Overcoming Prejudices and Biases

Never doubt the fact that our Lord has a heart for all people. Regardless of ethnicity, background, education, or socio-economic level, our God loves people. Though this is evident throughout the Scriptures, it really begins to become clear as the New Testament unfolds. Not long after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, God begins an incredible movement. People are recognizing that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah and they begin to commit their lives to following Him. However, this movement – at first – was confined to the Jewish nation, but not for long.

In pretty short fashion God begins to work and move among the Gentile nations. The Gentiles were made up by every other nations that was not part of Israel. The Jewish law did not allow its people to associate with or to visit with anyone from another nation (Acts 10:28). But God was doing a new thing. God instructed Peter, a Jew, to go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel (Acts 10:42). Simply put, God moved in a very powerful way amongst the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48).

As is normal for us, we like to hang out with people who look like, think like, and act like us. However, we must never forget that God has a heart for all people – regardless of background, lifestyle, or station in life. Not only does God have a heart for people, but He has called us to reach out to them with the good news of His love and Christ’s sacrifice. We do not have the privilege of our prejudices and biases. We are to love as God the Father and Jesus His son have loved.