Question 1

What does the Bible say about ethnic or racial prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Luke 10:33“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”John 4:9The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”Acts 10:28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”Acts 10:34-35Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.”Acts 11:18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”Jesus broke the judgmental stereotypes of his time. He reached across lines of racial and gender prejudice to demonstrate equality and respect for all people. God created us all to be unique so that when we work together, our efforts are more complete, more beautiful, and more effective for everyone. There are few things more powerful and productive than a diverse group of people working in unity.John 1:46“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.Galatians 2:12-14When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?”Any form of prejudice is inconsistent with the good news of Jesus. Jesus himself had to suffer the prejudice of the people from his own hometown of Nazareth. Though not surprised, Jesus was clearly upset by their prejudice, and he had to walk away from his work among them. The apostle Paul reminds us that early Christians also struggled with prejudice between the Jews and Gentiles among them. Paul made it very clear that this was not acceptable for believers in Jesus.Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 2:14-18Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.God wants us to consider whether we have any racial prejudices. All the goodness of God and salvation through Jesus Christ is equally available to all people.

Question 2

How can I overcome prejudice?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 16:7The Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”Isaiah 53:2My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.Philemon 1:9-16Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. It seems Onesimus ran away for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.Stereotypes abound—prejudices against all kinds of people. But the real person is inside; the body is only the shell, their temporary housing. It is wrong to judge a person by their outward appearance; the real person inside may be a person of incredible beauty. Even Jesus may not have had the tall, handsome body often attributed to him. When the prophet Isaiah described the coming Savior, he said, “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance” (Isaiah 53:2).Esther 3:5-6When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.The Bible encourages us never to form opinions about an entire group of people (including by race, nationality, church denomination, or club affiliation) based on the actions of a single individual.Proverbs 14:20-21The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.” It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.James 2:3-4If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?God condemns prejudice based on financial well-being or socio-economic class. Money is not a measure of character. Simply treat others as you would like to be treated.Matthew 18:10“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.1 Timothy 5:1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.The Bible forbids prejudice and discrimination based on age. Maturity is not always a function of age. Be attentive to the character and qualifications of young and old alike. To youth belongs the future, to old age belongs the honor of bringing us all to this point. Youth has the opportunity to win the world. Old age has the experience of victory. We should honor all for their gifts and contributions.Mark 6:2-3The next Sabbath he [Jesus] began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.Mark 6:4Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”Familiarity breeds contempt. If we know someone well, we don’t tend to respect that person. Actually, when we know someone well, and if that person has integrity, we should honor that person even more. The people of Nazareth were subject to prejudice by other Jews, yet they clearly were not above looking down on Jesus. Prejudice involves looking down on others in order to lift ourselves up. God never writes off entire families or everyone of a particular occupation, and perhaps that is why Jesus was born into the family of a carpenter in Nazareth rather than the family of a king in Jerusalem. God loves each person, regardless of homeland, family, race, or occupation.Luke 10:33“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”John 4:9The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”Acts 10:28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”Acts 10:34-35Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.”Acts 11:18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”God condemns racial prejudice. Since God created all ethnic groups and races, they deserve equal respect and treatment.John 1:46“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.We must not be prejudiced because of the place where a person grew up. The “other side of the tracks” is often viewed negatively, but God lives on both sides of the tracks.

Question 3

Can Christians be prejudiced against other Christians?

Accepted Answer

Romans 14:10So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.Colossians 3:14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.Christians are human, and just like everyone else they can exhibit their sinful human nature. But Christians are supposed to be led and controlled by the Holy Spirit and must be careful not to let feelings of prejudice control their thoughts and actions. They, of all people, should understand that God created all people and that he loves and values all people equally.

Question 4

Is the world prejudiced against those who follow Jesus?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 10:16-23“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.”Matthew 10:24-25“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!”Mark 10:29-31“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”John 15:19“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”2 Timothy 3:12Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.When a person enjoys sin and wants to persist in it, it is natural to develop a hatred for Jesus and his followers. As believers, our presence in the world represents a threat to the power of Satan. Jesus prepared his followers with the reality that there is a cost for those who recognize him as their Lord and Savior. But remember, he will remain with us no matter what we are called to face.