Xtian mamas- does it say in the Bible that God is white?

[grisandole]

My ds1 has a "friend" at school who told him today that it says in the bible that God is white. We're pagan, and I don't know my bible stuff, so I would like to know if this is true?!

Thanks,
Kristi

[lilyka]

: : :

NO! Not that I know of and I am sure every bigot and racist from here to hell would have pointed that and printed it on giant billboards if it did.

Ask her to show you the scripture. This is my general course of action whenever someone starts talking craziness. it either shows them they need to stop talking and actually learn what the Bible says instead of taking other peoples word for it or I learn something new. I am not to proud to admit that I have missed something and am always happy to be enlightened by someone pointing out a scipture I have over looked. And I can't say it without a doubt, perhaps she is ttwisting something that appears to say that, but my guess is that someone told someone who told her. I have never seen any verse that even remotely says that.

[its_our_family]

No, but there are alot of ppl who think so...and oh Jesus too....hmmm...he was Galilean...chances are he wasn't white

[grisandole]

I was almost positive that it didn't say that. This kid has "issues"- his family is super religious (which isn't bad) and I believe they use their religion to justify racisim and such. He and my ds1 were friends, until he found out the we weren't Xtian, and then he wasn't allowed at our house anymore, though he can talk to my ds on the bus and at school. The friend isn't allowed to be around Yugioh or Magic cards, or even magic tricks! Anyway, the white God thing came about because ds1 asked the kid, "C", if he'd seen "Bruce Almighty", as ds1 recently saw it and liked it. Well, C went off about how anti-Xtian the movie was (though I don't think he actually saw it), because God in the movie was black, and that is making fun of God because God is white. Ds1 asked why he thought God was white- and C went on about how the Bible says that God is white.........etc......

Sigh.

So, what passage to racists twist to make it seem like God is white?

Kristi

[~Megan~]

In my view God isn't human. He has no color.
As far as Jesus I'm guessing he was quite dark skinned from his heritage.

[Shantimama]

G-d is spirit, not human. Therefore G-d has no skin, no genitals, just love that goes beyond anything that we humans can imagine.

I read scripture and am Christian but I am frequently amazed about how people use it. It really bugs me when people use it do hurt or divide rather than to become more loving and compassionate or just. And it down right cracks me up when some people insist on taking certain passages literally but then ignore ones that say things like "Sell all that you have and give all of the money to the poor."

What makes me sad is when people want to make G-d just like us instead of allowing ourselves to become more like G-d. There are people out there who believe G-d is a white, male American.

[Artisan]

Hmmm... seeing as Jesus was a Jew from what is now considered the Middle East... chances are good that he wasn't the blonde-haired, blue-eyed cherub you see pictured in his mother's arms.

[DaryLLL]

Why is this post addressed to Xtians? Jews read the Bible too.

I do not think we should bother with talking about "Is Jesus white?" That is too easy. He was Middle Eastern, if he did exist.

(But if Christ exists within, and it helps one to imagine Jesus looks like your tribe in order to communicate with him, that is OK as long as you know what you are doing! IMO, of course.)

Now, is God the Father, or YHWH, white?

Well, first of all God is not human.

No one has ever seen God and lived.

Exodus 33:20, John 1:18, 1 John 4:12

But here is where God is said to have been seen:

Genesis 12:7, 17:1, 18:1, 26:2, 32:30, Exodus 3:16, 6:2-3, 24:9-11, 33:11, Numbers 12:7-8, 14:14, JB 42:5, Amos 7:7-8, 9:1

Look 'em up and see if his skin color is mentioned.

He does snort smoke out of his nostrils and fire from his mouth. He has a stong arm. But I don't think you can find where that arm is white. :LOL

ETA:

1 Kings 8:12, 2Chron 6:1, Psalms 18:11 God dwells in thick darkness.
1Timothy 6:15-16 God dwells in unapproachable light.

"God, the blessed and only ruler, the king of kings and lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see."

Either way, how could you determine the color of "his" "skin?"

Now, the Tanakh (OT so called) and Greek Scriptures (NT so called), do differ on reports of God. This is because different peoples' (tribes and individuals') exp of God/dess differs and evolves over time.

As an example: The Hebrews also worshiped a goddess. Her name was Asherah, her title: Queen of Heaven.

[DaryLLL]

Read Exodus 33.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/b...on&showxref=on

Note the inconsistencies.

It reports Moses and YHWH speak face to face. It says YHWH will send his presence (shekinah, I guess is the Hebrew), or an angel (messenger? representative?) to the people. Moses will see YHWH's "glory." It reports later Moses may not see YHWH's face, only his back.


???


Still, no skin color.

[grisandole]

Thanks so much, I'm going to have my son read this thread and then he can discuss with his friend.

Darylll- I addressed it to Xtians because Jews read the Old Testament, (though I'm sure some have read the new testament), and I wanted to know if there are references ANYWHERE in the old/new testament, and figured Xtians would know more- also, this kid is Xtian, so I wanted that perspective


Kristi

[lilyka]

The only ones I can think of is the ones refering to him being "white as snow" and "radiant white light" (I will look thse up for you but I have to go pick up my dd) but neither of those passages are refering to skin color and they are certainly not refering to the rosy pinks that get passed off as white people. thay are talking about WHITE.

I will get back to you.

[lilyka]

there are twisted people who could twist any verse into anything.

[DaryLLL]

Good try lilyka. But it is the clothes that are white. The face is simply, shining.

Who does this refer to?

Daniel 7:9
As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days (another name for YHWH, or a different god?) took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

and Jesus:

Matthew 17:2
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.



Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.



Mark 9:3
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

Most of the refs in the Bible to "white" are about leprousy, goats or walls.

More emphasis is placed on the sun/fire god aspect, IMO.

[cappuccinosmom]

God is white?
What a silly idea. :

God *is*.
Not white, not black, not an old man with a beard. He just *is*.




I know Revelation does mention that Jesus will be clothed in white when he returns and have white hair, but it's apocalyptical kind of stuff (also having a sword sticking out of his mouth) so who knows what it really means.

[hotmamacita]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!
eta: Okay, I have more time to post more of my thoughts but I haven't read the previous posts except capp's above so I apologize if I am repeating something....

The Bible does NOT say that He is white. The Bible does say a lot about God's heart and that God is Love.

Furthermore, I do not believe that Jesus is white by any means. The european depiction is so false. Attractive to many, but false.

He returns with woolen like hair which tells me he is not white by any means. I do not think he was white when he was born, either or during his life. Adan and Eve, after all were created and procreated in what is now Iran an, imo, white skin didn't show up in the world until after peoples crossed the Caucasus mtns and settled north of them.

more to say but you know, i gotta go back to the kiddos....

[lilyka]

Thats the one. But like I said, twister can twist anything. especially if they are doing it intentionally.

[DebraBaker]

I like the response a mom who was white and Jewish who married a black man and had a slew of children. When asked what color is G-d she answered, "The color of water"

DB

[Megan_Cherry]

Originally posted by DaryLLL
if he did exist.

referring to Jesus

Your kidding right?

[DaryLLL]

No, actually. But that is another thread.

[Jennifer Z]

OT:
Megan_Cherry,

I don't know if you are trying to be rude with that comment, or are just terribly naive, but I think comments like this is why so many people accuse us Christians of being narrow minded. Please realize that there are a huge number of people who debate the existence and/or the role of Jesus who might find these kinds of comments insulting and annoying. Please be respectful and realize that this is not a "Christian Spirituality" forum, it is a "Spirituality" forum.


Back on point, I also think some of the misinterpretation might be due to the limits of language...white is equated with purity throughout the bible (and other texts as well, I believe) and is often used to describe the indescribeable. It does really sicken me that people would purposely put such a twisted distortion in a child's mind.