Society is divided into factions primarily based on culture and racial background because by nature people who share similarities will collectively associate. Color, class, and educational background are subcultures in the nation, which proves this theory of nature. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, these same variables divide the churches in the nation also, with denominational beliefs as an added factor. Is this wrong as in sinful, or is it ok as a law of nature?

Some believers of God see this division as a problem that should not be, and others do not see anything wrong, but believe it to be natural. Though the Bible says that "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" (Galatians 3:28), meaning that color, class, or gender should not matter in Christianity, separation and division of congregational worship based on these subcultures in society remain.

The Bible should be used to break the barriers of ethnic segregation and classim in the minds of those who believe in God so that no one ever looks on another to decide their worth. However, because of the different cultures in the church today, it is obvious that practicing Christians do not understand the concept of the above scripture.

Researchers today who publish statistics of racial stratification in America, proudly proclaim the advancements of racial assimilation in the church; profiling individual churches who have ethnically diverse congregations. In their profiles, they try to figure out if this assimilation is good, or just the beginning of a resistance to integration.

Throughout America's history, we know that whites tend to move away from certain areas when blacks or other races begin to move in, and that they begin new schools, businesses, and entire counties so to remain the predominant majority. So, researchers seem stumped as to if this is what is happening in today's churches. Well, from a historical perspective, it is.

On the other hand, maybe God is fulfilling the scripture of Galatians by implementing social assimilation. However, this social assimilation has just begun and has a long way to go in this society and because it will take a while does not mean that God is not powerful enough to fulfill His Word, it means that society is simply resistant to His will.

The Word will work if practiced fervently, but it is not being practiced where social assimilation is concerned. People, by nature, feel more comfortable with their own kind. Is that an accurate concept, or a ridiculous one? Maybe the scripture refers to who can be saved in different races, classes, and gender, and that anyone can come to God no matter who they are, and maybe God knows that regardless of if they come and be saved or not, people will get saved among their own kind. After all, God created the different ethnic groups so He understands them.

Black Christians in America face two obstacles, prejudice and the tricks of the Devil, whereas whites face only one obstacle, which is the Devil. However, many people believe that race does not make a difference in Christianity, and this is true according to the scripture, but as proven by human nature, society resist the scripture and practice their own rules of social collectivism, which allows for segregation instead of assimilation.

Racism has become such a touchy issue and one that has taken so many turns as to its definition that many cannot see the truth. Reverse racism is now an issue, that is, blacks are racist if they do not like other cultures and choose to separate from them. If Blacks are racist based on their preference of whom they like and do not like, then why is it that when Blacks go to white communities, churches, or schools, whites leave and start new ones? Not to say that no Blacks are prejudice and that all whites are, but if the issue is blatantly disregarded, especially in Christianity, the issue will always go unsolved.

The truth is, there is a form of racism in the Christian mentality. Though separation of ethnic groups is a common practice, the will of God is not lived through the scripture by practicing Christians. For example, to this current age (the year 2007) publishers of Christian books and paintings continue to portray Jesus as a white man. This act symbolizes the mentality that the white sector of the church has; which is that race matters. To portray Jesus, as any other ethnic background remains inconceivable to many whites, therefore, whites can never deny that it is they who promote racism and racist notions in Christianity.

Biblically, this is wrong and a sin because it is a form of partiality and hypocrisy. If a person cannot see this for what it really is then they are not rooted in reality, but in an illusion planted by Satan, who would rather not bring unity, but dissension in the church. The Christian thing to do is to unify, not deny. Do what the Word says, not what society practices. If ethnic assimilation is believed to be what the Bible promotes, then this is what we should do, but if ethnic assimilation is not believed to be the message of the Bible, then we will do what society enforces, which is ethnic segregation. Christianity requires love because God is love, but how can one who practices segregation because of color have love?

(Reprint): © 2007 by C.R. Hamilton