Prejudice

The image above is Norman Rockwell's painting "Freedom to Worship". It depicts people of different types - young and old, of different ethnicity and race, worshipping together. It is a beautiful depiction. Rockwell was known best for depicting American life, usually at our most noble, or charming moments, but he also tackled our problems and difficulties, even our shame. Another painting by Rockwell is a 1964 painting titled "The Problem We All Live With".  This painting depicts a true event involving little 6 yr.old Ruby Bridges of New Orleans, dressed immaculately, with her hair done just so for this special day as she attempted to attend her first day of school. She had to be escorted by four guards in the midst of racial slurs and taunts. Those who know God, those who know Christ, those who are led by the Spirit of God, identify this racial hatred immediately as evil, or it is to be hoped that we do. Prejudice does not just seek to destroy the souls of the ones hated, but the souls of the haters also.
The scriptures describe the Kingdom of God, those redeemed by the Lamb, this way:
"...For You (the Lamb, Christ) were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."   Rev. 5:9-10 (also Rev. 14:6)
Jesus ministered to all types of people from different ethnic groups, different religious, social and economic standings, and people who were judged by others to be "untouchable" for various physical or even religious reasons. Many despised Him for this.
Jesus also taught that one of the signs we should watch for that would point to His soon return would be racial and ethnic ("nation") hatreds and violence, as well as severe persecution against those who hold faith in Him (Mt. 24:7-9).
We are indeed seeing an increase in manifestations of these terrible prejudices today, as Christ's return draws near. It is an evil that dwells in the hearts of men, and appearing with disturbing frequency. Because prejudice so deeply pervades our hearts, I think Rockwell's title, "The Problem We All Live With", is very true.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
"The heart is deceitful (sly, insidious, slippery, attack at the heel, assail insidiously, supplant, circumvent, overreach, swell up) above all things, and desperately wicked (incurably sick, malignant disposition of mind); Who can know it? I, the LORD, search (penetrate, examine intimately, investigate) the heart (the understanding, soul, inner man, conscience, determination of will, seat of appetites, emotions and passions), I test the mind (interior self, inmost mind), even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."   Jer. 17:9-10
The LORD spoke this to Jeremiah regarding His knowing those who trust in Him, but we know that the same truth applies regarding the LORD's ability to see who we really are, even in the innermost man that we often avoid examining. He also knows our prejudices. The word "prejudice" comes from the Old English "prae" +"judicium", meaning "to judge in advance". It is one of the greatest wrongs that can exist in any legal system, and as it turns out, in the spiritual realm as well.
Jesus confronted these prejudices in His ministry, and He confronted these prejudices among His disciples, and later, apostles. His followers had, and still have, an important task ahead of them of taking the gospel, and making disciples of all nations, and there would be no room for prejudice of any kind. In Christ's command is the very obvious message that the gospel is to all. However, in spite of Christ's personal example in ministry, as well as this direct command, at least one of His disciples had a problem with this precept.
In Acts 10, during the early years of the Church, Peter received a revelation that he was to consider nothing "common" that God called "cleansed". This appeared to him three times. Immediately messengers from a gentile named Cornelius came to his door asking Peter to minister to his household. The Holy Spirit had told Peter that they would seek him out, and that Peter should go with them. Peter went to Cornelius' house, and before he began preaching, he told Cornelius:
"...You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean....In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."  (v. 28, 34)
As Peter began to preach the gospel to them, the Holy Spirit fell and baptized the members of Cornelius' household, and the many that he had gathered in his home. The Jews with Peter were astonished that even the gentiles could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (v.45).
However, the scriptures tell us that even after this emphatic demonstration, Peter still harbored prejudice against gentiles, and preferred not to associate with them when Jews were present. Peter feared what the Jews would think of him. Paul wrote that he had to correct Peter to his face about this issue (Gal. 2:11-13). Peter's behavior affected the Church. Barnabas, who ministered with Paul to the gentiles was influenced by Peter's prejudice: "...so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."
Paul, in the same Book of Galatians, conveyed his own revelation from God:
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." 
                                                                                                         Gal. 3:26-28
Prejudice, like other evils of the heart, is deceiving and sly. It hides itself behind reasonings and practicalities, behind customs and traditions. In any case, prejudices can affect the ministry of Christ tremendously. Prejudice in the Church can rob the Church of precious giftings and purposes, of completion, and, perhaps worse, it can unjustly and falsely deem a fellow believer in Christ with a degree of unworthiness before God because of physical characteristics, or station in life. Prejudice can prevent the preaching of the saving gospel to an individual whom God has called to hear it, but to whom man has despised the telling of it.
We may look at ourselves and say that we have no such prejudices, but, as Jeremiah revealed, God looks upon the places inside us that we refuse to look into, and sees everything. Racial and ethnic tensions are on the rise. As Norman Rockwell illustrated, these destructive and ungodly prejudices are "The Problem We All Live With." However, we are meant to shine the light of the truth of God on this evil that hides in men's hearts, even in our hearts, and our lives are to reflect this truth. Our churches should  reflect this truth also.

Our Father's beautiful, holy kingdom is out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

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