Seminary journal examines biblical race reconciliation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) - The genuine antidote to racism is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, say essayists in the latest edition of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology.

The summer edition of the SBJT addresses racial reconciliation from a number of biblical standpoints, but all the writers agree that the sin of racism is ultimately dealt with only through the Gospel.

The journal is a publication of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

"Racism, from a biblical view, is always wrong," writes SBJT editor Stephen J. Wellum. "Genesis 1:26-27 is absolutely clear at this point. Because all human beings are created in the image of God, no one race is superior either in terms of value or significance."

Four other Southern Seminary professors also weighed in on the issue. T. Vaughn Walker, professor of black church studies, reflects on the history of cooperative ministries both within the Southern Baptist Convention and among National Baptists.

"If the Christian community in all of its racial diversity cannot model authentic racial reconciliation, then what is the hope that our society can do so? Given the transforming power of the gospel which can not only reconcile fallen sinners to God but also to one another in the church, we need to be on the forefront of serving as models of reconciliation in this racially divided, fallen order."