In what ways might I be guilty of racial injustice?

John 4:4-8He [Jesus] had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

Jesus could have avoided Samaria, but he chose to go there and interact with the woman at the well. The disciples were shocked that Jesus was talking with a woman and a Samaritan (John 4:27). One way to recognize our personal prejudice and contribution to racial injustice is to consider the people we avoid. How do we feel when we see a person of another race? Are we acting like the disciples did in this passage? Instead, we should be like Jesus.

James 2:8-9It is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

Another area of prejudice and injustice involves money and influence. James is addressing this issue in the early church. We can easily favor people we think might be able to advance our cause or help us personally. We can recognize this tendency for injustice by identifying those we tend to favor over others.