Here's a couple of key passages with observations I came up with. What else is there? Add to it if you have something you've found! Then God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness”… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 All people, no matter their race, are created in the image of God. Therefore, our inherently value as image bearers is equal. “The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” Genesis 2:20 The Bible affirms that Eve is the “mother of all living”. Therefore, all of the living have the same unifying ancestor. The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth…These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Genesis 9:18-19 After the flood, when God was rebuilding and repopulating the world after destroying a violent, sinister humankind, all of humankind came from the same small number of survivors of the flood. “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” Acts 17:26 The NT affirms that God made every nation of mankind from one man. Further affirming that everyone currently living has joint ancestors in both Adam and Eve. “For as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) that many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 All who call on the name of the Lord are made righteous through one Savior: Christ Jesus. All humankind is unified in their need for a Savior and the Church is unified in their faith in Christ. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood by shed, for God made man in his own image.” God declared murder to be a grave moral evil after the flood because man is made in his own image. He made no distinction between race. All mankind is made in his image, and all mankind should not murder. Therefore, all of mankind should be treated equally under God’s law. There should be no distinction of treatment between races.

War is a controversial subject, but we should consider what the Bible has to say about going to war. One of my favorite ways of thinking about war from a biblical standpoint is the just war tradition. I am aware of a contrary position called "pacifism". I'll probably make another post about it at another time. In this post, I wanted to share the criteria that has developed with heavy Christian influence over the past 2 millennium. These are the 8 criteria for a just war and the supporting Scripture. Let me know your thoughts on just way tradition and whether you agree with it's criteria. A thread on 8 criteria of just war theory. 1. Just cause (Is the reason going to war a morally right cause? “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:11 2. Competent authority Has the war been declared by a competent authority within a nation, not simply by an unrecognized band within a nation? “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1 3. Comparative justice Is it clear that the actions of the enemy are morally wrong, and the motives and actions of one’s own nation going to war are, in comparison, morally right? “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,” Romans 13:3 4. Right intention Is the purpose of going to war to protect justice and righteousness rather than simply to rob and pillage and destroy another nation? “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2 5. Last resort Have all other reasonable means of resolving the conflict been exhausted? “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”