Prejudice And Peace (3)
Wednesday April 26, 2017
What is prejudice? Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Prejudice is often rooted in fear and insecurity around differences between us and others. We observe how someone drives and we have a negative opinion about that particular race or sex and their competence to drive. People from different ethnic backgrounds are the material for sarcasm and jokes. The rich think the poor are stupid and lazy. The poor think the rich are harsh and selfish. The old think the young are irresponsible and the young think the old are grumpy. Due to our insecurity and fears we make opinions and assumptions based on the limited information we have in our own culture or age group.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT)
Diversity is God’s idea. God delights in diversity and the many expressions of life that each culture demonstrates. God is calling all people from every tribe and tongue to receive forgiveness for sin and come and have eternal life with Him. He wants us to work together as one body for His Kingdom purposes.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:10-11 NIV)
Unfamiliar is not inferior, it’s simply different. If we can celebrate our own life as a gift from God, then we can celebrate other’s lives as gifts from God, wonderfully expressed in ways and words that are quite different from our own. It’s not “either/or” with God, it’s “both/and.” Are we willing to widen our arms to accept and love all God’s children?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Forgive me for judging those who are different in some way from me. Help me to live in harmony with all people and by so doing honour You. Amen
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