Why so many colours?

What was the “Curse of Ham”?

Does God condone Slavery?

The Old Testament God

and Racism

Noah began to be a husbandman. And he planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine and was drunk. And he was uncovered inside his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. And Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders. And they went backwards and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were backwards, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and came to know what his younger son had done to him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan. He shall be a servant of servants to his brothers. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. And Canaan shall be their servant.

Noah

Japheth

Gomer

Ashkenaz

Riphath

Togarmah

Magog Madai Javan

Elishah

Tarshish

Kittim

Dodanim

Tubal

Shem

Elam

Asshur

Arphaxad

Salah

Eber

Peleg

Reu

Serug

Terah

Abram

Joktan

Ham

Cush

Nimrod

Mizraim

Canaan

Sidon

Heth

Jebusite

Amorite

Girgashite

Hivite

Twin Sisters

—Lisa Sewards, Daily Mail (London), Saturday 26 June, 1999, p.9

Cheryl and Karen’s father is (‘black’) Jamaican and their mother is (‘white’) English.

From one blood he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

Acts 17:26

Evolution of Man

''Race is a social concept, not a

scientific one,'' (Dr. J. Craig Venter, head of the Celera Genomics Corporation in Rockville, Md.)

''If you ask what percentage of your genes is reflected in your external appearance, the basis by which we talk about race, the answer seems to be in the range of .01 %,'' (Dr. Harold P. Freeman, CEO, president and director of surgery at North General Hospital in Manhattan)

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/22/science/do-races-differ-not-really-genes-show.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

a) Yes

b) No

c) Probably

d) Only after counselling

e) Yeughh!!!

Can you marry your relation?

1. One “race”

2. Primary purpose of marriage: Malachi 2:15

3. Become one: Eph. 5:31 Matt. 19:4-5

4. Be not unequally yoked: II Cor. 6:14

What about interracial marriage?

Gen 16:6 Sarai treated Hagar harshly

Ex 21:6 perpetual slave? Spirit poured on slaves (Joel 2) Jesus didn’t condemn slavery … Nor did Paul See Ex. 21 for full context Cf. Jer 34:13-17 for God’s attitude

Does the Bible condone slavery?

Cultural barrier to overcome Only seed of Adam can be saved Redeemed come from every

tribe, tongue, people & nation (Rev 5:9)

Cf. attitude of James to prejudice

Man’s judgement vs. God’s I Sam 16:7

But I’m not a racist …

Time the Church set the agenda again!

Don’t wait for others – own

attitude

Help overcome all discrimination

The War of the Navels

People have navels of different kinds,Ineys and outeys, to that we're resigned;And so it has happened as it has before,The difference became a reason for war.Each side said the other side was to blame,For possessing navels that were not the sameAs those they were born with, and greatly admired,A thing of rare beauty, all people desired.Ineys and outeys both quickly becameA cause for great pride or a reason for shame;And even when courtship had barely begun,It created much friction 'twix father and son.A young man said, "Father, you give good advice,But I find her navel exceedingly nice!"His father said, "Son, don't you know it's a sinTo marry a girl with a navel curved in?Our preacher will tell you, that without a doubt,Your future wife's navel will have to curve out!"

The world has a great many problems to solve,But none of them were half as hard to resolve;Not one of the statesmen knew how to begin,To decide if a navel should curve out or in;One said, "that the quarrel would not have begun,If we were like Adam and did not have one!”

Then a plastic surgeon, a man of great fame,Said, "We’ll make all belly buttons the same,Then there never will be a cause to make war,And peace will reign on the earth evermore!"But congress, as always, implanted a doubt,And asked, "Will you make navels curve in or out?Ineys and Outeys must both keep their pride--"The doctor said, "We'll flip a coin to decide!"The coin landed heads, and the Ineys had won,And all belly buttons flashed under the sun,Were shapely and beautiful, devoid of sin,Because every one of the navels curved in.The munition makers complained they'd grow poor,Since all were the same, there'd be no cause for war!But Satan replied, "There's no need for regretsWe'll foster a war between blonds and brunettes!“

(Lee Daniel Quinn)