Dust of the Earth. Many Colors, One Source.

Adam came from the dust of the earth, and all men descended from him.That dirt could have been brown, or red, or grey. Does it really matter what color the dust was? NO. So why does it matter what color a person’s skin is?

I grew up sheltered. I’ll admit it and for the most part and greatly thankful for it.  I also grew up reading books. Many of these books were historical fiction. My mom taught us history by the books she gave us to read.

So I read about that horrible scar in our nation- slavery and the civil war. I read about the Jim Crow laws, and injustices the now free, but still hated blacks endured, and I read about the heroes who rose above their station and led the way for others. Like Martin Luther King Jr,  Sojourner Truth,  Rosa Parks, Walter Francis White, and more.

Somehow or the other I figured racism had died out. I mean we never treated blacks any different than whites, I think we saw them as different, because just like my heritage makes me who I am, their heritage makes them who they are. It didn’t stop me from enjoying their friendship though.

Somehow I thought it had died out. I really did.  I mean look at the world around us; at least where I live, black people are all around and I don’t see any “whites only signs”. We even have a black president (I disapprove of him, but that has nothing to do with color), so why would I think any different? Hmmm.

Sure I have heard (and laughed at) the back jokes, but also the Pollock, Cuban, Catholic, Jew, Mexican, you name it, racist jokes. I took them as a joke and nothing more.

When I saw this commercial several months ago, I thought it the cutest thing ever and was surprised to see all the hateful comments. From both whites, AND blacks.  I chalked it up to nonbelievers and all the online hate that happens. STILL thinking that racism wasn’t really an issue with Christians.

Until; I was cleaning for a lady who professes Christianity and the news was on. The news anchors were discussing that video and the negative backlash that was happening.  I mentioned how cute that commercial was, and that it was ridiculous how people were having fits over it.

She responded that it was a cute commercial but it gave the wrong idea, because blacks and whites shouldn’t marry. After I picked up my jaw, I asked her why she said that. Her response was that they were just different.  Dust of the Earth, people. Dust of the Earth!!!

Sigh.

So I took off my rose colored glasses, looked at things the way they really are, and then put them back on. I would rather look at people and assume the best in them.

But back to marriage. Do I think blacks and whites should marry? It all depends on who they are, not what the color of their skin is.
Let’s look at it from a Christian point of view. First off, we all descended from one man who was made from dust. It doesn’t matter what color the dust was. Secondly, do they both love the Lord with all their hearts? Do they have the same ideals and goals for their marriage? Those are questions any couple should ask, not just biracial couples.

In Christ we have all been placed on a common ground. In Christ, we are all the same. So stop looking at color, and start looking at character. <-Tweet it! We are all dust of the earth, and I’m pretty sure that when we die, our dust will all be the some color again. 🙂

I found one of my favorite books on this subject on Amazon (affiliate link coming up).
Here is an exerpt from the book: “The only thing the color of a man tells ya is what kinda paint God used when He created him,” Jake said with a smile. “An all that really says is that God likes ta paint with lots of colors. But what’s inside’ll tell ya what a man’s really like. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there’s good an bad men in every color.”  The book is titled Dust of the Earth. Hence my title for today’s post.