“But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When 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.” (Galatians 2:11–13, NLT)
Prejudice is “a preconceived judgment or opinion”. Sadly, most people in the world consider prejudice and racism the same thing. They are not. A racist will judge a person by their racial cues or ethnic birth. A person who is prejudiced will have an opinion or bias toward a person based on any number of factors. A person who is full of prejudice may judge the worth of a person based on their tattered clothes, their uniform, the brand name on their t-shirt, or on any number of other factors. Their race may or may not matter. The person who is prejudicial is liable to look down or look up to a person based entirely on what they wear or where they live. Prejudice even can relate to science. A person might believe one scientist is right purely because of their degree or their schooling. A person might believe a scientific study must be factual depending on who funded it, or which scientists defended it. I believe every human being carries prejudice. Jesus even was prejudicial. He believed God was right in all circumstances!
We must be careful of our prejudices. Some may be right. Some may be wrong. Some may be partially right or partially wrong. Because prejudice is a “preconceived” human judgment, it can lead us in the wrong direction. It can blind us to the truth. It can stop us from seeing God’s work.
“For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely, he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits & Pieces”, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Even strong people of faith can be blinded by their prejudices. In the scripture for today from Galatians, Peter and Paul were in a heated disagreement over the ministry to the Gentiles. Peter had been brought up in the Jewish world. The Jews at that time believed that they alone were the chosen nation, the holy people of God. Many Jews thought Gentiles to be heathen and unclean, foreign and unwelcome. Most Jewish people in New Testament times felt that a Gentile entering their home may cause it to be unclean and therefore unlawful before God. When Peter and Paul were in Jerusalem talking about Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, Peter at first was amenable to the ministry. He even ate with the Gentiles, which purist Jews were loathe to do. However, after a few critical Jews spoke to Peter, his old prejudices flared up. The scripture said he separated himself from the Gentiles because they were not “circumcised” (Galatians 2:12). Then, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s example and separated themselves from the Gentiles as well (Galatians 2:13). Paul and Peter argued vehemently about this. Paul even caused it “hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13). In the end, Peter realized his error and opened himself up to ministry among the Gentiles in the name of Jesus. If Peter wouldn’t have done so, some argue that the Christian church might have been split over this issue forever.
You must always be careful with prejudice. It is important that your prejudice not sway you in a wrong direction when it comes to doing what is right before God. In the scripture for today, Peter was led astray by his prejudice. Thankfully, Paul and other Christians helped Peter to set aside his preconceived notions and fulfill the will of God. You may also be tempted to follow your own preconceived notions. Be careful. They not only could be wrong, but they could also go against the very will of God.
"Dodie Gadient, a schoolteacher for thirteen years, decided to travel across America and see the sights she had taught about. Traveling alone in a truck with camper in tow, she launched out. One afternoon rounding a curve on I-5 near Sacramento in rush-hour traffic, a water pump blew on her truck. She was tired, exasperated, scared, and alone. In spite of the traffic jam she caused, no one seemed interested in helping. Leaning up against the trailer, she prayed, 'Please God, send me an angel . . . preferably one with mechanical experience.'
Within four minutes, a huge Harley drove up, ridden by an enormous man sporting long, black hair, a beard and tattooed arms. With an incredible air of confidence, he jumped off and, without even glancing at Dodie, went to work on the truck. Within another few minutes, he flagged down a larger truck, attached a tow chain to the frame of the disabled Chevy, and whisked the whole 56-foot rig off the freeway onto a side street, where he calmly continued to work on the water pump.
The intimidated schoolteacher was too dumbfounded to talk. Especially when she read the paralyzing words on the back of his leather jacket: 'Hell's Angels -- California'. As he finished the task, she finally got up the courage to say, 'Thanks so much,' and carry on a brief conversation. Noticing her surprise at the whole ordeal, he looked her straight in the eye and mumbled, 'Don't judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you're talking to.' With that, he smiled, closed the hood of the truck, and straddled his Harley. With a wave, he was gone as fast as he had appeared." (Larry D. Wright, “Our America”)
Dodie Gadient had a preconceived notion about the danger of Hell’s Angels. Based on her reaction in this true story, I’m sure she thought she would never be rescued by one!
In order for you to be spiritually healthy and strong, it is important that you deal with your own preconceived notions. It is crucial that you not be led astray by them. Which preconceived notions do you believe? What do you think you will do when faced with a challenge to your wrong beliefs? Will you stubbornly hold on to your biases or be open to God’s truth?
We must be careful of our prejudices. Some may be right. Some may be wrong. Some may be partially right or partially wrong. Because prejudice is a “preconceived” human judgment, it can lead us in the wrong direction. It can blind us to the truth. It can stop us from seeing God’s work.
“For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely, he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits & Pieces”, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Even strong people of faith can be blinded by their prejudices. In the scripture for today from Galatians, Peter and Paul were in a heated disagreement over the ministry to the Gentiles. Peter had been brought up in the Jewish world. The Jews at that time believed that they alone were the chosen nation, the holy people of God. Many Jews thought Gentiles to be heathen and unclean, foreign and unwelcome. Most Jewish people in New Testament times felt that a Gentile entering their home may cause it to be unclean and therefore unlawful before God. When Peter and Paul were in Jerusalem talking about Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, Peter at first was amenable to the ministry. He even ate with the Gentiles, which purist Jews were loathe to do. However, after a few critical Jews spoke to Peter, his old prejudices flared up. The scripture said he separated himself from the Gentiles because they were not “circumcised” (Galatians 2:12). Then, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s example and separated themselves from the Gentiles as well (Galatians 2:13). Paul and Peter argued vehemently about this. Paul even caused it “hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13). In the end, Peter realized his error and opened himself up to ministry among the Gentiles in the name of Jesus. If Peter wouldn’t have done so, some argue that the Christian church might have been split over this issue forever.
You must always be careful with prejudice. It is important that your prejudice not sway you in a wrong direction when it comes to doing what is right before God. In the scripture for today, Peter was led astray by his prejudice. Thankfully, Paul and other Christians helped Peter to set aside his preconceived notions and fulfill the will of God. You may also be tempted to follow your own preconceived notions. Be careful. They not only could be wrong, but they could also go against the very will of God.
"Dodie Gadient, a schoolteacher for thirteen years, decided to travel across America and see the sights she had taught about. Traveling alone in a truck with camper in tow, she launched out. One afternoon rounding a curve on I-5 near Sacramento in rush-hour traffic, a water pump blew on her truck. She was tired, exasperated, scared, and alone. In spite of the traffic jam she caused, no one seemed interested in helping. Leaning up against the trailer, she prayed, 'Please God, send me an angel . . . preferably one with mechanical experience.'
Within four minutes, a huge Harley drove up, ridden by an enormous man sporting long, black hair, a beard and tattooed arms. With an incredible air of confidence, he jumped off and, without even glancing at Dodie, went to work on the truck. Within another few minutes, he flagged down a larger truck, attached a tow chain to the frame of the disabled Chevy, and whisked the whole 56-foot rig off the freeway onto a side street, where he calmly continued to work on the water pump.
The intimidated schoolteacher was too dumbfounded to talk. Especially when she read the paralyzing words on the back of his leather jacket: 'Hell's Angels -- California'. As he finished the task, she finally got up the courage to say, 'Thanks so much,' and carry on a brief conversation. Noticing her surprise at the whole ordeal, he looked her straight in the eye and mumbled, 'Don't judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you're talking to.' With that, he smiled, closed the hood of the truck, and straddled his Harley. With a wave, he was gone as fast as he had appeared." (Larry D. Wright, “Our America”)
Dodie Gadient had a preconceived notion about the danger of Hell’s Angels. Based on her reaction in this true story, I’m sure she thought she would never be rescued by one!
In order for you to be spiritually healthy and strong, it is important that you deal with your own preconceived notions. It is crucial that you not be led astray by them. Which preconceived notions do you believe? What do you think you will do when faced with a challenge to your wrong beliefs? Will you stubbornly hold on to your biases or be open to God’s truth?