“Prejudice” literally means to “pre-judge.” It is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. It can (but it doesn’t always) degenerate into a dislike, hostility, or improper behavior. We “pre-judge” quite often and it is very easy to do.
When you are thrown into a new culture, or subculture (as in the black/white divide today), if you have an open mind, you can realize that other cultures do things in a different, but positive way. When we lived in Romania, there were many things that happened, when we would think, “Why don’t you do it the way we Americans do it?” It is easy to have that mentality because the way “we” do it is always the best way, right? (I’m being facetious.) No, just because the Romanians did some things differently did not mean they did things wrong. Sometimes, they did things better than Americans did. Sometimes neither they nor we did things better; we just did things differently.
That same point is true with all peoples and racial differences. Paul says in Acts 17:24-28 that God has made different nations with their different nationalities, races, and different cultures. We need to embrace different cultures and subcultures in America and, as Christians, appreciate those differences.
If you are feeling prejudiced toward someone, especially if it is a cultural difference, then ask them about their culture. Become a student. When I was preparing to do mission work and taking classes at FHU, I was told that it did not matter what my educational level was in Romania (I would have two masters degrees by the time I went), when I was in Romania, I was a kindergartner as far as what I knew of their culture. They could care less what my education was. I needed to learn their culture. And they were right.
Remember that you and I are not perfect and the way we do things are not always the best way to do things. If I have made a silly mistake and people have laughed at me, how did that make me feel? I need to remember that when I consider how other people do things that I might think is silly.
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I don’t particularly care to hear a whole lot of jokes about long-winded preachers. One or two are funny but if there are 10 or 15 in a row, it stops being funny and sounds like someone is trying to send a message. If we don’t like being stereotyped, then we should not stereotype other people. We are all individuals. Yes, there are some things I do because I am an American. But, I don’t do everything that the “typical” American does and I would not want Romanians to treat me as the “typical” American.
Google Mary Lathrap’s poem Judge Softly and read it. Empathy means we look at life from the other person’s perspective. Finally, ask yourself: “What would Jesus do?” Love for all people, the type of love Jesus has, will break down barriers and will break down walls of prejudice. Change can occur. Live and walk in the grace, love, and forgiveness of Christ and realize that love tolerates differences. Love overcomes and overlooks differences.
Paul writes in Galatians 3:28 that there is no racial or cultural distinctions among Christians but we are all one in Christ Jesus.
In the words of one of my favorite hymns by J. M. McCaleb: “Say not the heathen are at home. Beyond we have no call. Why should we be blessed alone? The Gospel is for all.”
–Paul Holland
