This issue has been beaten to death over the years when it comes to prejudice towards others. We have seen protests, demonstrations and all kinds of outward displays of support against prejudice. The truth is sadly enough is that it still does exist. Racial, economic, and culture/social prejudice exist today. It's sad because the need to feel that one is better than another person based on pre-existing criteria is crazy. People hide behind their prejudices as well. You can love me if you don't know anything about me. You can't have a concern for me if we don't form a relationship together. It amazes me how people can live totally isolated lives that are centered around their own friends and likes and dislikes. Every person is guilty of that. I have seen the whites as well as the blacks do this. I have seen the Hispanic community as well as the Asian and ethnic groups in our society do this.

We justify it by the reason of not being understood or accepted by the other groups. Of course you know I am taking the position with the question of 'what does God expect from us as Christians?' The Bible says in Matthew 5:44 - 'But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,'. In the bible people don't understand that when Jesus came on the scene there were dogmatic Jews who hated the Roman conquerors and wanted them removed. In the same respect the Romans hated the Jews and at every opportunity would try to humiliate and try to break their spirit as a people. Then in walks Jesus who teaches about loving your enemies and praying for those who curse you. Wow, what a message to those who expected the messiah to come in with a zealous and demonstrative platform.

Truthfully I can understand why a person can be prejudice towards another human being. I can hate you if I don't know you. Even today the homosexual community are using prejudice terminology to support their beliefs that homosexuals are a group of people that are being discriminated against. If you read your Bible correctly God said to us in Amos 5:15 - 'Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. ' As a Christian we are to hate evil not the evildoer. We live in a world where people believe that if you love them you will accept their evil ways as well. This is not what Jesus teaches. 1 John 4:20 explains it further: '1Jo 4:20 - If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?'

According the Bible here is where the separation takes place in 1 Corinthians 5:11 - 'But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person.' If you look at this list it doesn't say anywhere not to keep company with someone based on race, creed, or color. The segregation comes because of the act of sin. Hate is a sin. Prejudice is a sin. I want to take this a little further. That you as a believer segregate yourself into your own little safe world where everyone looks like you, talks like you, and believes what you do is sin! When Jesus comes back he will return for his church. It won't be the black church, white church or any other specialized group of people. He is coming back for his church this is without spot or wrinkle.

You have a choice today. I know many of you are facing the pressure of your family traditions. I know many of you are going to be ostracized by friends and members of your community for crossing the lines of racial and culture prejudice. I leave you with this question. Didn't Jesus cross those lines to so that you receive his free gift of salvation? Here's a man that was beaten and demoralized by the Romans who thought nothing less of him as a Jewish man. On the other side his own culture let him down because he crossed lines of religion and culture to bring us salvation. I truly believe that it is just as much as a sin to love someone as it is to Not love someone.

Luke 6:32 says - "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.' So prejudice is a sin against God. If you struggle with that sin I implore you to ask Jesus to release you from the bondage of it. For with the measure that you judge people God will judge you with that same measure. If you have anything against any person because of their race, creed, color or sin, you are called to love that person. I know getting to know people is strange territory for some people but God's love will encourage you as you encourage others by the love of Christ that's in your life.

Article by Sgt. Roy Lewis