Today's Scripture Reading (April 10, 2024): Galatians 2
A few years ago,
Whoopi Goldberg got into trouble because of her perception of race. Now, I have
to admit I like Whoopi. Who wouldn't like a prominent actor who loved the "Star
Trek" franchise so much that she lobbied to become part of the "Star
Trek: The Next Generation" television series? And, of course, Star Trek
created a phenomenal part for her to play in "Guinan."
But what got Whoopi in
trouble was her definition of race. For Whoopi, race meant someone who looks
radically different from other people. Black is a race because they are not
white. Asian people are a race because they are not white. The North American First
Nations are a race because they are not white. You might be noticing a theme
here. But for Whoopi, Jews were not a race because they were essentially white
(or can easily pass for white). As a result of her definition, violence against
Jews was not a racial issue. And she is right! Jews can often pass as white. In
a few recent antisemitic incidents, the attack begins with the attackers asking
who in the crowd is Jewish because it just isn't all that obvious. Adolf Hitler's
solution to the problem was to force Jews to wear the Star of David on their
clothing to identify them as Jews.
What Whoopi needed to
understand was that Hitler's campaign was a racial campaign, that not all race
is reflected by a significant change in color. Her lack of understanding of
that issue placed her on the sideline for a short time. I am not sure that
Whoopi's misunderstanding of race was enough that she should have been sidelined.
I am sure she is not antisemitic; after all, Caryn Elaine Johnson chose
Goldberg as her stage name.
The Jewish concept of
race is radically different. Essentially, for the Jews, there are only two
races: Jews and Gentiles. And Gentiles consist of everyone who is not a Jew. I
am a Gentile, and I am Gentile because of my heritage. I am Irish, English, and
German, with some Dutch and probably a lot of other things sprinkled in, but I
am not a Jew. Therefore, I am a Gentile. I am an outsider to Judaism. From a
Jewish understanding, Whoopi and I are of the same race because neither of us is
a Jew, even though one of us has a Jewish surname.
But Paul takes it a
step further. Gentiles, like me, are sinful. If you are also a Gentile, don't
be offended. The problem is that we didn't have the law or guidelines to keep
us on the path to righteousness. Jews had that advantage from the moment of
their birth. It is a subject that Paul takes up again in his letter to the
Romans. He starts off his letter by describing the plight of the Gentiles.
They
have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers,
God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil;
they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no
mercy (Romans 1:29-31).
All
of this is the sin of the Gentiles.
But
then, Paul turns his attention to the Jews. And he says, you who are Jews think
that you are so special because you have the law; you have the guidance that
Gentiles lack.
You,
then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against
stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you
commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You
who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it
is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you"
(Romans 2:21-24).
All
of which leads up to Paul's grand point.
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any
advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and
Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one … - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:9-10, 23).
And this is the point Paul
is trying to make to the foolish Galatians. You know that the law has failed.
So, why are you making Gentiles live by those laws? Jesus introduced us to a
better way, but you are allowing a few to take you back to the old way that
never worked in the first place.
Tomorrow's Scripture
Reading: Galatians 3
No comments:
Post a Comment