God, why are you such a racist, sexist bastard?

Ok, how shall I answer this???

If I were God’s lawyer I’d probably sue you for defamation. If I were God’s psychologist I’d be helping Him get over this serious blow to his self-esteem. If I were God’s spin-doctor I would be trying to suggest that actually God is a good and loving racist, sexist bastard. Fortunately God doesn’t need me to be any of these people… because (unlike other famous people) he deals prayers and questions personally. However, as a servant of God I offer this not-so-humble opinion.

I can actually see why you think that way.

Racist?

God does seem racist. He picked one nation (Israel), and they were the focus of his attention for hundreds of years. At times He ordered the total destruction of people groups who were acting wickedly. There are probably good theological explanations, but I don’t know them. It’s a hard area.

However, I do know that God promised Abraham that He would make his descendants into a great nation (Israel) and that all nations would then be blessed through Abraham. This was fulfilled when Jesus (the son of God, but also a Jew and a descendant of Abraham) died for the sins of the whole world, not just one race. In the Bible God clearly spells out to Peter that the good news about Jesus is for everyone. God is not dishing out salvation and blessings to some races and not others. It’s an open invitation to everyone.

Sexist?

I presume you mean that God is sexist against women?

At times the church has treated women badly. Some churches seem to teach sexist ideas (like not letting women speak at church or making them wear hats). But let’s separate God from the church here. How does God treat women???

God created man and woman… it was His idea and he said both were very good. After Adam and Eve sinned (they did exactly what God said not to do), both the man and the woman bore the consequences of their disobedience.

Throughout the Bible you don’t see God disapproving of women… instead you see God using them despite the sexist culture of the day. Ruth and Esther are two significant leaders in the Bible and are portrayed more favourably than many of the men. Deborah, a prophetess, led the nation of Israel and was honoured by God. Jesus often spent time with women, and gave them status in a culture which often saw them as 2^nd class citizens. Women were also the first of Jesus’ followers to know He had risen from the dead and were the first to talk to him (quite a privilege!!!)

Sure, the apostle Paul lays down some pretty restrictive rules for women in church in one of his letters. But these probably had to do with respecting the culture of the day. Paul actually lists many women as his close partners in God’s work.

God does however recognize throughout the Bible that men and woman are different (I’m darn glad we are… it certainly keeps relationships fun!) God made men and women different and they have different roles. But that doesn’t mean he is sexist against either women or men.

This is a brief attempt to show that God is neither racist nor sexist. Unfortunately sometimes God’s people tend to misrepresent Him. If you look through the entirely of God’s story in the Bible we will find a God who at times has gone against normal convention to demonstrate that his love encompasses all people, regardless of race or gender.