60 Seconds – Prejudice

A survey was once conducted of people’s attitudes toward other groups. Participants were given a list of various races, religions and cultures, and were asked to check each item with a plus (if the attitude was favorable), a minus (if unfavorable), or zero (for neutral or unknown). Among the many groups listed were some fictitious names: Melonians and Wulvians. It was amazing how many reacted negatively to these. They could have put “zero,” but they did not. Apparently, they thought, “Here are some strange people – thumbs down on them, whoever they are!”

In Acts 17:26, we read, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.” As the poet said, “The Colonel’s lady and Judy O’Grady are sisters under the same skin,” no matter how high the Colonel’s lady may tilt her nose at the mention of this Scriptural (and scientific) fact. One has said, “We may talk about the yellow race , the red race, the white race, but all belong to one race – the human race. Submit a specimen of the blood of each race to a scientist, and he will be unable to tell which is which.”

In John 7:24, Jesus taught, “Do not judge by appearance.” Billy Graham pointed out, “The word prejudice means ‘judging,’ or ‘making an estimate of others without knowing the facts.” A man was once frightened by seeing a monster approaching him in the mist. As it came closer, he found that it was a man. Then, when it came closer. he found that it was his own brother! As we penetrate the mist of prejudice, we will see that all men of all nations are made in the image of God.

Read the words of Paul, once a most prejudiced man, “Love is patient and kind,” and “is never glad about injustice” (1 Corinthians 13:4 and 6). What religious education, the logic of Greece, and the culture of Rome could not do for Saul of Tarsus, the grace of God did.

Jamie Buckingham wrote, “When Ghandi went to South Africa after graduating from law school in England, his mind was open to receive the gospel. Instead, because his skin was brown, Christians treated him like trash. Who knows what massive changes in history would have occurred had Christians acted like Christ?”

“I pity from the bottom of my heart any individual who is so unfortunate as to get into the habit of holding race prejudice” (Booker T. Washington).