Are people from MENA white?

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Mar 4, 2020
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#65
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today, and I think the main problematic factor behind this is the disputed racial classification of MENA natives.
Shortly after I was saved, I prayed to God and asked if I could see Jesus. I had almost immediately forgotten I had even asked at all until that same night I suddenly woke up at about 3:00 am to a presence in my bed room. There was a cloud of mist swirling beside my bed. As I gazed at this cloud, suddenly a man’s face formed in it.

It was a the face of a man with dark straight hair. couldn’t tell if it was long or short. His skin was tan, not white or black. His nose was long. He looked Jewish to me. He just looked in my eyes, didn’t look happy, sad, or angry. Just seemed normal, sincere, and at rest. Then the face was gone in a flash.

Personally, I believe I saw Jesus. I know that isn’t proof for anyone else, but that is part of my experience and testimony.

Since then, for years now, I involuntarily wake up sometime between 2:30 am to 3:30 am because God either wants to show me something, tell me something, or to pray about something. It’s always the same regardless of if I change my bed time, how tired I am, if I take melatonin as a sleeping aid, etc.
 
Sep 17, 2022
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#66
Then I suppose for those who are guests in our nation, the hospitable thing to do would be to allow them to identify themselves how they wish to (within reason). Most people don't ask you what race you are, they ask where or what country you're from. Culture and national origin are far more predictive of a person's behavior and mindset than the broader category of race.
I read the US census also counts people of MENA descent as white, and because of this some have accused it of whitewashing. They suggest adding a separate racial category for MENA people.
 
Sep 17, 2022
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#67
How tanned?
He looked Jewish to me.
What does "looking Jewish" mean for you?

By the way, the question goes deeper than that. The US census includes people of Middle Eastern and North African origin in the White category, along with people of European origin. Jesus would be legally a white man if he lived right now in USA. Do you think this classification is accurate?
 

Hazelelponi

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2019
609
397
63
USA
#68
I read the US census also counts people of MENA descent as white, and because of this some have accused it of whitewashing. They suggest adding a separate racial category for MENA people.
It was Mena people who fought for and won the right to be considered "white" because we are white. There's no separate race from a biological standpoint, Mena people's are Caucasian. Don't need a special box for any government form.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#69
I found this skin tones chart on the Internet. I would say the face I saw looked like sand or beige.

A8BF86DC-CE51-4CFC-882E-B4E186BA9ACE.jpeg
What does "looking Jewish" mean for you?
That’s a difficult question to answer using words because there is some overlap between racial features. Most ethnic Jewish people I’ve known had dark brown or black hair, beige/sandy-colored skin, and the bridge of their nose is long. Depending on the amount of sun they had, their skin could even look porcelain or ivory. The face I saw was tan.

By the way, the question goes deeper than that. The US census includes people of Middle Eastern and North African origin in the White category, along with people of European origin. Jesus would be legally a white man if he lived right now in USA. Do you think this classification is accurate?
I don’t know if the classification is accurate in a political sense. I don’t really trust much of anything the US government says/does and I’m sure they have ulterior motives for everything. I don’t just accept their classifications because they said so, so I don’t know. I leave it open to it being possible.

What do you say the right answer is?
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
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#70
Shortly after I was saved, I prayed to God and asked if I could see Jesus. I had almost immediately forgotten I had even asked at all until that same night I suddenly woke up at about 3:00 am to a presence in my bed room. There was a cloud of mist swirling beside my bed. As I gazed at this cloud, suddenly a man’s face formed in it.

It was a the face of a man with dark straight hair. couldn’t tell if it was long or short. His skin was tan, not white or black. His nose was long. He looked Jewish to me. He just looked in my eyes, didn’t look happy, sad, or angry. Just seemed normal, sincere, and at rest. Then the face was gone in a flash.

Personally, I believe I saw Jesus. I know that isn’t proof for anyone else, but that is part of my experience and testimony.

Since then, for years now, I involuntarily wake up sometime between 2:30 am to 3:30 am because God either wants to show me something, tell me something, or to pray about something. It’s always the same regardless of if I change my bed time, how tired I am, if I take melatonin as a sleeping aid, etc.
I went through a few weeks of this once and then my pastor spoke of it, how he was going through a time where God would awaken him about 3 in the morning to spend time with Him. After these times of refreshing going back to sleep He gives the most wonderful dreams of instruction and blessing.
Ask Him for dreams, He gives freely, and ask He bring them to mind the next day that you might seek the meaning.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
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#71
I went through a few weeks of this once and then my pastor spoke of it, how he was going through a time where God would awaken him about 3 in the morning to spend time with Him. After these times of refreshing going back to sleep He gives the most wonderful dreams of instruction and blessing.
Ask Him for dreams, He gives freely, and ask He bring them to mind the next day that you might seek the meaning.
Wow good to hear that you and your pastor have experienced this, too, even at the same time frame as I am. This definitely makes me realize that the time of being woken up isn’t random, but rather a sign. No idea why the time of 3 in the morning is important though. Maybe since others experience it they we can share our testimony about it and know it’s a sign?

Will definitely pray about dreams and meaning too. Thanks 😊
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,742
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#72
How tanned?

What does "looking Jewish" mean for you?

By the way, the question goes deeper than that. The US census includes people of Middle Eastern and North African origin in the White category, along with people of European origin. Jesus would be legally a white man if he lived right now in USA. Do you think this classification is accurate?
I get the strong impression you are pushing for a separate classification for MENA people.

I mean... You haven't actually come out and stated your case yet, but you keep asking questions like a modern school teacher. (Sorry love_comes_softly, no offense.) "How do you think the trees feel after the lumberjack cuts them down?"
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,954
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#73
Wow good to hear that you and your pastor have experienced this, too, even at the same time frame as I am. This definitely makes me realize that the time of being woken up isn’t random, but rather a sign. No idea why the time of 3 in the morning is important though. Maybe since others experience it they we can share our testimony about it and know it’s a sign?

Will definitely pray about dreams and meaning too. Thanks 😊
He has been so very good about giving a second and third witness to what He is doing.
Ever since the first chapter where He gave man dominion, He has obligated Himself to limit Himself to what we invite Him into.:)(y):coffee:
 

cinder

Senior Member
Mar 26, 2014
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#74
I read the US census also counts people of MENA descent as white, and because of this some have accused it of whitewashing. They suggest adding a separate racial category for MENA people.
There's an other category so no one is forced to mark white. And truth is if they get a count for your address and you leave the rest of the questions blank, they won't follow up to get more demographic info.

The sooner we start looking at people instead of races (or these days genders as well), the better it will be for everyone in America I think.
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,954
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#75
In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, male nor female, we are one in Christ.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#76
He has been so very good about giving a second and third witness to what He is doing.
Ever since the first chapter where He gave man dominion, He has obligated Himself to limit Himself to what we invite Him into.:)(y):coffee:
Amen. I firmly believe God is still giving fresh witness up to the present day.
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
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#77
Job 33-14 indicates He is speaking to each of us all the time, we just don't perceive it, once we go back to Him and ask if this is from Him, He will communicate in the affirmative.
John 16, where Jesus is giving the parting instructions before Calvary, He explains the three ways He will communicate, guide, speak and show.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#78
The sooner we start looking at people instead of races (or these days genders as well), the better it will be for everyone in America I think.
Think it'll happen though? I mean... For all we have decried racism, the people of the world as a group seem to be VERY hung up on what race a person is these days. Think we'll ever get off it this side of Heaven?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#79
does anyone really care what the US govt categorizes people as in their racist policies?

Jesus is not part of the US govt or a citizen of the US. If he was under the Hitler regime he would have been forced to wear a gold star and been sentenced to be worked to death in a concentration camp.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#80
Since Jesus was not born in the US nor visited nor married to an american (unlike mormon doctrine insisting he did visit while on earth in the flesh) any silly US govt official would just call him an illegal alien if he tried to live there. Unless he got some green card right? He did not even speak English.

so? What is OPs point? Jesus was in the world, but not of it.