What is a Christian view of the Civil Rights Movement?

from the old testament

• A Christian assessment of the Civil Rights Movement begins with the Old Testament’s basis for human dignity. Humanity was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), and the first legal command was to protect the lives of others (Genesis 9:6). Also, the Bible teaches that everyone comes from Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20), which means dividing people by race is, in itself, against biblical principles.
• Because all men and women possess equal dignity before God, He gave Israel laws to protect others. For example, we read, “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death” (Exodus 21:16). This command demonstrates that God detests those who forcibly steal people as well as exploitative slave trading. The Civil Rights Movement emerged to oppose practices like the transatlantic slave trade, which dehumanized certain groups of people, removing them from one place and selling them to others.
• In Israel, justice was meant to be an impartial process, with the LORD commanding, “You shall do no injustice in court” (Leviticus 19:15). When appointing justices, Moses said, “they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:18b–19). Similarly, dishonest scales were called an abomination, indicating that rigged systems favoring one group over another offend God (Proverbs 20:10).
• Underlying Israel’s system was the command, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). “Neighbor” didn’t just mean other Israelites but included those who immigrated to Israel and wanted to integrate into society (Leviticus 19:33–34; Exodus 22:21).
• When Israel ignored these commands, God sent prophets to challenge oppression. They called the nation to pursue justice, protect the vulnerable, and reject violence (Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:24). The LORD said that what He required from them was “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
• In summary, the Old Testament teaches that all men and women are related through Adam and Eve, and that all are created in God’s image. That gives everyone equal dignity and worth. Since the Civil Rights Movement aimed for justice and societal equality closer to biblical ideals, Christians view it positively.

from the new testament

• The New Testament builds on the Old Testament’s laws, affirming equality among all people. As the Son of God, Jesus continued to emphasize the God-given foundation—love for both God and neighbor. He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), linking righteousness to how people treat one another in everyday life. When a lawyer sought to justify himself by asking, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37), demonstrating that genuine love transcends ethnic boundaries and extends even to those who might despise us.
• Alongside the foundation of love, the New Testament also confirms that people bear God’s image. James warned that we can harm others with our words, saying, “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). Notice that he describes our speech toward others as either supporting or damaging other image bearers. By this standard, any form of racism, contempt, and violence violates the Lord’s will for how we are meant to live.
• The apostles also challenged the exploitation of people. Paul listed “enslavers” among practices that are “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:10). In the first-century world, slavery was a complex institution. Some forms resembled employment or debt service, while others were ruthless and unjust. Instead of endorsing the system, Scripture limited its abuses by commanding masters to act justly and to treat enslaved believers as brothers and sisters, not as property (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1; Philemon 15–17).
• James further identified partiality as a sin, condemning favoritism within the church and, by extension, anywhere Christians have influence. “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). These words highlight segregation and discrimination as moral failures. Faith that honors the Lord refuses to judge people based on status, wealth, or ethnicity.
• Finally, the gospel provides the only lasting foundation for unity and equality. The Civil Rights Movement rightly sought justice, but only the work of Christ can remove the deeper hostility within the human heart. Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28), and explained that Christ “has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). In this new community, believers learn to welcome one another as family, not because they are morally superior, but because they have been equally forgiven and reconciled through Him.

implications for today

The heart of Christianity is loving your neighbor. This love shows by how we treat people made in God’s image. Biblical love opposes prejudice, encouraging society to see others as God does. When injustice arises, love compels us to speak the truth, listen carefully, repent for our part in harm, and use our influence to seek justice for those affected. But racial or ethnic unity is not the ultimate goal for Christians. Instead, the goal is for everyone to know and love Jesus. Movements for justice that align with Scripture can be good ways to help society flourish because people operate closer to God's design. Still, without Christ, lasting change is impossible. This is because all people are born sinful. Whether that manifests as racism, lying, or other sins, until the heart is transformed, the sin persists and fuels injustice.

A fundamental transformation begins when we turn from sin and trust in Christ, who bore our guilt and reconciled us to God through His death and resurrection. In Him, every believer is forgiven, renewed, and brought into one family.

For those who belong to Christ, this unity must be expressed through humility, compassion, and service to others. When you show grace, seek reconciliation, and treat others with the mercy you've received, you demonstrate the reality of the gospel to a watching world. The church then becomes a living witness that Christ’s love surpasses every barrier of race, class, or culture, and that only in Him can justice and peace truly last.