Prejudice & Favoritism
Prejudice is a form of hypocrisy. It's treating people differently who don't deserve to be treated differently. The apostle Peter had been guilty of such hypocrisy in his mistreatment of Gentile Christians. Thus Paul writes, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray." Gal 2:11-13 This was despite the fact that Peter had previously come to the revelation saying, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism." Acts 10:34
While this is an example of cultural/racial prejudice, there is also prejudice based upon wealth or social status."God does not show favoritism." Rom 2:11 and so we are commanded "to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism" 1Tim 5:21
As for a solution to prejudice - learn to appreciate the legitimate diversity that exists in the body of Christ. "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body." 1Cor 12:14,15 "And there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." 1Cor 12:4-6 Yet the prejudice inherent in an elitist denominational mentality continues to plague the body of Christ.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
Prejudice is a form of hypocrisy. It's treating people differently who don't deserve to be treated differently. The apostle Peter had been guilty of such hypocrisy in his mistreatment of Gentile Christians. Thus Paul writes, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray." Gal 2:11-13 This was despite the fact that Peter had previously come to the revelation saying, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism." Acts 10:34
While this is an example of cultural/racial prejudice, there is also prejudice based upon wealth or social status."God does not show favoritism." Rom 2:11 and so we are commanded "to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism" 1Tim 5:21
As for a solution to prejudice - learn to appreciate the legitimate diversity that exists in the body of Christ. "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body." 1Cor 12:14,15 "And there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." 1Cor 12:4-6 Yet the prejudice inherent in an elitist denominational mentality continues to plague the body of Christ.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
