Prejudice is a divisive scheme of Satan to keep all of God's creation at odds with one another. He knows that if God's people were to truly come together in unity that there would be so much power that we would cause mass destruction to the kingdom of darkness. Division of any kind is not of God. It is not Christ-like when we purposely malign others, set out to destroy one race in favor of another, it's not cool to be racist. God is not pleased with those who are skin-heads, Nazi's,or involved with the Klu Klux Klan, display racial, ethnic or gender bias, he is not pleased with ethnic cleansings that take place in Africa, racially motivated hate crimes or even black on black crimes. It's not right when prejudice is practiced in our families, the work place, our neighborhoods, schools and most of all not in our churches.
The Church has standards according to the laws of God that we must adhere to. We should not compromse on certain positions when it comes to sin or things that are contrary to what we believe to be right according to the Bible, but we do not have to be intolerant of sinners, and we should not display racial or ethnic prejudice. Bigotry does not belong in the pulpit.
As the layers of my own heart was being pulled back I was reminded that through the pains I have experienced and the distaste left in my mouth by racism towards African-Americans, I still have to practice Matthew 5:44 says, "love my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who despitefully use you....." I am responsible for what the Holy Spirit has exposed in my heart and I am required to change, Romans 12:2 says, "Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." I am open to change and like the Apostle Paul I choose to forget those things that are behind me and press towards what's ahead, the prize of the high calling.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world.....God loves everyone and does not want anyone to perish. He doesn' judge man like we do but, judges the heart of man. My responsibility as a Christian is to love.
1 Peter 4:8 says, " And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover the multitude of sins."
The soil of our country is stained with the blood of many Indians, slaves, African Americans and others who have stood for racial equality in this country. Healing starts with us and our willingness to face our past history so as not to allow it to be a part of our future, to have an honest conversation concerning race. We have to be willing to forgive others of past atrocities to our ancestors and even the things we still experience today.
I forgive but, will never forget as I pray for the healing of America.
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