POST 5: God’s Intentional Design for Your Ethnicity
POST 5
God’s Intentional Design for Your Ethnicity
Kevin is a self-described “Blasian” twelfth grader. He embraces both his Black and his Asian background, and so he understands the tensions that come with race and ethnicity. He feels the pressure to conform to certain aspects of his ethnic groups. As a result, he pushes against others’ stereotypes and expectations about his cultural background. It can be tricky to navigate.
Racial tensions are as old as time. When we look at the history of racial relations in the US, we see centuries of oppression, prejudice, violence, and death. In Old Testament stories, we read that tensions between the Israelites and other people groups turned into wars. In Jesus’ day, the Romans brutally oppressed the Jews—and the Samaritans were mortal enemies of the Jewish people, despite their shared history. While they may not have understood race the same way we do, ethnic and cultural differences fueled all this hatred.
What’s the Point?
The tensions Kevin shared are echoed in a scene from the movie Selena about the life and career of Mexican American musical artist Selena. While her family was Mexican by ancestry, they were living in the US and had to try to navigate both cultures. In the scene, Selena, her brother, and her dad are having a conversation about the pressures of being Mexican American. The dad talks about the racism he experienced growing up and how they must speak both Spanish and English perfectly. They have to be Mexican enough for the Mexicans and American enough for the Americans. “It’s exhausting!” he laments.
What do we make of all the strife people experience because of their ethnic identity? Should we all be “color-blind” in an attempt not to see these ethnic identities? Will that ease the tensions and lead to harmony?
Our answer to those last two questions is a resounding no. That’s because God, as an intentional Creator, has a purpose for all our racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.
In Genesis 1:27, we read about the imago Dei, the image of God. God creates humanity in God’s own divine image. We all carry the image of God within us, and yet, we are each vastly different. How can that be?
To be made in God’s image means that we each have intrinsic value. We are all equally valued. The fact that we all are so different, though, tells us we also have unique value.
Here’s one way to think about this: since we each reflect God’s image and we are all diverse, we each reflect a different aspect of God’s image. It’s when we all come together that we get a fuller picture of who God is. Your ethnic identity is a part of that. Your language, accent, food, traditions, skin color—they all matter, and they all show us who God is in some way.
If you’ve ever felt shame or confusion over your ethnic identity, remember that when God created you, God wanted the world to see a unique aspect of God’s image in you. No matter what anyone says or thinks, you can be certain that your ethnic identity is important and an intentional part of God’s design.
God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them. (Genesis 1:27)
After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
What is your ethnic and cultural identity? In what ways has that identity shaped you?
What gifts do you bring to the world because of your cultural heritage?
How might knowing you’re made in God’s image help you navigate racial tension or stereotypes?
Thank you, God, for your unique creativity in making me. My race, ethnicity, and culture are not coincidences. Instead, they reflect a unique aspect of your image. Help me to see my unique identity as beautiful and needed. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
Take some time to research your ethnic and cultural identity. Is there someone in your family who can provide answers? Perhaps a parent or grandparent can tell you more about your family history. If this isn’t an option, you can research about your ethnic and cultural identity online. What’s something new you can learn about this part of your identity? Think about someone with whom you can share what you’re learning.
THE TAKEAWAY
God created you with a unique background so you can uniquely reflect God’s image to the world. Your ethnicity and culture are part of God’s design for who you are.