Should race matter to a Christian?

Article: Does your race determine your biological age? Controversial research claims black people age more quickly - and are up to THREE YEARS older in health terms

Yet another data point in the continuing controversy over race.

One of the first comments:

The term "race" is racist - as you believe that there are different "races" with superior/ inferior qualities - term first introduced to segregate and disempower people - there is only one "race" the human race - articles like this actually prompt division - please research your article correctly - the term "race" is man made. People have differences, and also similarities but we are all the same "race", and there are many different social and environmental conditions that impact on people and their life chances.

Race is. And believing that different races exist is not inherently racist. Believing that they exist AND that one is superior to another is racist. [A comment made a little later, which I will not quote, claims that the black race is obviously superior. And both comments are politically correct on the left side of the political spectrum.]

The sad thing is, in God's eyes, we are all made in God's image. Different races do occur and can co-exist, if each individual is viewed as important in God's eyes.

It is basic "crooked timber" human nature to group people (tribes, races, ethnicity, religion) AND then place more value on one group over another.

The Old Testament is full of discussion of various tribes and nations. In Genesis, Babel is the story of the tribalization of humanity through the confusion of languages. In Genesis, God choose Abram/Abraham and makes him a great nation of him; a nation of 12 tribes.

In the New Testament, Christ draws all people and all nations to Himself (John 12:32).

Dispersion and tribalization is reversed, and one new people, composed of all people, is the result.

Colossians 3:9-11 (NASB)

9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

Galatians 3:28 (NASB)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

All divisions are reconciled and done away with in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, should Christians accept or deny races? If we do accept them, we cannot say one is inherently better than another.

I think that it is absurd to deny the existence of race/tribe/ethnicity. However, I must treat all individuals I meet as brother/sisters in Christ (actual or potential). In my behavior, I do away with division.

In the current "spirit of the age," the left is very collectivization orientated. That is, the left is highly conscious of divisions due to class, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, yada, yada, yada. And very definitely, the far left views some groups as superior to others.

I have posted a second discussion of this at the Loch Lomond Farms blog: Race and Aging.