Why You Might Not Be as Unprejudiced as you Think...

When prejudice is brought up, it is often done so when talking about racial prejudice. But there
are other forms of prejudice to consider. And, often times, they may cause more issues in our
Christian walk than we may think.

Prejudice is defined by dictionary.com in these ways:
1. An unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2. Any preconceived feeling or notion, favorable or unfavorable.
3. Unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an
ethnic, racial, social, or religious group.

So, it is not just race or ethnicity that falls under Prejudicial idea. When it comes down to it, every single
one of us has some kind of prejudice or bias.

Before I name any specifics, I really ask you to consider this question: How would it make you feel about
people lumping you together with groups like Westboro Baptist or others like it? A good majority of us,
cannot stand that group for obvious reasons. Nobody likes having assumptions made about them, right? I
am pretty sure that the Golden Rule applies here as well. (Luke 6:31)

However, a good number of us do the exact same thing to various groups all the time.

Here some other examples that I have heard:
-"Everyone who goes to that school are complete jerks."
-"Liberals are stupid and unintelligent." (Or, Libtards. Seriously. Stop using that term. Nothing Christian-like about it."
-"Conservatives are uncaring and unfeeling."
-"All homosexuals are pedophiles and don't know the meaning of monogamous."
-"Islam is such a hateful religion. Their book is so full of hate, they must be too!"
-"ALL of the immigrants in the caravan obviously don't care about becoming citizens. They just want to take over our country and drain our assets!"
-"Homeless people need to stop being lazy, stop drinking, and get a job!"
-"Strippers and prostitutes are disgusting human beings."
-"Men only care about sex. They are such pigs."
-"She dresses so trashy. She must be a slut."

You get the point. You can probably think of more, but these are all examples of prejudice and bias.

I am not denying that based on scripture, some of these people are not in accordance with scripture. However, we are seriously going to hurt the spread of the Gospel by making assumptions about people.
Why would anyone listen to us if we show that we have great disdain and false ideas about them?

Would you want to listen to someone who made false accusations and assumptions about you? Of course not!

Have you ever tried to get to know these individuals and see the heart of who they are? The more we make assumptions about who people are, the more we will carry disdain for them, and not want to give the Gospel to them.

Christianity is not meant to be lived in a bubble! We have to stop hiding behind fear of the unknown. I think that is where a lot of bias and prejudice come from. It is so much easier to live in ignorance, and safer not to take the chance to share God's love with those who are completely different from us.

You never know what people are going through, and what kind of experiences they have had. As an example, when you see an immodestly dressed woman, consider that she doesn't know God. Consider that she doesn't realize that there is God who loves her, and wants to free her from the obsession with her body or appearance. Or the young teenage woman who is pregnant, and has no one to support her. She is being pressured to abort, and has no loving church family to rally around her. How do you know that the homeless man is a druggie, or alcoholic? What does it hurt to buy him a meal, give him water, or socks?

You just don't know. We are not called to lives of comfort and ignorance. We are called to step over lines to meet people where they are and give them the Gospel.

Peter, while he was a powerhouse apostle, struggled with prejudice toward the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9-48, Galatians 2:11-19.) Paul actually called him out once at a feast where Christians gathered together. Peter feared judgment of the Jewish born Christians, and refused to eat with the Gentile Christians. So, even Peter struggled with this. As Christians, we must learn what our personal biases and prejudices are so we can overcome them and give the Gospel to more people, as God has called for us to do.

Remember this as you go about your day:
Everyone has a soul.
Everyone needs God.
Everyone has a story you know nothing about.

Obessed With Happiness

Our world has an obsession with happiness. A lot of people are constantly pursuing happiness; often in positive ways, and often in negative ways. Happiness is not a bad thing at all-yet, many base that happiness on things that won’t last. People are so obsessed with the idea of happy, that it has led many to distort God’s word in the process.

Does our wish for happiness for ourselves as well as others get in the way of how God would have us to live? If that’s the case, we’re looking for happiness or encouraging others to find it in ways God never intended for us to find it.

Many religious people today have bought into the lie that a person’s happiness should be preserved at all costs. Many believe that it is wrong and unloving to tell someone that they are doing something that displeases God.

As soon as you tell someone that they are wrong, they always say, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”

They are throwing this part of scripture horribly out of context. The problem lies in the fact that many do not take the time to read ahead or study the context in which it is being said. (As a matter of fact, when you tell us we're wrong for judging you're also judging us for judging. Interesting paradox, huh?)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or, how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your own eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  (Matthew 7:1-5)

Jesus is not saying here that we shouldn’t judge . He’s saying to make sure to be careful in how you approach the situation. We have to remember that when we are making a judgment we must also remember that we also are not above the law (the religious leaders of Jesus' day often thought this way). We must examine our intentions behind bringing this issue up to the person. We must also consider if we are committing the same sin.  If we were not supposed to judge in any way, Jesus would not have said in John 7:24: “…judge with righteous judgment.”

When we judge, it must be done from a place of wanting to help others and to please God.

The bible says, “to speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We are to tell the truth of the entire Gospel, including what God expects of us as His followers. To speak this truth, we must speak it with patience,  and kindness. We must speak it without jealousy, and without pride or arrogance. We must speak it without rudeness, without selfishness, and without anger (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

 In this passage, in verse 6 it says, “[Love] does not rejoice in sin, but rejoices with the truth.” The bible also says in Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless seeds of darkness, rather, expose them.” (emp. Added)

So we are to judge, but in the way described above-with great care, love, and honesty.

If we as Christians wish someone happiness in something God has deemed wrong, we are being dishonest to our fellow man. In Romans chapter one, it lists things that God has deemed sinful (26-31). In verse 32 it says, “…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.” (emp. Added) Those who applaud and encourage those doing wrong are just as sinful in God’s eyes.

Encouraging others in their sin, even in the name of happiness, would be dishonoring to their God to show support of something He has said is sin. 

That being said, you can live anyway that you want, you have that free will to do so, and we can’t stop you. That is a decision you have to make, but know that God's word says it won't lead anywhere good. (Matthew 7:13)

Happiness in this life is not our main goal. Our goal as Christians should be to live for the next life, so that we can be with our savior in Heaven. That and only that is our ultimate prize (Philippians 3:14, 20-21). We as Christians find happiness in this life knowing that we are doing God's will and that He is going to take care of us (Matthew 6:25-33). We find contentment no matter what situation we find ourselves in because He is with us (Psalm 23, Philippians 4:11)

 But, the true followers of Christ see the physical things of little importance in the long term. We fear God first before man. (Matt. 12:4-5)

Sure, there are a lot of wonderful blessings in this world given to us by God, but there is also pain-and a lot of it. For us, we know that after we leave this life, there will be nothing but pure, awesome joy in the presence of our God (Revelation 21:4). When we tell you of His Word, and tell you something that may not be what you want to hear, we have the best of intentions. We just want the same joy and peace for others that we have for ourselves. 

I know what I've said isn't popular, and some may hate me after this article. Yet, I encourage you to go back and read the scriptures in the article. I'm only a messenger trying to spread God's word. I am writing this because I want everyone to know of the joy and peace that comes from God when you fully submit to Him and release the grasp on your life. The truth is, it's hard to keep what you are passionate about to yourself. I care about every soul reading this. You are loved very deeply by God (John 3:16).

Romans 10:17

Mark 16:16

James 2:17-26

Acts 2:38

Romans 10:9

Luke 13:5

Revelation 2:10

Judging and Lack of Self-Control: The Precursors to Gossip

I've written about gossip before, and how it can destroy lives. We know that it's not a pastime that brings about anything good.

Yet, I think to really nip it in the bud is to figure out how it starts.

First of all, I think one of the main things that starts it is being overly judgmental.

There are so many women who judge a situation and/or before they know the full story, and then open their mouths to elaborate what they ABSOLUTELY know is the complete, undeniable truth.

For instance, Lady A sees Lady B having lunch in public with a guy who isn't her husband. Lady A then freaks out and decides to call everyone she knows that Lady B is having an affair with someone.

The truth? The guy is actually a friend of Lady B's and they're on a lunch break and decided to have lunch together. Nothing romantic is going on at all.  Yet, now, because Lady A decided to open  her mouth, Lady B's reputation is ruined and her friends will never look at her the same way.

What would have been the correct way to handle it? Lady A should have kept quiet and approached Lady B and actually asked her what was going on.

I believe jumping the gun and judging others is how so many vicious rumors get started.

Jesus says, "Judge not, that you not be judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your [sister's] eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or, how can you say to your [sister] 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first, take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your [sister's] eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

We need to be extra careful when we decide to judge others. Jesus says to remember that the judgment you make "will be measured back to you." Nobody is perfect. In some ways, especially if they're a sister or brother in Christ, sometimes, we may have to do some judging in terms of helping them to become a better Christian. Yet, Jesus also says to make sure that you're not doing the same thing, and/or to make sure that your heart is in the right place and you are approaching it in the correct way.

Yet, here's the thing: if you don't feel as if you can approach it in the correct way, or have no idea how to, just let it go and don't do anything yet. Just pray that God will help you find the way or bring things to light in His own way.

Also, leading from being judgmental, it also stems from issues of lacking self-control.

Most of the time, gossip begins with judging, and then turns into this insatiable desire to share the drama with everyone. And until that lust for sharing the drama is quenched for a short time, they run their mouths to everyone.

We as Christians are commanded to develop self-control. (2nd Timothy 2:17, 2nd Peter 1:6, Galatians 5:22-23, 2nd Timothy 3:2-3, Proverbs 25:28)

A lack of self-control is a sin. It is a problem that leads to so many other sins: greed, fornication, wrath, and so many more. How can we possibly live for God the way we should if we can't develop self-control?

We as Christians must train ourselves to stop and think before we do or say anything! It is so imperative that we develop this in ourselves.

This is what it boils down to:

Gossip can be stopped in these ways:
A. Stop jumping to extreme conclusions to every situation we encounter.
B. Ask God to help you figure out how to handle a situation that actually does need dire help-don't run to or text everyone you know and spread everything. Just ask for His guidance.
C. Exercise self-control, and insert foot in mouth. If you're unsure about something, just don't say it.