of God?”

No “Respect Of Persons”: Biblical Impartiality, Or Non-Discrimination?

Throughout the Bible, one finds condemnation of “respect of persons,” a term most often referring to partiality in judgment. Some have claimed that this means condemnation of discrimination in general. The strongest example supporting this view is perhaps James 2:1-9, which popular theologian John Piper uses to claim that racism is a sin. But such attempts to expand the meaning of “respect of persons” in this passage are unwarranted, given the term’s use in context and elsewhere in Scripture. It is far more plausible that this passage encourages equitable judgment, instead of declaring a new teaching of non-discrimination. Continue reading “No “Respect Of Persons”: Biblical Impartiality, Or Non-Discrimination?”

“Neither Jew Nor Greek”: Is Alt-Right Race Realism Unchristian?

Is it improper for a Christian to notice significant biological differences between racial groups, and to allow such knowledge to influence his thinking and behavior? Erick Erickson seems to suggest as much when he contends that the race realism of the alt-right contradicts biblical teaching, in particular Paul’s statement in Galatians 3:28 that “there is neither Jew nor Greek […] for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Erickson claims that this verse commands Christians to “transcend race” — in other words, to deny or disregard racial differences. But this verse and others like it clearly concern a sort of equality between Christians with respect to their salvation, not total equality between all people, or all races. Continue reading ““Neither Jew Nor Greek”: Is Alt-Right Race Realism Unchristian?”