When someone speaks about false teaching or sin, do you think it wise to say things like: “This sin (or false teaching) is common among the [fill in the blank] race”? Do you believe that this makes an unnecessary generalization, and the sin and/or false teaching would be better refuted without linking it to a particular race, even if the statistics may show it more common with that race?
Yes, of course, the answer to these questions is obvious. Generalizations are never universally true. I can see, though, how one might observe, for instance, that our black brethren have more instances of evangelistic oversight, or our white brethren have more instances of apostasy from New Testament principles; yet, either race or mankind in general irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, etc. may dabble with either. The apostles and Jewish brethren in Jerusalem gave tailored instruction to Gentile Christians in Antioch of Syria because of true generalizations respecting Gentiles and sins common to them would likely tempt Gentile Christians, too (Acts 15:20-32; 21:25). The Holy Spirit, according to this passage was behind the instruction, and the apostle Paul accompanied those who delivered the epistle and further expounded upon the same. Later, the apostle Paul referred to this episode and included himself as complicit in that instruction. The motive, of course, was good, and the instruction was intended for the welfare of fellow Christians. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor
