I like how my pastor always says that the bible is full of stories of real people dealing with real life issues. One real life issue the bible deals with is racism and prejudice. Paul wrote more than once about it in his epistles, letters. to churches. In Colossians 3 he wrote:
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
In the early church there tended to be divisions at times between Jew and Gentile. In the Jewish mind at that time, there were only two groups of people, Jews and Gentiles. Jews even the ones who had become Christians, tended to be prejudiced against the Gentiles.
Another division was between slave and free. Slavery was common among all the cultures back then. Slaves would be face being looked down on by the free people and treated as less than.
Paul addressed this issue and what he wrote was a revolutionary idea at the time that in the church there were no Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free. There is only one way to become a Christian and part of the church, which is to come to faith in Christ asking him for forgiveness of sins. We come to the cross realizing our great need to forgiveness. At the cross, we are all equally sinners. It is a humbling thing to realize.
Paul wrote of how we should treat each other in the church addressing inner attitudes. He sums it up with love saying love binds all of the virtues together. It is a thought Martin Luther King some 2,000 years later emphasized when he said:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”
Imagine the impact on the world if we who follow Jesus lived this out in the church and throughout our lives. We who follow Jesus should be to first to reject prejudice realizing prejudice and racism are sins against our fellow human beings and against God who created us. In our minds, there should only be two groups of people. those who know Jesus and those who out of love we want to see come to know Jesus.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
Jesusluvsall's Blog 
How we treat others matters. When we proclaim to be a Christ follower but act in an unChristlike manner, it drives people away from the cross!
So true. Our actions need to match our words as Christ followers
Amen, brother! The ground at the foot of the cross is level. We ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Yet we all receive the same redemption through Christ. (Romans 3:23)
I love how you can switch between being goofy in one post and seriously pastor-like in another. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a goofy pastor.😇
Thank you David. I think I will tell my pastor it is okay that he is goofy 🙂
Amen big brother, this was my blog subject for next week even the same quote. ““Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Since our like-mind in the Lord allowed you to post this week I will change my subject. Thank you big brother for sharing truth.
I think you could still post on it little sister from your perspective. Also there are those who follow your blog who do not follow mine
Well done, my Brother in Christ. Such a needed argument and post.
Thank you little sister. How are you?
I am starting a new semester and looking forward to learning new things. I didn’t have the MRI. It turns out my defibrillator is not MRI compatible. The surgeon left a lead capped from the pacemaker, so I have to have the more painful test, I have decided to wait, as the pain isn’t so great and I can still hike for nearly two hours before it hurts enough to stop.
I started a new blog called Huldah’s Sisters to write daily devotionals, similar to what you did today. Do you write out ahead of time what themes or Scriptures to write on, or do you just go with what you feel each day? I thank the Lord for opening a door for me to ask you. I have just been writing a week. This is the one for today. Any advice would be appreciated. https://huldahssister.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/daily-devotional-january-16-2022/
Your post begs this question: what can each of us do to end or tamp down racism? What can I do?
Important question to ask ourselves
Totally agree, we are all created in the image of God, Let us all do acts of kindness to one another
Amen 🙏
Let us reflect God’s love to God’ s creation
This comment is going to sound way off in left field. But really it’s not. Your post has helped center me. What I mean is this: when I read posts like this (that inspire me, comfort me, and make me smile within and without) I’m reminded why I love God so much. When I’ve been looking at the waves of life it’s through posts like yours thar draw my eyes back to center and the center of it all: Jesus. Thanks dad. You need a #1 dad hat. ❤
It doesn’t sound off the wall. We all need reminders of the goodness of God. Love ❤️ you
Amen!! Well said .
Thank God that at the foot of the cross there is no division. Thanks for sharing this powerful post.
Amen little sister. At the cross all are equal
Amen! I was thinking about some of these issues in a study of 1 Corinthians 12 today. I asked what was meant by honouring the less honourable and weaker parts of the body – the church? As it is speaking of giftings, the discussion went to those who clean the toilets or, close your ears Matt, make coffee 😀 and how they are often less esteemed than the teachers and pastors etc. That may all be correct but it led me to think of how we put people in hierarchies somehow in the world and this can rub off… Sorry, I should have written my own post! 😀 I’ll shut up now. Thanks for stimulating the thoughts.
I think making coffee is perhaps the highest calling 🙂 lol
😀
such a relatable scripture in our time. Check out Mathew 7:12. Be blessed!!
great verse- do to others as you would have them do to you