Moving Beyond Prejudice

I have to say, I don't understand racial prejudice.  Oh, along with you I see far too much evidence of it in the news as well as in the community.  I see it on social media, hear it in my own family.  But, I don't get it.  I simply do not understand how one human being can make a judgment - and particularly a negative judgment - on another human being based on the pigment in their skin. 

I am forever grateful for the kindness and friendship I was offered during the many years I was a visible minority in Asia.  I still remember sitting down with one of my dear friends who was about to emigrate to a country in the west and confessing to her that sadly, in the country where she was going, she was unlikely to receive the same kind of kindness and respect that had been so generously given to me. 

Sadly in the local area where I live acts of hatred against Asian folks has risen dramatically over the past few years. We continue to hear stories on the news of so many who have suffered in their own communities based on the colour or their skin.  My heart grieves.

When I was a child we sang the little chorus: 

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world. 

Red and yellow, black and white,

They are precious in His sight. 

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

One of the first Bible verses most of us memorized was John 3:16 wasn't it? 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

We were all encouraged to put our own name into the generic "world" and "whoever". 

Brothers and sisters, whatever colour you are, wherever in this world you live we are part of the world, part of the whoever and we are dearly loved by our Heavenly Father.  Jesus Christ has broken down barriers and as His followers we are called to live in a new way – no , we are privileged to live in a new way. 

Gathered around God’s throne today are people from every race, tribe, and nation. 

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 

Revelation 7:9

We ask forgiveness, Lord, for the many small and larger ways we hold prejudice and irrational hatred in our hearts.  Forgive us Lord. 

Forgive us for our failure to live out the Gospel that we are all precious in Your sight and that the blood of Jesus Christ flowed for the sin of all of us – we are all sinners.  We have all fallen short of the glory of God.

Help us to listen long and care deeply for those visible minorities who have suffered unfair treatment for way too long.  Help us to offer support and compassion and with humility lift them up and in Your name, do whatever we can to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You” in their presence.  Amen