Prejudice Never Ends Well
Chris' Corner - Sunday, July 19, 2020
After spending two weeks with sermons on “The Christian and Race Relations” we should be informed about prejudice. This is not another lesson on race or the color of skin, but it is one on prejudice.
When a person has a prejudiced mind, a great hindrance blocks them from ever finding the truth. Prejudice is a self-imposed curse. It can be applied anywhere, and used with any topic or belief. Preconceived ideas are made by choice. Therefore, they can be overcome by choice.
When it comes to the Bible and religion, prejudice is alive and well. It hinders those inflicted by it from the many truths found in scripture necessary for salvation. Prejudice condemns. The one guilty of it cannot not be saved.
Salvation requires knowing the truth (John 8:32). The prejudiced person refuses to be open-minded enough to find truth. Truth doesn’t just pop into our minds. It must be sought out, studied, and investigated (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:10-11). Preconceived ideas cause people to think they already know whatever needs to be known. Beliefs have been established. Their mind is already made up.
Prejudice rejects preaching or teaching of God’s word on particular topics. With a prejudicial attitude, the mind is made up, there’s no reason to listen any further. Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9, 10. “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them" (Acts 28:27).
Jesus and His disciples were rejected, shut-out, mocked, persecuted, and even killed by those who refused to honestly reason through the message they heard. They couldn’t defend their position with a logical and reasonable argument. Yet, they adamantly refused to consider any teaching different than what they already held to be true.
The situation usually turned to hatred and violence against God’s spokesmen. This was true in Old Testament days with the prophets and others (Hebrews 11:36-38); with John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3, 4); with Jesus (John 10:31,32; Mark 11:18); with His disciples (Luke 21:12; John 16:1-3); with Stephen (Acts 7:54-60); with Peter and John (Acts 4:14-20); and with Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
A prejudiced mind is sad and tragic. A close-minded attitude will prevent so many people from obeying the plain truths of the gospel of Christ (Acts 13:44, 45, 50).
We must be willing to rid our minds of all prejudices and preconceived ideas, creating an open mind, making room for the truth to come in and live.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).