What does the Bible say about white supremacy?
White supremacy is, simply put, the belief that white people are inherently superior to other races and ethnicities. Considering it is questionable whether any white people are explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the Bible does not directly address the concept of white supremacy. The Bible does, however, address racism, discrimination, and prejudice. In summary, viewing or treating other beings who are equally created in the image of God as inferior is sin. White supremacy, and any other form of racial supremacy, is offensive to God.
God chose the Israelites to be His covenant people, but not because they were superior to other races (Deuteronomy 7:7-9). The Israelites, however, came to view themselves as better than all the other races. By the time of Jesus, most Jews viewed Samaritans and Gentiles with disdain and disgust. Jesus, and later His apostles, made it clear that this was not God’s intent (John 4; Acts 8:14-17; 10:1-48; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:11-22). Discrimination, favoritism, and prejudice are harshly condemned in James 2:1-8.
White supremacy has been in the news a lot lately. The news has been labeling the participants in the US capitol riots on January 6, 2021 as white supremacists. While the vast majority of the rioters were white, I have not seen any evidence that white supremacy had a significant role in the riots. From what I have seen, the rioters strongly believed the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. They believed that Joe Biden and the Democrats will take the USA in a terribly wrong direction. But, being a white, Trump-supporting, and anti-socialist Republican does not automatically mean a person is a white supremacist.
It is probable that some of the rioters were white supremacists. At the same time, I am seriously questioning the motives of those who are claiming that white supremacy fueled the capitol riots. Some in politics and the media are taking the terrible events that occurred during the capitol riots and attempting to label everyone with even remotely similar beliefs as having all the same beliefs as the worst individuals who participated in the riots.
White supremacy, and every other form of racial supremacy, is repugnant. At the same time, associating a belief that is evil—white supremacy—with beliefs that are morally neutral in order to demonize those beliefs is deceptive and manipulative; it is political opportunism at its worst. Capitalism is not related to white supremacy. Being pro-life and/or against gun control has nothing to do with white supremacy. Being a loyal supporter of Donald Trump, (of which I am not,) does not make one a white supremacist.
Applying the labels of “racist” and/or “white supremacist” to those who are innocent of that sin does nothing but stir up more hatred, animosity, and distrust.
Come, Lord Jesus! I truly long for the day when Revelation 7:9-10 will be reality, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…and they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
S. Michael Houdmann
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What does the Bible say about white supremacy?