The Heresy of Racism
By Rev. James A. Keeton, Jr., 7thEpiscopal District
Growing up as a young person in the AME Church, I was always taught that the founding of our denomination was not because of theological differences but because of racial segregation. After reflecting on the founding of the AME Church, while there is a socialcomponent to racism, there is a deeper theological component to racism that led our ancestors to walk out of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. This theological conviction is clearly expressed by Bishop Richard Allen when he says, “We told him we had no place of worship, and we did not mean to go to Saint George’s Church any more, as we were so scandalously treated in the presence of all the congregation present; ‘and if you deny us your name, you cannot seal up the Scriptures from us, and deny us a name in heaven. We believe heaven is free for all who worship in spirit and truth.’” Racism is a heresy. In other words, racism, at its core, is contrary to the biblical teachings of Christianity.
The first way that racism is a heresy is because it is contrary to “Imago Dei.” This is a theological expression that literally means “Image of God,” and it makes reference to Genesis 1:27. The verse says, “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Imago Dei affirms that all of humanity is made in the image of God. Therefore, racism is heretical because it causes others not to see their brothers and sisters as correctly made in this divine image. How can someone embrace racism when we are all made in the image of the same God?
The second way that racism is a heresy is because it is contrary to the inclusion that is found in the Great Commission. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20a, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” In the instructions that Jesus gives to his disciples, neither baptism—which incorporates us into the family of God—or the teachings of Christ—which transforms us to become like God—are excluded from anyone. When someone chooses to separate themselves with racism, they stand in contradiction to the inclusion that Jesus expresses in the Great Commission.
The third way that racism is a heresy is because it is contrary to the identity that we have in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:27-28 says, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Once we have been baptized into the family of God, we have a common identity that puts an end to any social distinctions that we may have. It is heretical to allow racial differences to be more prominent in our lives than being baptized with Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, it is not possible to subscribe to racism on one hand and embrace tenets of Christianity on the other. Racism is incompatible with being a Christian.
The Rev. James Keeton is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
