In response to my comment that the use of the cross of Christ by racists is a perversion and a rejection of the God who shows no partiality, who created us in his image and who created us all in Adam so that we would all be connected, RJohnson left this comment:

At one time in this country such views regarding Christianity were the majority. In 1823 Rev. Dr. Richard Furman wrote the following exposition on behalf of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. It was sent to the governor of South Carolina outlining the Convention’s belief that Scripture supported slavery as practiced in the United States.

Over a hundred years later Virginia Judge Leon Bazile wrote the following in a decision supporting that state’s ban on interracial marriage:
“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and He placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with His arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that He separated the races shows that He did not intend for the races to mix.”
These were once accepted as the Scriptural teachings regarding race. Thankfully over the years our understanding of Scripture has improved to the point that we now see the Bible as being completely opposed to such notions. We also see how the misinterpretation and misapplication of passages taken out of context was used in the past less to advance the cause of Christ than to advance the benefit of man. Dr. Furman was an ardent abolitionist until he inherited some slaves, at which time his views on slavery changed (surprise, surprise.)

That some people held a position that whites were superior to blacks and could be owned by Christians at some point in our nation’s history doesn’t mean that this was the universally held position, remember Christianity is a world-wide religion that has been in existence for millennia. When it was founded the message spread around the world, everyone who heard it knew that it was for them as well. Luke makes this point by singling out the conversion of an Ethiopian:

Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Christians have spent many years in Africa bringing the gospel to those who desperately need it. David Livingstone poured out his life for the Africans because he understood that Christ’s death was for them as well. Just about every denomination has sent missionaries to Africa to establish churches, schools, hospitals and seminaries. They all knew what the slave owners and the racists refuse to acknowledge: that the death of Christ means that all those who believe in Christ are united in his death and resurrection and that in our new life we share a bond together that cannot be broken by race. They believed in the new song:

ESV Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

There were men who fought hard to end slavery here in America and in England. Wilberforce lead a parliamentary campaign that continued until laws were passed to end the slave trade and to abolish slavery in England and then England urged other nations to give up slavery as well. All this took place between 1807-1833, as you can see the Rev. Dr. Richard Furman’s views weren’t universally held. And they weren’t widely held in America as well. Many Christians were speaking out around this time, calling it a sin. Christians like Charles G. Finney, Lyman Beecher and Nathaniel Taylor.
And at the same time that the white slave owners were justifying owning slaves by appealing to Scripture, the slaves had a much clearer of Scripture and the God who was there for them. They knew that Christ died for them as well:

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul
Sometimes I feel discouraged
And think my work’s in vain
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again
Don’t ever feel discouraged
For Jesus is your friend
And if you lack of knowledge
He’ll ne’er refuse to lend
If you cannot preach like Peter
If you cannot pray like Paul
You can tell the love of Jesus
And say, “He died for all”.

And through the years, when men dressed in hoods and burned crosses on their lawns, blacks knew that whites didn’t own Jesus, they didn’t own that cross, he was their God and Savior too:

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heavenly home
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
“Let not your heart be troubled”
His tender word I hear
And resting on His goodness
I loose my doubts and fears
Tho’ by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
Whenever I am tempted
Whenever clouds arise
When song gives place to sighing
When hope within me dies
I draw the closer to Him
For care He sets me free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

And who can forget the song that we all learned as children:

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

No, this understanding hasn’t evolved, it’s been acknowledged throughout church history by every generation that understands what Christ’s death means for humanity, when we’re all assembled before Christ’s throne singing our new song and worshiping our king together. Amen, Christians?