#42 God's Use of People of Color

Biblical Revelation of Race

# 42 God’s Use of People of Color

by

Vernon M. Herron

With this blog, we conclude the three-part discussion on the biblical revelation of race and to quickly state that God calls and uses all people in ministry. The teachings and message of the scripture are that people are of great value regardless of color. We must see that all races were the ‘good guys’ in the Bible. All races contributed to the betterment of a world order.

When Japheth became the father of the Caucasian race in Europe, that continent grew and developed empires and systems for the good of the world.

When Shem moved southeast and became the father of the Hebrews, one could see the occupation and development of Syria, Assyria, the Persian Gulf and a large part of Arabia. The world has utilized many resources from these areas.

When Ham’s sons settled Palestine/Canaan, Africa, Asia, India, the Island of Pacific, Australia, Central and South America, one could see 2/3 of the world’s population was dark skinned; that these regions produced civilization, cultures, systems, religions and even a Messiah which have forever changed the face of the world. ALL RACES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A BETTER WORLD ORDER.

From these three sons, the entire human race has come. Those divisions are important to one’s identity. Upon inquiry, one could always go back to one’s roots. But the New Testament speaks of a new nation—
with a new identity—the household of God.

Eph. 2:19

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God.

When we go to the book of Acts, we discover a man who is a Shemite. He is Jewish and is converted. He is the Apostle Paul.

A descendant of Ham, the Ethiopian’s treasurer, on his way to Ethiopia, was converted.

Those who come from Japheth are represented in the New Testament by Cornelius and those of European descent.

Now identity is no longer racial. Our identity is ‘the household of faith.’

   Same Father

   Same Brother/Christ Jesus

   Same Companion/Holy Spirit

God has called people from all walks of life to do His work: Abraham, a man of wealth; Moses, the keeper of the flock; Amos, the herdsman from Tekoa; Peter, the fisherman; Paul, the tentmaker; Jesus, the carpenter; Lincoln, the rail-splitter; Booker T. Washington, the enslaved; Albert Schweitzer, the learned physician---all have been called to do the mighty work of God.

According to the late Benjamin E. Mayes, “it is true that God reached up and took John Milton, somewhat of an aristocrat, and made him a great poet. But it is also true that God reached down and got Horace, the son of a former enslaved and made him perhaps the greatest Roman writer. ‘Tis true that God reached up and getting wealthy George Washington, made him the father of his country. But it is also true that God reached down into a Kentucky log cabin and made Lincoln the great emancipator. God made Caruso a great singer of the world but God also reached over to the south side of Philadelphia and out of the Union Baptist Church, picked Marian Anderson and made her the voice of the century.”

God’s work must truly be our own. God even used people of color in ministry.