July 15: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Intellectually, I know better. I know in my head that as long as people live on the earth they are going to have pride of race, place, or face and their friends will cause them to be prejudiced against others. But emotionally, I can’t understand it. It will never make sense to me that people living in this sophisticated area with a high education level will stoop to such a low level of prejudice. But we do, and we must continue to fight against the ugly monster of racism.
When the community celebrates Martin Luther King Day together or there is a community worship service, there is an excited feeling among those attending that this is the way it ought to be. But leaving these “islands of fellowship” we return to the mainland of “business as usual” in race relations.
The temptation is subtle even for Christians. Christians sing with their children in the church meeting, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; Red and yellow, black and white they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world” and then assume the attitude that this is good news for children but it is unreal for adults.
Have you submitted your pride to God’s love for recycling? God alone can change your pride to an open acceptance of all people. Paul said, “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14) He went on to explain how God could, through the cross of Jesus, make a new race called “the people of God” where men and women would be reconciled to one another and to God.
The new description we would have for one another would be “brother” or “sister” and not some type of racial slur.

“Forgive us, Dear God, that on this day set aside for worshipping the Creator
of the whole family of mankind, that the Churches will still segregate. Amen”