CENSUS NO LONGER AS INTERESTED IN RACE

Neal Pollard

It’s census time, 2010 version.  USA Today reports that “multiracial” is no longer a box choice for census takers to check.  While one can choose from “white, black, American Indian or Alaska native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and ‘some other race'” and there is a question about whether or not one is Hispanic, there is no longer a box for those who are multi-ethnic.  There are only two questions about ethnicity on the census.  Compared to previous censuses, this constitutes a decreased interest in such matters (3/3/10, A1-2).  As one with multiple multi-ethnic relatives, I appreciate that.  Christians are to be color-blind, so such distinctions should never matter to us.

Ephesians 2 said as much 2,000 years ago.  It does not matter if you are Jew or Gentile.  Such distinctions are erased in Christ (see also Gal. 3:24ff).  Christians all comprise one body in Christ, being reconciled by the same cleansing blood.  On the greatest day of reckoning, we can be certain that one’s race will not be a matter of importance to the King of kings.  What people have done in their bodies, whatever the color, is what will matter (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10).  While we still live in a world filled with racial strife and division, Christians should never pay attention to that.  Instead, we should be striving to win those of every race so that they can become part of the “chosen race” (1 Pet. 2:9).

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Author: preacherpollard

preacher,Cumberland Trace church of Christ, Bowling Green, Kentucky

One thought on “CENSUS NO LONGER AS INTERESTED IN RACE”

  1. Not quite. There now ask that you check one OR MORE boxes, i.e. they want to know not only that you are multi-ethnic but each and every one of your ethnicities.

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