The Law and Racism (The Bible’s Answer for Racism, Part 8)

By Ben Quine
**This article is part of a series helping us navigate this issue of racism in our world from a Biblical perspective. To read all of Ben’s articles on this subject - click on his name above by the date published and it will sort all of this articles in one place.

What happens to a country if there are bad laws? What about when those individuals tasked with implementing the laws don’t do it fairly? 

These are issues that God deeply cares about.

In previous articles, we’ve seen that every human is distinctly valuable because they are created in the image of God and loved by Him. We’ve also seen that all people are equal: we are equal biologically, since God created us as one human family; we are equal spiritually, since before God we are all guilty of sin and in need of redemption; and for those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, we are all now equal in Christ. 

So how ought we to treat each other?

“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)

God cares deeply about justice. He insisted on justice in His land, from His judges, and for His people. But we must ask, “what does the Bible mean by JUSTICE?” From this passage we learn that justice means there must be no partiality – no giving special treatment or placing one person above another – all must be equal before the law. Bribes are forbidden because they cause those in authority to show partiality, and encourage unequal treatment. The prohibition of bribery is still essential today for every level of government (from local law enforcement all the way up to the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court).

For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you. (Numbers 15:15)

Justice states that the law must be the same for all citizens and all foreigners. We are not to show special treatment to either group.

You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:15)

God is very careful to instruct His people not to favor the poor or the rich, the powerful or the powerless, and He wants equal justice to be shown to all without favoritism. Biblical justice requires everyone to be treated equally under the law. Racism is inherently unjust because it insists on giving some people special treatment while intentionally holding back or punishing others because of their “race.”

We see this principle restated in the New Testament:

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (James 2:1)

But what about equity? The inequity we see around us day to day is often presented as evidence of systemic racism in our land. Equity states that we must all have the same outcomes, physical property, and financial resources. Equity is labeled as “loving and caring,” and the fight for equity is thus presented as the fight for justice. 

The Bible teaches equality – we are all of equal value and should be treated the same under the law. The Bible never teaches equity.

Why is this? Because to achieve equity it is always necessary to treat people unequally. Any attempt to equalize the outcomes for people will require the injustice of partiality. Equity requires giving some people special treatment while intentionally holding back or punishing others based on their amount of wealth — which is injustice. 

That is why the pursuit of equity will destroy a culture and bring division — it is built on the same foundation of partiality as the sin of racism.

Tragically, because the human race is sinful, you don’t have to look very far to see examples of partiality in law: in the United States the Jim Crow Laws and Segregation (disenfranchisement and unequal treatment of people based on “race” from the late 1800s to 1965 based on the unbiblical category of “race”), abortion (the denial of equal protection under the law for the unborn), graduated income tax (differing tax rules for people based on their amount of wealth), Affirmative Action (unequal treatment of employees and students based on “race”), Congressional Exemption (Congress singling itself out as exempt from the laws it passes for the rest of the land), and Red Lining (unequal financial treatment based on location, wealth, and “race” 1934-1968), are blatant examples of partiality in the law.

In the same way, proponents of Modern Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Equity, and “Anti-Racism” are all calling for even more institutionalization of partiality, where “race” will be the primary factor in determining whether an individual will receive the government’s/employer’s/school’s/society’s favor or disfavor.

God calls this unequal treatment injustice. It is wrong. When applied based on skin color, heritage, or other physical characteristics it is racism. Just because it is written into law does not make it right or just. Christians should oppose all laws of partiality and work to ensure that, at all levels of government, those who write the laws and those who enforce the laws will do so faithfully and equally, without bribery. 

For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God cares deeply about justice because He is just – justice is an aspect of His own character, and “all His ways are justice”! He created every person in His image and loves each person regardless of their social position. Scripture does not insist on equity of outcomes for all people, but does insist on equal treatment under the law for all people, because God loves them. 

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! (Isaiah 10:1-2)

When there are bad laws or when those tasked with implementing the laws don’t do it fairly, it brings pain, separation, brokenness, and death. It brings resentment, anger, and hate. What can or should be done for those who have suffered as a result of injustice? What about the victims of racism and partiality? We will cover this next.

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ABOUT BEN

Connect with him at Cornerstone Curriculum

Ben Quine, the second son of David and Shirley Quine, was blessed to grow up with a Charlotte Mason/Dr. Schaeffer/Biblical Worldview education -- a tremendous gift! Through the years, Ben has served as a Cornerstone consultant, assistant, and co-author. He has written several Bible studies for the Answers for Difficult Days series, which equips churches to address the issues our culture is wrestling with today, from the foundation of Scripture. Ben is also the editor of The Worldview Library, editions of classical literature with student helps that afford the reader a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in each work.

Trained as a classical pianist and instructor, Ben is committed to inspiring his students with the love of great music and equipping them with the tools to perform at the highest level. This training has resulted in his students' successful performances from local festivals and competitions to Carnegie Hall.

Ben loves Shakespeare, Dickens, photography, listening to recordings of "the great pianists", running, biking, and spending time with his wife Julie and their three sons.