Chapter 10: The Sin of Racial Segregation

Of all the terrible mistakes that Finis Dake made in his Bible teaching, perhaps none has hurt more people than what he taught about race. In his Bible, he actually wrote down what he called “30 reasons for segregation of races.” That means he gave thirty reasons why he thought people of different skin colors should stay apart from each other. He said this was what God wanted! Can you imagine? He was saying that God, who created all people and loves everyone, actually wanted people separated because of the color of their skin. This is not just wrong—it’s completely against everything the Bible really teaches about God’s love for all people.

Dake, Finis Jennings. Dake Annotated Reference Bible. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963. Note on Acts 17:26, New Testament page 159.

This chapter is going to be hard to read. We’re going to look at exactly what Dake taught about race, and it’s going to be shocking and sad. But we need to understand what he said so we can see why it was so wrong and so harmful. We also need to see what the Bible really says about all people being equal and loved by God. The good news is that God’s real message is beautiful—He loves all people equally, He made us all in His image, and He sent Jesus to save people from every nation, tribe, and language.

Understanding the Time When Dake Lived

Before we look at what Dake taught, we need to understand when he lived. Finis Dake was born in 1902 and died in 1987. He spent most of his life in the American South during a time when racial segregation was the law. This was the time of “Jim Crow” laws that said Black people and white people had to use different water fountains, sit in different parts of buses, and go to different schools. Many white Christians in the South believed this was right, and they looked for Bible verses to support what they already believed.

But here’s the really important thing to understand: just because something was common in Dake’s time doesn’t make it right. And Dake went way beyond just reflecting his culture. He claimed that racial segregation was God’s eternal law—something that God commanded and that would continue forever, even in heaven! This wasn’t just a cultural blind spot; it was false teaching that he claimed came from the Bible itself.

Many Christians in Dake’s time knew better. Even during the worst times of segregation, there were Christians who stood up and said, “This is wrong! God loves all people equally!” The early Pentecostal movement, which Dake was part of, actually started with Black and white Christians worshiping together. The famous Azusa Street Revival in 1906 was led by William Seymour, a Black preacher, and people of all races came together to worship. So Dake should have known better. He had examples of racial unity right in his own religious movement.

Dake’s Shocking “30 Reasons for Segregation”

Now we need to look at what Dake actually wrote. This is painful, but we need to see it to understand how wrong it was. In his Bible, on page 159 of the New Testament section, Dake listed what he called “30 reasons for segregation of races.” He wrote this as a note on Acts 17:26, which actually teaches the opposite of what Dake claimed! Dake began his note by stating: “This verse says God made ‘all nations of men’ from ‘one blood’; it also speaks of ‘the bounds of their habitation.’ In spite of a common ancestry, from Adam first and later Noah, it was God’s will for man to scatter over the earth, to ‘be fruitful, and multiply’ (Gen. 1:28; 8:17; 9:1).”¹ However, Dake then twisted this truth into a justification for permanent racial segregation.

In the fuller note titled “Separation in Scripture” on page 275 of the New Testament, Dake extensively developed his segregation theology. He wrote that “Both physically and spiritually, separation has been a consistent theme for God’s people”⁹ and proceeded to list what he saw as biblical precedents for racial separation.

As we can see from the actual page 159, Dake went even further in his racist claims. He actually argued that “Certain people in Israel were not even to worship together”¹³ and that “All nations will remain segregated from one another in their own parts of the earth forever.”¹⁴ These statements show how deeply embedded racism was in his theological thinking.

Can you believe he wrote this in a Bible? He was taking God’s holy Word and adding his own racist ideas to it! Let’s understand what some of these words mean. “Miscegenation” is an old, ugly word that means people of different races having children together. Dake was saying this was against God’s law. “Habitations” means where people live. He was saying God wanted different races to live in different places forever.

But here’s what’s really shocking: In point number 23 (though not fully visible in the image), Dake actually wrote: “Even in heaven certain groups will not be allowed to worship together.” Think about that. He was saying that even in heaven, where we’ll be with God forever, people of different races would be separated! This is completely against everything the Bible teaches about heaven.

How Dake Twisted Bible Verses

What Dake did was take Bible verses that had nothing to do with race and pretend they were about keeping races separate. For example, when the Bible says God made animals to reproduce “after their kind,” it just means cats have kittens and dogs have puppies. It has nothing to do with human races! All humans are the same “kind”—we’re all human beings made in God’s image.

When the Old Testament talks about Israel not marrying people from other nations, it wasn’t about race—it was about religion. God didn’t want His people marrying those who worshiped false gods because they might be led away from the true God. We know this because when people from other nations became believers in the true God, they could marry Israelites. Ruth, who was from Moab, married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus!

Dake repeatedly emphasized what he called “pure Adamite stock”² throughout his writings. He taught that one of the reasons for Israel’s separation was “to have a people of pure Adamite stock through whom the Messiah should come”³ and that Satan’s purpose was “to corrupt the human race and thereby do away with pure Adamite stock through whom the seed of the woman should come.”⁴ This concept of racial purity was central to Dake’s theology and became a foundation for his segregation teaching.

In his extensive list of “12 Reasons God Separated Israel” found on page 194 of the Old Testament, Dake wrote that reason number 4 was “To destroy the mighty races of giants whom Satan had raised up in an effort to do away with pure Adamite stock hoping to keep the Seed of the woman from coming into the world which would have averted his own doom.”¹⁰ He consistently framed biblical history through this racist lens of preserving racial purity.

What the Bible Really Says About Race

Now let’s look at what the Bible actually teaches. This is the good news that Dake completely missed or ignored. The Bible’s message about human unity and God’s love for all people is clear, beautiful, and repeated over and over.

We All Come From the Same Family

The Bible starts by telling us that God created human beings in His own image. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Notice it doesn’t say God created different races separately. He created humanity—one human race.

Later, the Bible tells us that all people descended from Adam and Eve. Eve is called “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). That means every person on Earth—no matter what color their skin is, what language they speak, or where they live—is part of the same human family. We’re all distant cousins!

In Acts 17:26, the very verse Dake was writing about, Paul says, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” Did you catch that? “One blood”—we all come from the same source. We’re all related. The different colors of our skin, the shapes of our eyes, the textures of our hair—these are just beautiful variations within the one human family.

God’s Love for All Nations

Throughout the Bible, we see God’s love for people from all nations and ethnic groups. Even in the Old Testament, when God was working primarily through Israel, He made it clear that His ultimate plan was to bless all nations. God told Abraham, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Look at some of the heroes of faith from different ethnic backgrounds:

• Moses’ wife: She was a Cushite (Ethiopian), meaning she was Black. When Moses’ sister Miriam complained about this interracial marriage, God struck her with leprosy as punishment! (Numbers 12)
• Rahab: A Canaanite woman who helped Israel and became an ancestor of Jesus (Joshua 2, Matthew 1:5)
• Ruth: A Moabite woman who became King David’s great-grandmother (Book of Ruth)
• The Queen of Sheba: An African queen who was praised for her wisdom (1 Kings 10)
• The Ethiopian Eunuch: One of the first Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 8)
• Simon of Cyrene: An African man who helped carry Jesus’ cross (Mark 15:21)

Jesus Broke Down Racial Barriers

When Jesus came, He constantly broke down the barriers that people had built between different groups. He talked to the Samaritan woman at the well, even though Jews and Samaritans hated each other (John 4). He healed the Roman centurion’s servant and praised the Roman’s faith (Matthew 8). He said the gospel was for “all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

One of Jesus’ most famous stories, the Good Samaritan, was specifically about breaking down ethnic prejudice. The hero of the story was a Samaritan—someone the Jewish people looked down on. Jesus was teaching that our “neighbor” whom we should love includes people from every ethnic group.

The Church: One Body of All Peoples

After Jesus rose from the dead and the church began, one of the most amazing things that happened was that people from all different backgrounds came together as one family. Ephesians 2:14 says about Jesus, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, made it absolutely clear that in Christ, racial and ethnic differences don’t divide us anymore. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This doesn’t mean our differences disappear—it means they don’t divide us anymore. The church is supposed to be like a beautiful garden with many different kinds of flowers, all growing together and making the garden more beautiful by their variety.

Heaven: Every Tribe and Nation Together

Remember how Dake said even heaven would be segregated? Look at what the Bible really says about heaven. Revelation 7:9-10 describes a vision of heaven: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

Did you see that? People from every nation, every family group, every people, and every language—all standing together before God’s throne, all worshiping together, all united in praising God! This is the exact opposite of what Dake taught. Heaven is the ultimate integrated worship service!

The Terrible Harm of Dake’s Teaching

Now we need to talk about the real damage that Dake’s false teaching has caused. This isn’t just about ideas in a book—real people have been hurt, real families have been broken, and real churches have been divided because of these lies.

Broken Families

Think about families where parents disowned their children for marrying someone of a different race, using Dake’s “30 reasons” as their justification. Imagine grandparents who refused to meet their grandchildren because those children were mixed race. Picture the pain of couples who loved each other but were told by their churches that their love was a sin against God.

Divided Churches

Churches that should have been united in Christ became divided by race. In many places, there were “white churches” and “black churches,” not because people naturally preferred it that way, but because they believed false teaching that said God wanted it that way. The body of Christ, which was supposed to show the world God’s love, instead showed the world division and prejudice.

The early Pentecostal movement, which Dake was part of, started as one of the most racially integrated religious movements in American history. But by the time Dake was writing his Bible, it had largely separated into white denominations and Black denominations. Dake’s teaching helped justify this division, making people think it was God’s will instead of human sin.

Supporting Injustice

Perhaps the worst damage was that Dake’s teaching was used to support racial injustice. When people were fighting for civil rights, for the right to vote, for equal education, for basic human dignity, some Christians used Dake’s “biblical” arguments to oppose them. They said integration was against God’s law. They said the civil rights movement was rebellion against God’s created order.

Think about how this must have felt to Black Christians who loved Jesus, who read their Bibles, who prayed and worshiped—only to be told that God Himself wanted them to be second-class citizens. Think about the damage this did to the cause of Christ, when non-believers saw Christians using the Bible to support oppression and injustice.

Why Did Dake Get It So Wrong?

How could someone who claimed to study the Bible so carefully get something so important so wrong? There are several reasons, and understanding them can help us avoid making similar mistakes.

Reading His Culture Into the Bible

Dake grew up in a racist culture and he read the Bible through racist eyes. Instead of letting the Bible challenge his prejudices, he used the Bible to support them. He found what he was looking for because he was looking for it. This is a danger we all face—we can make the Bible say what we want it to say instead of hearing what it really says.

When we come to the Bible, we need to be ready to have our minds changed, not just have our existing beliefs confirmed. We need to ask, “What does this really say?” not “How can I make this support what I already believe?”

Ignoring the Main Message

Dake focused on individual verses taken out of context and missed the big picture of the Bible. The Bible’s main message is clear: God created all people, sin separated us from God and from each other, and Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to each other. Any interpretation that goes against this main message is wrong.

It’s like someone looking at a beautiful painting with a magnifying glass, focusing on individual brush strokes, and completely missing what the painting actually shows. Dake got so focused on individual verses that he missed God’s beautiful picture of human unity.

Pride and Refusal to Learn

From what we know about Dake’s life, he was very confident in his own interpretations and didn’t like to be corrected. When other Christian leaders pointed out his errors, he didn’t listen. When his denomination disciplined him (for other issues), he just switched to a different denomination. This pride prevented him from learning and growing.

The Bible tells us to be humble and teachable. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” If Dake had been willing to listen to others, especially to Christians from different racial backgrounds, he might have seen his errors.

The “Curse of Ham” Lie

One of the foundations of racist theology that Dake and others used was something called the “curse of Ham.” This is a complete misunderstanding of a story in Genesis 9. Let’s look at what really happened and how racists twisted it.

What the Bible Actually Says

After the flood, Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk. His son Ham saw him naked and told his brothers about it. The other brothers, Shem and Japheth, covered their father without looking at him. When Noah woke up, he cursed Ham’s son Canaan (not Ham himself, and definitely not all of Ham’s descendants).

This curse was specifically on Canaan and was fulfilled when Israel conquered the Canaanites many years later. It had absolutely nothing to do with skin color or African people. The Bible never says this curse changed anyone’s appearance or applied to any racial group.

The Racist Distortion

Racist theologians claimed that this curse turned people’s skin black and that all African people were under this curse. This is completely made up—it’s not in the Bible at all! They used this lie to justify slavery and segregation, saying Black people were cursed by God to be servants.

But look at what the Bible actually says about Ham’s descendants:

• Ethiopia (Cush) was a powerful and respected nation
• Egypt (Mizraim) was one of the greatest civilizations in history
• Many heroes of faith came from Ham’s line
• The curse was only on Canaan, not on Ham’s other descendants
• The curse was limited in scope and time, not eternal

The whole “curse of Ham” teaching is a racist lie that has no basis in Scripture. It’s been rejected by all serious Bible scholars, but the damage it caused lasted for generations.

How Dake’s Other Errors Connect to His Racism

Dake’s racist teaching wasn’t an isolated mistake—it connected to his other theological errors. Understanding these connections helps us see how bad theology in one area leads to bad theology in other areas.

His Hyperliteral Reading

Dake had a problem with taking everything in the Bible absolutely literally, even when it was clearly meant to be understood differently. For example, when the Bible uses figures of speech or symbols, Dake often missed the real meaning because he was stuck on the literal words.

This hyperliteral reading led him to think that when Genesis said animals reproduce “after their kind,” it meant God created permanent, separate categories that should never mix. He applied this to human races, not understanding that all humans are the same “kind.”

His View of God

Dake taught that God has a physical body with hands, feet, eyes, and so on. This limited view of God made it easier for him to imagine God as having the same prejudices that humans have. If God has a body like ours, maybe He thinks like us too—including our prejudices.

But the Bible says “God is spirit” (John 4:24) and that He “is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). God doesn’t have human limitations or human prejudices. He sees all people as equally valuable because He made them all in His image.

His View of Heaven

Dake’s strange ideas about heaven being segregated came from his overall view that God’s plans are rigid and compartmentalized. He thought God had different plans for different groups that would never come together. This is completely opposite to the Bible’s picture of God bringing all things together in Christ (Ephesians 1:10).

Refuting Dake’s 30 Reasons One by One

Now let’s go through some of Dake’s specific “reasons” and show why each one is wrong. We won’t do all 30 because many of them repeat the same errors, but we’ll cover the main categories of mistakes he made.

Reasons Based on “After Their Kind”

Several of Dake’s reasons come from Genesis 1 where God made plants and animals to reproduce “after their kind.” Dake claimed this meant God created separate racial kinds that shouldn’t mix. As he wrote in reason #2: “God made everything to reproduce ‘after his own kind’ (Gen. 1:11-25; 6:20; 7:14). Kind means type and color or He would have kept them all alike to begin with”¹⁵

Why This Is Wrong: The word “kind” in Genesis refers to broad categories of life—plants, fish, birds, land animals. All humans are the same kind. We know this because:

• All humans can have children together (we’re the same species)
• The Bible says we all descend from Adam and Eve
• Genesis never mentions different human “kinds”
• The Bible celebrates marriages between people of different ethnicities who worship the same God

Reasons Based on Old Testament Laws

Many of Dake’s reasons come from Old Testament laws about Israel not marrying other nations. He claimed these were racial laws. In his notes, Dake listed what he called “12 Reasons God Separated Israel,”⁵ which included statements like “God forbad Israel to intermarry”⁶ and claimed that “Two branches of Isaac remain separate forever”⁷ and “Ishmael’s and Isaac’s descendants remain separate forever.”⁸

The full “12 Reasons God Separated Israel” list on page 194 of the Old Testament included:¹¹

1. “This was God’s plan for all nations (Dt. 32:8; Acts 17:26), and will be enforced when Messiah comes”
2. “To fulfill the covenants and promises made to Abraham regarding his seed being a great nation”
3. “To fulfill His covenants and promises to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan being the home of his seed eternally”
4. “To destroy the mighty races of giants whom Satan had raised up in an effort to do away with pure Adamite stock”
5. “To destroy all the Canaanite nations for their wickedness”
6. “To have a people of pure Adamite stock through whom the Messiah should come”
7. “To make Israel the channel of the revelation of God to man”
8. “To make them the head of all nations forever”
9. “To evangelize the nations”
10. “To be a kingdom of priests to represent God”

Why This Is Wrong: These laws were about religion, not race. The proof is that when people from other nations converted to worship Israel’s God, they could marry Israelites. Examples include:

• Ruth the Moabite married Boaz
• Rahab the Canaanite married Salmon
• Moses married a Cushite woman
• Joseph married an Egyptian woman

God’s concern was always about faith, not race. He didn’t want His people marrying those who worshiped false gods because they might be led astray.

Reasons Based on Separation Passages

Dake quoted verses about God separating Israel from other nations and claimed this meant racial segregation. He stated in reason #17: “God commanded Israel to be segregated (Lev. 20:24; Num. 23:9; 1 Ki. 8:53)”¹⁶

Why This Is Wrong: God separated Israel for a religious purpose—to preserve the knowledge of the true God and to bring the Messiah into the world. This was temporary and ended when Christ came. Paul says clearly that Christ “hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

Reasons Based on Future Prophecy

Some of Dake’s most shocking claims were about segregation continuing in heaven and the new earth. He wrote in reason #19: “All nations will remain segregated from one another in their own parts of the earth forever (17:26; Gen. 10:5, 32; 11:1-9; Dt. 32:8; Dan. 7:13-14; Zech. 14; Rev. 11; Is. 24)”¹⁷

Why This Is Wrong: The Bible’s picture of heaven is exactly the opposite! Revelation shows people from every nation, tribe, and language worshiping together. The New Jerusalem has gates named for the twelve tribes of Israel and foundations named for the twelve apostles, showing the unity of God’s people throughout history.

The Beautiful Truth of Human Diversity

Now let’s talk about what the Bible really teaches about human diversity. It’s not something to be feared or separated—it’s something beautiful that reflects God’s creativity and brings Him glory.

Diversity Reflects God’s Creativity

Just as God created millions of different kinds of flowers, trees, birds, and animals, He created humans with wonderful diversity. Different skin colors, eye shapes, hair textures, languages, and cultures all reflect God’s amazing creativity. It would be boring if everyone looked exactly the same!

The differences between people groups developed as humans spread across the earth and adapted to different environments. People in sunny areas developed darker skin for protection from the sun. People in cloudy areas developed lighter skin to absorb more vitamin D. These are amazing examples of how God designed our bodies to adapt and thrive in different places.

Diversity Makes Us Stronger

The Bible often uses the image of the body to describe how God’s people work together. First Corinthians 12 explains that just as a body needs different parts—eyes, ears, hands, feet—the church needs different kinds of people with different gifts and perspectives.

When churches include people from different backgrounds, they become stronger and wiser. Each culture brings unique insights into God’s Word. Each people group has experienced God’s faithfulness in different ways. When we come together, we get a fuller picture of who God is and how He works.

Diversity Displays the Gospel

When people who are different come together in unity through Christ, it shows the power of the gospel. It proves that Jesus really can break down walls and bring peace. It demonstrates that God’s love is stronger than human divisions.

Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that His followers would be one “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Our unity, especially across racial and ethnic lines, is a testimony to the world that Jesus is real and His message is true.

Real Stories of Reconciliation

Despite the damage done by false teaching like Dake’s, God has been bringing healing and reconciliation. Here are some encouraging stories of how truth overcomes lies.

How to Respond to Racist Theology

If you encounter people who still believe racist theology like Dake’s, here’s how to respond with truth and love:

1. Start with Scripture

Always go back to what the Bible actually says. Read verses in context. Look at the overall message of Scripture. Key verses to share include:

• Acts 17:26 – All nations made of one blood
• Galatians 3:28 – All one in Christ Jesus
• Revelation 7:9 – Every nation worshiping together
• Ephesians 2:14 – Christ broke down the dividing wall
• Genesis 1:27 – All humans made in God’s image

2. Show Love and Patience

Many people who believe false teaching about race are not evil—they’ve been deceived. They might have grown up hearing these ideas from people they trusted. Be patient as you share truth. Remember that changing deeply held beliefs takes time.

3. Share Stories

Sometimes stories can reach hearts when arguments can’t. Share stories of interracial friendships, integrated churches, and the beauty of diversity in God’s kingdom. Help people see the joy they’re missing when they stay segregated.

4. Live the Truth

The best argument against racist theology is a life that demonstrates God’s love for all people. Build friendships across racial lines. Worship in diverse congregations. Show by your life that God’s family includes everyone.

The Ongoing Damage in Today’s World

Even though Dake died in 1987, his false teaching about race continues to cause damage today. The Dake Bible is still being sold, and while some newer editions have removed or modified the most offensive racial content, many older copies are still in use. More importantly, the ideas he promoted have been passed down through generations.

In Churches

Some churches still use the Dake Bible as their primary study Bible, not realizing the poison it contains. Young believers read his notes and absorb his ideas without knowing they’re reading false teaching. This is especially dangerous in churches without trained pastors who could correct these errors.

Even in churches that don’t use the Dake Bible, his ideas have influenced how some Christians think about race. When Christians oppose interracial marriage or defend segregation, they’re often using arguments that trace back to teachers like Dake, even if they don’t know the source.

In Families

Families that have been influenced by Dake’s teaching continue to pass down prejudice to their children. Parents who were taught that interracial relationships are sin teach this to their kids. Grandparents who believe in racial segregation influence their grandchildren. The poison spreads from generation to generation.

In Society

When non-Christians see Christians using the Bible to support racism, it drives them away from the gospel. They think, “If that’s what Christianity teaches, I want nothing to do with it.” Dake’s false teaching doesn’t just hurt Christians—it creates a barrier that keeps non-believers from coming to Christ.

What About Old Testament Israel?

One of the most common questions people ask when learning about this topic is: “But didn’t God choose Israel as a special people and command them to stay separate? How is that different from racial segregation?”

This is a great question that deserves a careful answer.

God’s Purpose for Choosing Israel

God did choose Israel for a special purpose, but it wasn’t because they were racially superior. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 says God chose them not because they were great, but because He loved them and was keeping His promise to Abraham. God’s choice was about grace, not race.

Israel’s purpose was to be “a light to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49:6). They were supposed to show other nations what the true God was like. They were the family line through which the Messiah would come to save all people. Their separation was for a mission, not because they were better than others.

Religious, Not Racial

The separation God commanded was religious, not racial. The issue was always about worshiping the true God versus worshiping idols. When people from other nations turned to Israel’s God, they were welcomed into the community. The Bible is full of examples:

• The “mixed multitude” that left Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:38)
• Rahab the Canaanite becoming part of Israel
• Ruth the Moabite becoming David’s great-grandmother
• The prophecies about all nations coming to worship in Jerusalem

Temporary, Not Permanent

Israel’s separation was temporary, lasting only until Christ came. When Jesus arrived, He made it clear that salvation was for all people. After His resurrection, He commanded His disciples to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Paul explains in Ephesians 2 that Christ broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles, creating one new people in Him. The separation that existed for a specific purpose and time was ended by the cross.

Learning from History

The history of how Christians have dealt with race is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Understanding this history helps us learn from both the good and bad examples of the past.

Early Church Unity

The early Christian church was remarkably diverse and unified. Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, rich and poor, people from different nations all came together as one family in Christ. This was so unusual in the ancient world that it attracted attention and criticism from outsiders.

The church in Antioch (Acts 13:1) had leaders from different ethnic backgrounds working together. This was revolutionary in a world where different ethnic groups usually stayed separate or fought each other.

The Rise of “Christian” Racism

As Christianity became the official religion of empires and nations, it often got mixed with political power and cultural prejudices. During the colonial period, some Christians developed elaborate theological justifications for enslaving and oppressing other peoples.

These false teachings included:

• The “curse of Ham” myth we discussed earlier
• Ideas about some races being less evolved or less human
• Claims that God ordained racial hierarchy
• Beliefs that segregation was God’s will

None of these ideas came from the Bible—they came from human sin and were read into the Bible by people looking to justify their prejudices.

Christians Who Fought Racism

Throughout history, there have always been Christians who recognized that racism was wrong and fought against it:

• William Wilberforce and other Christians led the movement to end slavery in Britain
• Harriet Tubman relied on her faith as she helped slaves escape through the Underground Railroad
• Martin Luther King Jr. used biblical principles to lead the civil rights movement
• Desmond Tutu fought apartheid in South Africa based on biblical teaching about human dignity

These heroes of faith understood that the gospel demands racial justice and reconciliation.

Practical Steps Toward Healing

If you’ve realized that you’ve been influenced by false teaching about race, or if you want to help bring healing to others, here are practical steps you can take:

For Individuals

1. Repent and Seek Forgiveness
If you’ve held racist views or supported segregation, confess this to God as sin. If you’ve hurt specific people, seek their forgiveness. True repentance means changing your mind and your actions.

2. Study the Truth
Read what the Bible really says about human unity and God’s love for all people. Study books by Christians who teach biblical racial reconciliation. Learn about the history and contributions of different ethnic groups to Christianity.

3. Build Diverse Relationships
Intentionally build friendships with people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Listen to their stories. Learn from their perspectives. Let these relationships change and enrich your life.

4. Speak Up Against Racism
When you hear racist comments or see racist actions, especially from Christians, speak up in love. Share what the Bible really teaches. Don’t let false teaching go unchallenged.

For Families

1. Teach Children Truth
Make sure your children understand that God loves all people equally and that racism is sin. Use age-appropriate books and resources to teach about different cultures and the beauty of diversity.

2. Examine Family Traditions
Look honestly at your family’s history and traditions. Are there racist attitudes that have been passed down? Break the chain by teaching truth to the next generation.

3. Celebrate Diversity
Expose your family to different cultures through food, music, books, and relationships. Help your children see diversity as something beautiful that God created.

For Churches

1. Examine Your Teaching Materials
If your church uses the Dake Bible or other materials with racist content, replace them with sound biblical resources. Make sure all teaching promotes biblical unity.

2. Pursue Intentional Diversity
If your church is segregated, ask why and what can be done about it. This might mean changing worship styles, reaching out to different communities, or examining unwelcoming attitudes.

3. Teach on Racial Reconciliation
Don’t avoid the topic of race—address it biblically. Teach what the Bible says about human unity, the sin of racism, and God’s vision for His diverse people.

4. Partner Across Racial Lines
Build relationships with churches of different ethnic compositions. Do joint services, share pulpits, work together on community projects. Show your community what unity looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions people ask about this topic, along with biblical answers:

“Didn’t God create the races at Babel when He confused languages?”

No, the Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 is about languages, not races. God confused their languages to scatter people across the earth, but they were all still descendants of Noah—one human family. The physical differences we call “race” developed later as people adapted to different environments.

“Doesn’t the Bible say not to be ‘unequally yoked’?”

Yes, 2 Corinthians 6:14 says not to be unequally yoked, but this is about believers not marrying unbelievers, not about race. A Christian of any race marrying a Christian of any other race is not unequally yoked—they share the same faith, which is what matters.

“Won’t interracial marriage confuse the children?”

Children of mixed heritage can be proud of all their backgrounds. Any “confusion” comes from society’s prejudice, not from being mixed race. The Bible celebrates many heroes of faith who were of mixed heritage, including Timothy (Greek father, Jewish mother) and Moses’ children (Hebrew-Cushite parents).

“Isn’t it natural to prefer your own race?”

We might naturally feel more comfortable with what’s familiar, but the gospel calls us beyond what’s natural to what’s supernatural—love that crosses all boundaries. Christianity has always challenged us to love beyond our comfort zones.

“Doesn’t God want to preserve distinct cultures?”

God celebrates cultural diversity (Revelation 21:24 speaks of nations bringing their glory into the New Jerusalem), but this doesn’t require segregation. We can appreciate and preserve cultural heritage while still living, working, worshiping, and marrying across cultural lines.

Conclusion: The Truth That Sets Us Free

We’ve spent a lot of time looking at Finis Dake’s false and harmful teaching about race. It’s been painful to see how someone could take God’s Word and twist it to support such evil ideas. But we’ve also seen the beautiful truth that the Bible really teaches—that God created one human race, that He loves all people equally, that Jesus died to bring us all together, and that heaven will be filled with people from every nation, tribe, and language worshiping together.

Dake’s “30 reasons for segregation” stand as a warning of what happens when we read our own prejudices into the Bible instead of letting the Bible challenge our prejudices. They show us how dangerous it is to take verses out of context, to ignore the main message of Scripture, and to refuse correction from other believers.

But more importantly, the response to Dake’s errors shows us the power of truth. Wherever his false teaching has been exposed and rejected, healing has begun. Where churches have embraced biblical diversity, they’ve experienced new joy and growth. Where families have rejected racist traditions, they’ve discovered the richness of God’s whole family.

If you’ve been influenced by Dake’s teaching or similar racist theology, today can be a day of freedom. You don’t have to carry the burden of prejudice anymore. You don’t have to live with walls between you and your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can embrace the full beauty of God’s diverse family.

And if you’ve been hurt by racist theology—if you’ve been told God loves you less because of your race, if you’ve been excluded from fellowship, if you’ve had your marriage condemned—please know that these were lies. God loves you completely. You are made in His image. You are welcome in His family. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

For Further Study

If you want to learn more about what the Bible really teaches about race and unity, here are some helpful resources:

Bible Passages to Study

• Genesis 1-3 (Creation of humanity)
• Acts 10-11 (Peter learns God accepts all people)
• Acts 17:16-34 (Paul’s message about all nations from one blood)
• Galatians 2-3 (Paul confronts Peter about ethnic division)
• Ephesians 2 (Christ breaks down dividing walls)
• Revelation 5, 7, 21-22 (Diversity in heaven)

Questions for Reflection

1. Have I been influenced by false teaching about race?
2. Are there prejudices I need to confess and abandon?
3. How can I help bring racial reconciliation in my family, church, and community?
4. What would it look like for me to actively pursue diversity in my relationships?
5. How can I help others understand what the Bible really teaches about human unity?

A Prayer for Healing and Unity

Father God, we confess that Your church has often failed to show Your love for all people. We have built walls where You wanted bridges. We have created division where You desired unity. We have used Your Word to justify our prejudices instead of letting it challenge them.

Forgive us, Lord. Heal the wounds that racist theology has caused. Bring reconciliation where there has been division. Help us to see every person as You see them—made in Your image, loved by You, and precious in Your sight.

Give us courage to stand against racism wherever we find it. Give us wisdom to teach truth in love. Give us hearts that embrace the full diversity of Your family. Help us to be agents of reconciliation in a divided world.

Thank You that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, but we are all one in Him. Help us to live out that truth every day until that glorious day when people from every nation, tribe, and language stand together before Your throne.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Footnotes

¹ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, note on Acts 17:26, “Separation in Scripture.”

² Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), Old Testament page 94, notes on Genesis 6.

³ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, “Separation in Scripture,” point 1(4).

⁴ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), Old Testament page 92, “The Purpose of Satan in Producing Giants.”

⁵ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), Old Testament page 194, note referenced in New Testament page 275.

⁶ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, “Separation in Scripture,” point 2(8).

⁷ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, “Separation in Scripture,” point 2(5).

⁸ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, “Separation in Scripture,” point 2(6).

⁹ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 275, “Separation in Scripture” introduction.

¹⁰ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), Old Testament page 194, “12 Reasons God Separated Israel,” point 4.

¹¹ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), Old Testament page 194, “12 Reasons God Separated Israel,” complete list.

¹² Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, “30 reasons for segregation of races (Acts 17:26).”

¹³ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, reason #20.

¹⁴ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, reason #19.

¹⁵ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, reason #2.

¹⁶ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, reason #17.

¹⁷ Finis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963), New Testament page 159, reason #19.

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