Race and Culture?

Richard Hollerman

Each month, with the water bill, the house owner receives an extra page entitled, “City Times,” with the subtitle, “Keeping residents in the know.” So far, this seems good and acceptable.  However, this month, there was an article entitled, “Update: Race and Culture Task Force recommendations.” This may raise an eyebrow but thus far it is not too out-of-the ordinary. After all, “race” is something we are all subject to. It is true that even this is false for there is only one “race”—which would be the “race” of Adam in Scripture (see Genesis 1ff). The idea that God created the “races” of whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian, etc. would be a serious problem  But it is the second part that we are concerned about—that having to do with “culture”!

First, we read, “The Police Department reinstated a Police Cadet program and hired 20 cadets earlier this year.” So far this seems simple enough, but we keep reading the explanation. Next, we read, “The police Department significantly increased applicant pool diversity through its new diversity hiring plan, called “Be the Change in Your Community,” for “all positions with respect to race, ethnicity and gender.” Again, it is good for the police department to have different ethnicities—whether that be Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American, Asian, or others.

However, the Christian knows that “gender” is another issue. A very “hot” issue. Women, surely should not supervise or have authority over the man—for God says, “the man is the dead of a woman” and not vice versa. In other words, a man may have authority over a woman but it is sinful for a woman to have authority over a man. Thus, this stipulation could put those in the Police Department into a serious problem for it seems inevitable that both men and women could violate God’s will and thereby sin! The woman may find herself in a position where she is encouraged to have authority over men and a man may have a position in which he is encouraged to submit to a woman! And we assume that if a person does not acquiesce to this, he or she could either be fired or may not be hired at all!

The next issue does sound like it could give the Christian problems—if the Christian has a conscience. We read this: “The task force recommended efforts to improve childcare in minority neighborhoods in cooperation with the Early Learning Alliance.” We know that children do need to be instructed and learn, but this comes primarily through the home and not through a civil organization or city.  Not only should children be taught and trained in the home but “childcare” is the responsibility of the father and mother. In other words, I have no right to care for your children and no one else has the God-given right to teach my children.

This is not the worst of the recommendations. Note this: “City employees completed educational workshops on two city core values diversity and mutual respect. Plans are in place to expend educational opportunities for I.D.E.A (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Certification for staff and community.” I don’t know about you, but I get very nervous about what this may entail. We know that “inclusion” can involve a lot of sinful things—if they mean by this that sinful people and activities can be “included” into the city workforce. Further, “Diversity” can also be very sinful—and it usually is. When a city seeks “diversity” this may mean different ethnicities, and that is one thing. But when it includes the “diversity” of different sexual lifestyles and perspectives, this does become sinful, very sinful. It could (and usually does) mean diverse perversions such as transgenderism, homosexuality, and the like.

The reader can easily see that this group of recommendations for city employees almost assuredly means many different sinful choices. How is it possible for a Christian—a true Christian—to become part of this and remain free from sin? We encourage you to be aware of these potentialities and do your “homework” before you choose to become a city employee that recommends or even requires wicked requirements!