Racial Harmony

"Racial Harmony" is a core value at Bethlehem. John Piper began giving annual sermons on racial harmony in 1996, timed to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. Both former pastors Piper and Jason Meyer describe growing up with racist perspectives, and cite Scripture and faith in God as the impetus for their newfound tolerance. Like many other issues involving social hierarchies, Bethlehem’s elders believe that as Jesus always comes first, and that “faith in Jesus trumps ethnicity.” Moreover, as all humans were created equally in the image of God, the barriers of race are deemed artificial. Because racial harmony is supposed to have roots in the gospel, to dishonor it is to dishonor Christ and the sovereignty of God.

Because racial harmony is supposed to have roots in the gospel, to dishonor it is to dishonor Christ and the sovereignty of God.

Bethlehem’s call to evangelism plays a large role in the incorporation of racial harmony. Missions around the world are central to Bethlehem’s values: at every service, "Global Partners" of the week are announced and prayed for, and countless members of the congregation are involved in mission trips each year. Meyer states, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t. We want to see God on the throne and the Lamb that was slain worshiped by every tribe and tongue.” The language of "tribe and tongue" is utilized frequently in reference to mission, based on Revelation 5:9, which states “...by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” A Bethlehem Elder exhorted in one sermon, “Help Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist neighbors to know the Father.” Evangelism in regards to other races is also carried out through transracial adoption: as of 2012, John Piper had four biological sons with his wife Noël, and an adopted African-American daughter, Talitha; Jason Meyer had two biological daughters and two sons adopted from Ethiopia.

Interracial marriage is discussed at length in a sermon given by Piper entitled "Racial Harmony and Interracial Marriage." While not explicitly stated in the sermon, the message seems to be in response to Scripture being used as evidence against interracial marriage, specifically Deuteronomy 7:3-4. Piper expressly says that “the Bible does not oppose or forbid interracial marriages,” but instead forbids “intermarriage between believer and unbeliever between members of different ethnic groups.” Bethlehem, after all, is opposed to marriage between believer and unbeliever, race notwithstanding. Piper states that not only is interracial marriage permitted by God, but it “is a positive good in our day. That is, it is not just to be tolerated, but celebrated.”

Bethlehem makes great effort to connect the value of racial harmony to the value of ‘sanctity of life’. Just as every year a sermon is given about racial harmony, the following weekend a sermon is given annually on the sanctity of life. Bethlehem’s Sanctity of Life weekend has taken place since 1993. Piper connects racial justice to justice for the unborn, stating: “The Martin Luther King anniversary calls attention to the sins of ethnic enmity—disfavor toward people rooted in ethnic differences; and the Roe v. Wade anniversary calls attention to the sins of sexual licentiousness and selfishness and homicidal indifference to the life of unborn children.”

Sermons and webpages the above work is based on: 

John Piper, “The Reformed Faith and Racial Harmony,” Desiring God, January 19, 2003, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-reformed-faith-and-racial-harmony. 

John Piper, “Race and Cross,” Desiring God, January 16, 2000, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/race-and-cross. 

John Piper, “Jesus is the End of Ethnocentrism,” Desiring God, January 20, 2002, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/jesus-is-the-end-of-ethnocentrism. 

John Piper, “Racial Harmony and Interracial Marriage,” Desiring God, January 16, 2005, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/racial-harmony-and-interracial-marriage.