God Is Not Colorblind

I'm gonna step up onto my little soap box for a few minutes.  All of my life, and in particular in the past few weeks and months, I have heard the following phrases regarding different races and ethnicities:

"God is colorblind."
"We need to be colorblind."
"Christians should be colorblind."

Songs have been written about the issue.  Good songs.  With good intentions.

But every time I hear anything along these lines, something inside me flares up.  A little red flag pops up.  Warning signs start flashing.

I realize that I will be skating on thin ice with this post.  I realize that I'm not smart enough or educated enough to handle a full-blown debate where this subject matter is concerned.  I realize that I'm just a small, white, stay-at-home mother to 3 little white kids.  I realize that most of the people who read this post are much smarter than I am.  And I am asking you, the reader, to realize my heart and extend grace, if necessary.

But I have to ask the question - "Is God really colorblind?"

Now, I understand the sentiment behind the word.  It's meant to convey a message of racial equality...that God loves us all equally.  And He does love us all equally.  Make no mistake about that.  And scripture tells us in 1 Samuel 16:7 that "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."  And in many ways, we are all exactly the same: we all sin, we all need a Savior, we all long to love and be loved, we all need a family, we all need acceptance.  In many respects, we are all identical.

However, this word also implies that He doesn't see our skin color when He looks at us.  And here's where I disagree.

How can the God of the universe, who spoke this creation into existence, who invented color, who created each and every human being - regardless of skin tone - in His own beautiful image...how can this God be colorblind?

Revelation 4 describes the throne room in heaven, where God Almighty is seated.  Verse 3 says, "And He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald."  According to this verse, God is literally surrounded by a rainbow.  He abides in color.  He dwells in diversity.  He is continually beholding beauty.  He takes delight in variety.

In Genesis 16, He is called Jehovah El-roi, "the God who sees."  He sees everything about us - He sees our bad hair days, our unflossed teeth, our chipped fingernails.  He sees our hidden pain, our less-than-perfect pasts, our secret regrets, our untold bitterness.  He sees us.

And He created us in His image.  We are His most magnificent works of art.  Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."  This is the part that blows my mind.  Think about all of the different races, tribes, nationalities, ethnicities, skin colors on this planet.  Every single human being on Earth, regardless of appearance, was created in the image of Almighty God.

We must serve one colorful Creator.

So, is God colorblind?  No.  I don't believe He is.

To my African-American friends with gorgeous brown skin - You are beautiful.  You were created in God's image.  He sees you and He delights in you.


To my precious husband, the whitest white boy I've ever seen - You are beautiful.  You were created in God's image.  He sees you and He delights in you.


To my Asian-American friends - You are beautiful.  You were created in God's image.  He sees you and He delights in you.


To my Hispanic friends - You are beautiful.  You were created in God's image.  He sees you and He delights in you.


To my friends of every other race, nationality, and ethnicity - You are beautiful.  You were created in God's image.  He sees you and He delights in you.


To my 3 priceless daughters - You are beautiful.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made.  God knit you together in my womb.  He saw you before you were even born.  And He sees you now.  You were created in God's image.  He delights in you.


So that's my soap box for today.  It is now our privilege and our joy, as Christ-followers, to love like God loves.  To embrace all.  To delight in all.  To accept all.  To see all.

We will not be blind.

Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight...