A
Washington Post article reported that recent studies into the nature of
prejudice found that almost everyone harbors biases, and these attitudes affect
even those who actively resist them. A University of Kentucky psychologist says
that much of our self-esteem comes from feeling better about ourselves than
about others because of the group we belong to. Prejudice is not easy to
overcome, even within the family of God.
Paul’s
words to the believers at Colosse instruct us today, saying that our speech and
behavior toward fellow Christians should reflect our oneness in Christ. “[You]
have put on the new man,” Paul said, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ
is all and in all” ( Col. 3:10-11). Instead of superiority and favoritism, we
should demonstrate compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience
toward each other (v.12). And above all, we are to “put on love, which is the
bond of perfection” (v.14).
In the body of Christ, no race, nationality, or class is better than another. Through the cross, Christ has made us one, and we are to treat each other with honesty, dignity, and love.
