prejudice

God out of Nazareth

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab or window):
Psalms 97; 147:12-20, Genesis 4:17-26, Hebrews 3:1-11, John 1:43-51

Soon after Philip the apostle met Jesus, he found his friend Nathanael and said:”We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael replied: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Of course he was swayed once he actually met Jesus, but his initial skepticism is noteworthy.

The village of Nazareth did not have much of a reputation. It was small and relatively obscure. Suggesting the Messiah could emerge from Nazareth seemed ridiculous even to its own citizens, who repeatedly rejected Jesus and his teachings. Yet a Nazarene he was, defying all doubt and eclipsing all expectations.

It’s not fair, but the world pigeonholes people based on the circumstances of their birth. Inner city kids are thugs. Immigrants from the middle east are suspected terrorists. Women are less capable than men and men are less nurturing than women. Pretty people are stupid and nerds are lonely. Stereotypes  are endless. Like Nathanael we sometimes encounter someone who demolishes one of our biases, but many of them remain unchallenged. One might think that being subjected to a stereotype would make a person less likely to do the same to others, but it isn’t so. We all justify our own biases and the world is poorer for it.

Where is your Nazareth? It may be an actual place, like Detroit or Syria. It may lie in an opposing political or religious ideology. It could be buried in the pigmentation of someone’s skin cells.You may not be able to locate it easily, because it doesn’t necessarily stand out as a place you actively dislike, but perhaps a place you can casually dismiss. Nazareth is any place or circumstance you use as an excuse to invalidate a person or their voice.

Jesus overcame all the obstacles of his birth. So can we, because we are children of God. And we need to give others the same chance. Let us each work to examine and dismantle our prejudices so we can look at each other and see the face of Christ, Nazarene and Messiah.

Comfort: You are more than any label. You are a child of God.

Challenge: Ask a friend you trust what your biases are. Don’t argue with them about what they say, just listen with an open mind and heart.

Prayer: Loving God, teach me to see you in all people, even when I don’t want to.

Discussion: What biases have you formerly held which you no longer hold?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!

“One of the good ones.”

/ JJS / 1 Comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 47; 147:12-20, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32, Hebrews 7:18-28, Luke 10:25-37

We all know one. A relative, friend, or co-worker who isn’t a terrible person but can’t completely shake off remnants of bigotry. When conversation touches on race (or religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc.) they make unkind blanket statements. And when we ask them how they can say that when they are friends with Sammy (who is Korean or Muslim or whatever), they say, “Oh he’s one of the good ones.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story about “one of the good ones.” There was no love lost between the Samaritans and the Jews, so when one of them became the hero of a parable answering the question “Who is my neighbor?” many Jews probably considered him the exception rather than the rule.

What’s the difference between “the good ones” and the rest? Most of the time, it’s simply that we know them. When we eat lunch every day with Sammy, or when he helps us change a flat tire in the parking lot, or when he brings a casserole to our house because our spouse is ill, our conscience won’t let us lump him into a category of people we stereotype. But somehow, sometimes, we can’t make the leap to realizing Sammy isn’t an exception.

When someone categorically condemns a class of people we happen to belong to, based on the bad behavior of a few, we leap to point out, “Not all of us.” Historically (and ironically) we are less likely to be as understanding of other groups as we expect them to be of us. It’s only after we get to know people who are different from us that we recognize our similarities. Anyone who’s been in a high school cafeteria knows that’s not something we do naturally.

The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us God made Melchizedek a high priest not because he was born to the priestly class, but because he was righteous. God sees beyond categories and into hearts. Christ invites us all to the same table. We all live in God’s neighborhood, so why not get to know each other?

Comfort: Differences are not threats but opportunities.

Challenge: Rather than make assumptions about people different than you, befriend and ask them about their lives.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the beauty and diversity of your creation. Amen.

Discussion: What’s a stereotype you once believed but learned wasn’t true?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!