Each one of us have been prejudiced

Billy Graham was once asked, “If you could eliminate one single problem on planet earth … just one … what would it be?”

He replied, “I would eliminate the problem of prejudice.”

Prejudice is a problem that is old as the human race. And each one of us have been prejudice at some time in our lives. We might not want to admit it, but we have. Even if you say you are not prejudice, you are.

W.C. Fields used to say, “I don’t have a problem with prejudice. I hate everybody equally.”

Don’t think for a moment that prejudice is found in only one group of people; it’s found in people of every color, race, background and economic group. The Jews are prejudiced against the Palestinians. The Israelites are prejudiced against the Arabs.

The Muslims are prejudiced against the Christians and the Christians are prejudiced against the Muslims. Whites are prejudiced against blacks, and blacks are prejudiced against whites. Conservatives are prejudiced against Liberals and Liberals are prejudiced against Conservatives.

Republicans are prejudiced against Democrats and Democrats are prejudiced against Republicans. Men are prejudiced against women and women are prejudiced against men. The rich are prejudiced against the poor and the poor are prejudiced against the rich.

Rick Warren says there are five areas where we can discriminate: appearance, ancestry, age, achievement and affluence.

John Adams, our second President of the United States said, “I believe there is no one principle that predominates in human nature so much, in every stage of life, from the cradle to the grave, males and females, old and young, black and white, rich and poor, high and low, as the passion for superiority.”

Prejudice is thinking less highly of others than we should and pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we should.

And in James chapter 2 we are told how to rid ourselves of being prejudice. James is talking about real faith. Faith that looks at all people equally.

Did you know that at the foot of the cross, there is equal ground?

The children’s song says, “Red and yellow, black and white … all are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” I like that.

If I am going to be like Jesus, I need to love everyone. Not just those who are easy to love. And real faith loves people supremely. There is only one cure for prejudice and that is L.O.V.E.

My Bible says that “God so loved the world (put your name here) that He allowed His only Son to die for us and if we believe, we can be saved and have eternal life.”

God so loved me, that I need to love others, no matter what they look like.

If Jesus died for them, I need to love them. Why? Because God doesn’t play favorites and neither should I.

Remember, God loves you just like you are. But He loves you too much to leave you like that.

Pastor Thad Gifford is lead pastor of the Crossroads Community Church of Madison County, 62 E. Second St., London. He can be reached at (740) 852-7800, e-mail him at sermon8er@aol.com or at their website www.3c-church.org.