Kinism is a modern ideology that argues God intends the human race to remain divided along ethnic or racial lines and that Christians should oppose multi-ethnic churches, marriages, or societies. Kinists often claim that the preservation of “kindred” or “kin” is a biblical mandate and that ethnic separation is part of the created order. In practice, Kinism functions as a religious justification for racism and segregation while presenting itself as a form of Christian orthodoxy.

Kinism is a comparatively recent theological movement embraced by a small number of Calvinists, although it is rejected by the vast majority within the Reformed tradition. The movement teaches that Scripture establishes a divinely ordained pattern of cultural life centred on same-race families, referred to as ‘kin.’ According to this view, individuals ought to associate, worship, and marry only within their own ethnic group, commonly categorised in racial terms such as Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid. Kinists further contend that the separation of the races occurred at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9), when God confounded human languages and the resulting people groups dispersed across the earth.

Although Kinists frequently use biblical language, their system distorts Scripture by confusing cultural identity with racial superiority and by ignoring the gospel’s central message that in Christ God is redeeming people from every nation into one new family.

How Does Kinism Justify Its Belief?

Kinism generally relies on several arguments:

1. Appeal to Old Testament boundaries.
   Kinists point to Israel’s distinct national identity and to laws warning against adopting pagan practices (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). They interpret these passages as prohibitions against inter-ethnic relationships rather than against idolatry.
2. Misuse of the concept of “kinds.”
   Because Genesis speaks of God creating animals “after their kind,” Kinists claim that human ethnic groups are fixed biological “kinds” that should not mix. This reads modern racial theories back into the Bible, which never describes humanity in such terms.
3. Selective history and tradition.
   Kinists often cite historical figures or social customs to argue that ethnic separation is natural and therefore God-ordained.

These justifications fail because they ignore the overarching biblical narrative. Scripture condemns idolatry, not ethnicity, and it celebrates the unity of redeemed humanity. The Bible never teaches that one ethnic group is superior to another or that mixing nations is sinful.

Biblical Witness Against Racism

All Humanity Shares One Origin

The apostle Paul declared to the Athenians, “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).

Humanity is one family descended from Adam. Ethnic differences are part of God’s providence, but they do not create separate classes of worth.

The Gospel Creates One New People

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that Christ breaks down ethnic hostility, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Paul did not erase cultural distinctions; he denied that they determine spiritual status. Kinism directly contradicts this apostolic doctrine.

God’s Redeemed People Are Multi-Ethnic

The vision of heaven shows the goal of redemption, “You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

If God delights to save a multi-ethnic people, Christians must not treat such diversity as a threat.

Scriptural Examples of Inter-Ethnic Marriage

The Bible records numerous God-honoured marriages between people of different nations:

1. Moses and the Cushite woman – Numbers 12:1 notes that Moses married a Cushite (Ethiopian). When Miriam criticised this, God judged Miriam, not Moses, demonstrating that the objection was sinful.
2. Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess – Ruth, a Gentile, became the wife of Boaz and the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:13–17). God placed this union directly in the Messianic line.
3. Rahab and Salmon – Rahab of Jericho, a Canaanite, married into Israel and likewise entered the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5).
4. Joseph and Asenath of Egypt – Genesis 41:45 records Joseph’s marriage to an Egyptian woman, producing Ephraim and Manasseh, tribes blessed by God.

These accounts demonstrate that Scripture’s concern was faith in the true God, not racial purity. The dividing line was spiritual allegiance, not ethnicity.

How We Should Respond to The Unbiblical Viewpoint of Kinism

Affirm the Image of God in Every Person

Genesis 1:27 teaches that all humans bear God’s image. Racism denies this truth by assigning differing value based on ancestry. Christians must reject any ideology that treats neighbours as lesser creations.

Expose the Misuse of Scripture

Kinism isolates verses from their context. The church must patiently show that biblical warnings about intermarriage addressed the danger of idolatry, not ethnicity. The prophets celebrated Gentiles turning to the Lord (Isaiah 2:2–3).

Model Gospel Unity

Local churches should embody the reconciled community purchased by Christ. Ephesians 2:14 declares, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.”

Practical fellowship across cultures is a powerful refutation of Kinist teaching.

Confront Sin with Grace and Truth

Racism is not a minor social preference; it is a violation of the second great commandment to love our neighbour (Matthew 22:39). Believers must call Kinists to repentance while offering the same gospel that saves all sinners.

Why Kinism Is Against Bible Teaching

Kinism contradicts the heart of Christianity in several ways:

• It denies the unity of the human race created from one man.
• It undermines the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which gathers one people from all nations.
• It revives hostility that Christ died to abolish.
• It replaces the biblical category of faith with the worldly category of race.

The fruit of Kinism, suspicion, pride, and division stands opposed to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

Closing Thoughts

Kinism presents itself as a defence of Christian order, yet it is a distortion of the gospel. Scripture teaches that God made all nations from one blood (Acts 17:26). In Christ there is one body without ethnic hierarchy (Galatians 3:28). God honours marriages across national lines when they share faith, as seen with Ruth, Rahab, Joseph, and Moses. The redeemed church will consist of people from every tribe and tongue (Revelation 5:9).

Therefore, racism in any form, including Kinism, is incompatible with biblical Christianity. The church must answer it with clear doctrine, courageous love, and unwavering commitment to the truth that Jesus Christ is building one redeemed family from the whole human race.