The Black Hebrew Israelites (BHI) is a movement that asserts that African Americans, and sometimes other minority groups, are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites. This belief originated in the late 19th century in the United States, with figures like Frank Cherry and William Saunders Crowdy. The movement blends elements of Christianity, Judaism, and African identity, though it is not monolithic, and various sects within BHI hold differing beliefs.
History of the Movement
The origins of BHI can be traced to the late 1800s, with Frank Cherry and William Crowdy claiming divine visions that African Americans were the true Israelites. This idea gained momentum, particularly during periods of racial oppression in the U.S., as a way of providing an empowering identity to African Americans. Throughout the 20th century, BHI splintered into numerous groups with varying doctrines and practices, some adopting militant or separatist ideologies, while others promote peace and reconciliation.
Theology of Black Hebrew Israelites
The core belief of the BHI movement is that Black people, particularly those in the Americas, are the descendants of the ancient Israelites, often identified as the "lost tribes" of Israel. Some BHI adherents believe that this identity was hidden due to a conspiracy by European Jews and others, leading to a belief that the Jews in Israel today are "false Jews." BHI theology often includes elements of Old Testament law-keeping, such as Sabbath observance and dietary laws, and some groups reject the New Testament or re-interpret Jesus as a Black messiah sent for their specific redemption.
BHI groups tend to emphasize racial identity and promote the belief that salvation and God's covenantal promises are reserved specifically for the descendants of the true Israelites (i.e., Black people). This often includes a view that non-Black people, or “Gentiles,” will be subjugated or punished in the final judgment, creating a racial or ethnic divide within their eschatology.
Critique from Scripture and Historic Christian Orthodoxy
Racial Supremacy Contradicts the Gospel: The belief that salvation is racially exclusive is incompatible with biblical teaching. The Bible is clear that the gospel is for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity. In passages like Galatians 3:28, Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This foundational New Testament teaching emphasizes that salvation is through faith in Christ, not tied to race or ancestry.
Universal Offer of Salvation: The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 instructs the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. The word nations (ethnos in Greek) refers to all ethnicities, meaning that the good news of Christ’s redemptive work is universally available. BHI’s view that salvation is reserved for Black Israelites contradicts the Bible’s universal call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Biblical Definition of Israel: BHI claims that African Americans are the true Israelites, but Scripture presents Israel not merely as a physical lineage but as a spiritual identity tied to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explains in Romans 9:6-8 that not all who are descended from Israel are part of true Israel; rather, it is those who are children of the promise through faith who are counted as God’s people.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Law: Many BHI groups emphasize adherence to Old Testament laws, such as Sabbath-keeping and dietary laws, as necessary for righteousness. However, the New Testament clearly teaches that Christ fulfilled the law and offers a new covenant of grace through faith. Colossians 2:16-17 states, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."
False View of Jewish Identity: BHI claims that modern Jews are not the true descendants of Israel, which contradicts both historical and biblical evidence. The genealogies and histories found in Scripture, as well as historical records, do not support this view. The New Testament also clearly recognizes Jewish identity in figures like Paul, who was a Jew by birth (Philippians 3:5), and does not deny the continued existence of the Jewish people.
Black Hebrew Israelite (BHI) theology directly conflicts with the core teachings of the book of Galatians. Here are key areas where they diverge:
Justification by Faith Alone: Galatians emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, apart from works of the law (Galatians 2:16; 3:11). BHI theology, with its emphasis on adherence to Old Testament laws, contradicts this fundamental gospel truth.
Unity of All Believers: Galatians 3:28 declares that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, and all are one in Him. BHI’s focus on ethnic identity as central to salvation opposes Paul’s teaching that faith in Christ, not ethnicity, unites God’s people.
Law vs. Promise: Paul argues in Galatians 3:17-19 that the law was a temporary guardian until Christ came to fulfill it. BHI theology’s insistence on law-keeping undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s work and the freedom believers have from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13).
The Spirit and the Flesh: Galatians contrasts living by the Spirit with living by the flesh, asserting that believers are to live by the Spirit, not by fleshly ordinances or markers of identity (Galatians 5:16-18). BHI theology, which often emphasizes external identity markers (like race), clashes with the Spirit-led life that Paul describes as central to Christian faith.
In summary, BHI theology contradicts the theology of Galatians by promoting salvation based on ethnicity and law-keeping, while Galatians proclaims salvation through faith in Christ alone, for all people, and emphasizes unity in Christ regardless of ethnic background.
Beyond the book of Galatians, several New Testament passages offer sharp contrasts with Black Hebrew Israelite (BHI) theology:
Acts 15 (The Jerusalem Council): The early church explicitly rejects the necessity of keeping the Mosaic law for salvation, a major point of contrast with BHI theology, which often emphasizes law-keeping. The apostles affirm salvation through grace for all people, both Jews and Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:14-16: Paul teaches that Christ has broken down the “dividing wall of hostility” between Jew and Gentile, uniting them into one new humanity through the cross. BHI’s racial exclusivism contradicts this message of unity in Christ.
Romans 9:6-8: Paul argues that not all who are descended from Israel are part of true Israel, emphasizing spiritual, not physical, lineage. This dismantles the BHI focus on ethnic identity as the basis for salvation.
These passages emphasize that salvation is through faith alone, available to all people, and that the gospel transcends ethnic or national boundaries. This stands in direct opposition to BHI’s emphasis on ethnic Israelite identity as the key to salvation.
Conclusion
The Black Hebrew Israelite movement distorts the gospel by placing undue emphasis on racial identity, promoting exclusivism, and undermining the universal call of salvation through Jesus Christ. Historic Christian orthodoxy, based on Scripture, teaches that salvation is available to all people through faith in Christ, regardless of ethnicity or lineage. The focus on racial supremacy and adherence to Old Testament law misses the core message of the New Testament—that Jesus came to fulfill the law and offer salvation to all nations through faith in His finished work.
----
More Resources on BHI @Monergism