The tragedy of prejudice

Missionary James E. McEldowney wrote of his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in Sevagram, India, a few years before he was assassinated: “We sat with him on the floor of his little dwelling. We feel humbled in the presence of such a great man. We asked him many questions regarding the future of India and as he answered us we could see that he had many plans for his country. Then we were surprised when he said, “I have great respect for Christianity. I often read the Sermon on the Mount and have learned a lot from it. I don’t know anyone who has done more for humanity than Jesus. In fact, I don’t find anything wrong with Christianity, the problem is you Christians. They have not learned to live what they teach.”

Gandhi was speaking from personal experience, as he had witnessed appalling racism in South Africa. When evangelist C. F. Andrews came to preach there, Gandhi tried to listen to him, but was kicked out of the building because of the color of his skin. Regarding that incident, E. Stanley Jones commented: “Racism has conceived many sins, but perhaps the worst of all has been not showing Christ to the greatest soul that was born of woman when he was about to make a decision.” .

“The fool takes no pleasure in intelligence, but in having his heart revealed.” (Proverbs 18:2)

“The prejudiced person is”

  • Extremely rigid
  • Highly structured
  • Fearful of change
  • Authoritarian
  • Exalts his own righteousness
  • Controller
  • distrustful
  • Cynical
  • Closed
  • legalistic

“For we too were once foolish, rebellious, misguided, slaves to lusts and various delights, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3)

Causes of prejudice

  • Without realizing it, you may attribute your own ideas, feelings or characteristics to other people.
  • You may condemn others for having feelings or characteristics that you have not recognized or resolved in your own life.
  • You could be…
  1. projecting their inferiority complex onto others due to their low personal self-esteem.
  2. projecting selfish motivations onto others due to their impure personal motivations.
  3. projecting inappropriate behavior towards others due to internal personal rebellion.
  4. projecting sexist attitudes towards others due to personal identity conflict.
  5. projecting their guilt onto others out of a personal need to find a “scapegoat.”
  6. projecting unjust punishment onto others due to internal personal anger.
  7. projecting boundaries onto others due to personal isolation and loneliness.

“As in water face corresponds to face, so the heart of man to man.” (Proverbs 27:19)

The “is” and “is not” of acceptance

  • Do not judge the motivations of others. (Matthew 7:1)

Yes…ask God to search your own heart. (Psalms 139:23,24)

Yes… detect and try to meet the needs of others. (Philippians 2:4)

Yes… decide to change your way of thinking. (Romans 12:2)

  • Don’t react badly when others show prejudice against you. (1 Peter 3:8,9)

Yes…be prepared to suffer the painful consequences of prejudice for the sake of believing in Christ. (Matthew 5:11,12)

key verse to memorize

“Because he is our peace, who made both peoples one, breaking down the middle wall of separation.” (Ephesians 2:14)

Key verse to read and meditate on

2 Corinthians 5:16,19

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things passed away; behold, they are all made new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

How to uproot prejudice

Ask the Holy Spirit to change the prejudiced heart of you, a friend or loved one.

Be prepared to face prejudice when it comes up.

Persevere and correct generalizations about other people.

Make a point to build your conversations on facts and not emotions.

Punctuate any factual information.

Admit that you are not knowledgeable about all areas of life and that you may be vulnerable.

Present God’s perspective on the intrinsic value of each person.

Seek fellowship with others who are not prejudiced

Notice the unmet needs that feed prejudice.

Plant the seeds of Christ’s love and His ability to meet all of our needs.

“Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Take heed, lest anyone fall short of God’s grace; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14,15)

Develop the virtue of impartiality

  • Invest in others by developing a servant’s heart toward all people. (Galatians 3:28)
  • Gain a new attitude. Stop judging others and do a personal analysis. (James 2:1)
  • Unite your life to Christ, relinquish control to God, and obey the indwelling nature of Christ. (Genesis 1:27)
  • Accept the value that God has given to all human beings. (Ephesians 1:7,8)
  • Prejudices are the product of emotional immaturity, not logical reasoning. (1 John 2:9)
  • Decide to have the same perspective of God that accepts all people.5 (Mark 10:45)
  • Give up the tendency to form stereotypes of those who are different from you. (Matthew 7:4)
  • Thank God for the value He gives you through your position in Christ. (2 Peter 1:3,4)

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