Prejudice
Dear Friends,
Some years ago in the US a river overflowed and flooded the countryside. It swept through two cemeteries, one white and one black.
In the black cemetery it washed up the caskets and bodies were floating all over the river.
The bodies, telling the truth of racism and injustice. The city required the graves to be six feet deep for whites, but they only had dug two feet deep to bury the black people. And the flooded river told the story. There have been floods of injustice around the world. And God has called the church to be proactive in defending the innocent. Proactive in feeding the hungry. Proactive to release those falsely imprisoned.
My friend Andy Economides and I returned from Cyprus on Wednesday - it was encouraging to work with Pastor Michael Charalambous and Pastor Greg Riddle who are wonderful leaders working to enrich the Church and see Christ's Kingdom extended in Cyprus - we had good meetings with the Church and saw some people commit their lives to Christ both in Nicosia and in the North of the Island in Famagusta. However, we were deeply disturbed to hear horror stories of many Filipino and Sri Lankan maids being abused. We personally encountered prejudice and racism.
We know and hear of many Christians being persecuted for their faith around the world. Christians disowned by their families or can't get work because of their faith. I was shocked to read in the Press this week that British Airways have banned their personnel from wearing a cross. There is hostility towards Christians around the world.
Can I encourage you to spend a few minutes and do some research - go to www.christianpersecution.info - you will find this disturbing.
In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels thoughtfully and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided to attend a service at a church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the church the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,“ he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Saviour.
Despite the prejudices against us Christians, lets us make sure that we are purged from any prejudice and racism ourselves.
The Apostle Paul wrote “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Romans 10:15.
There are people all around us in desperate need of some good news. Did you know that most people come to Christ (or are more eager to receive the gospel) during crisis or transitions in their lives?
When the rug is ripped out from under their feet they can become more receptive to the gospel. When was the last time someone said to you, “how beautiful are your feet”? What can you do to bring the good news to the people around you in your daily life?
We cannot do a kindness too soon, because we never know how soon it will be too late. The optimist says; the cup is half full. The pessimist says; the cup is half empty. The child of God says; My cup runneth over....
SHALOM
J.John
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