God has given us a better way

Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. (Luke 20:21

You see and hear it all the time, discrimination against minority races, minority religions, and minorities of all kinds, from governmental oppression and persecution to prejudiced individuals with their rude jokes and antagonistic behavior

What a stark contrast that is to the way God is and the way that He wants us to be! In just about every country, lines are sharply drawn between the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the predominant race and the minority races.  The mainstream majority invariably denigrates and demeans the minority.

The Bible says that in the last days “the love of many shall wax cold,” and this can be clearly seen in an increasingly hate-filled society. The news media is full of more and more headlines of bigotry, cruelty, and crimes against those who are different or who hold differing views from the majority.

As Christians, we must not let ourselves be influenced by or fall into society’s way of dealing with differences between people. God has given us a better way, and that is to love one another. But we can’t love or even sympathize with people unless we try to understand them, and we can’t truly understand them without putting ourselves in their place or trying to see things from their perspective. [1]

The Christian gospel answers the deepest cry of our hearts—to be loved and accepted, to be valued unconditionally. - Melinda Penner

[1] Anchor Untold Value