Do you have uncomfortable feelings… or even bad feelings about those who are different than you? Our experiences at the hands of others, things we’ve observed or been taught, historical injustices, cultural misunderstandings, conflict between families, stereotypes – these can affect how we view and interact with people around us. The world is plagued by prejudice and racism… and often the church is to.  But it begins in the heart.

There’s no getting around it.  We live in a broken world.  People use and hurt each other.  Nations rise up against nations.  Many throughout the ages have suffered unjustly.  Naturally, there’s a lot of anger, resentment, and broad-stroking.  But God calls His children to be different, especially towards each other.  Listen to what He says: So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:12-13 (NASB®)

So why do we struggle with this?
Even though we’re saved, we still wrestle with our old nature. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:17 that the flesh struggles against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.  We react to offenses and injustice, but those reactions can themselves can either be honoring to the Lord or be offensive and unjust.  We have a choice.  The world and the flesh say curse, but God says bless.

We also must not forget that we have an enemy, Satan, who is at war with God and His people.  He skillfully uses pride, prejudice, and racism to stir up trouble and bring down God’s church.

Sources and symptoms:
It seems every culture models and promotes bias toward those who are different.  Some people choose to be racist. Others catch it like a virus from those who are already sick. Whatever the source, let’s be clear – it’s offensive to God when His children act out that way.  It’s sin… sin that Jesus died for. Prejudice and racism are not fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). In fact, they can’t co-exist with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control that the Spirit produces in those who are walking rightly with God.

>>> Unforgiveness –  Sometimes prejudice or racism results from holding on to historical offenses.  Sometimes it is born out of personal pain we’ve experienced.  Forgiveness is not always easy.  In fact, it can be very a difficult and ongoing process.  We won’t attempt to address all that said or challenged about this.  We do know though, that as long as genuine forgiveness is withheld, there can be no healing.  It’s true in personal relationships.  It’s true in the family of God.  More importantly, it hinders our personal relationship with God, because when we don’t forgive our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are offending Him.  Think about it.  Are you withholding from others what God has so graciously extended to you?  This is very important to God.  He addresses this more than once in His Word: Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Matthew 18:33-35 – Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?  “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” 

>>> Bitterness – You may have heard the saying that bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping that the other person will die. Bitterness is the fruit of an angry, unforgiving heart. It’s often evident to everyone except those who struggle with it. Bitterness may come out as resentment, avoiding others, harsh words, or worse. It’s a destructive attitude that touches everyone. Left unchallenged it will cause much damage in our lives, our families, and in the Church. Bitter leaders will produce bitter followers. Ethnically motivated bitterness fights against what God has brought together in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28).  It breaks a father’s heart to see his children divided.  How must our Heavenly Father feel about it?What does He say? Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

>>> Pride – Sinful pride is the opposite of Christ-like humility. It elevates one’s self above others… often at someone else’s expense. This pride may show itself for all to see – or it may quietly reside unseen in one’s heart. Either way, it blinds us to our own weaknesses.  Ethnic pride between Christians is being used by the enemy to divide the Church. To know and appreciate our God-given heritage is not wrong. But, when we stake our personal identity on it or when our attitude mirrors the world, we have been deceived by the enemy.  Do you know what God thinks about pride? Here’s what He says: Proverbs 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.  If we truly cared about what God thinks, we would run from pride and seek to live in a posture of humility.  We read in James 4:6-10 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Where are you at?
Unforgiveness, bitterness, and pride… any or all of them may be destroying you and your church. As followers of Christ we need to replace our pride with humility, our unforgiveness with forgiveness, and our bitterness with love. We need to recognize that prejudice and racism may be more than what we’ve experienced at the hand of others… it may be present in our own hearts. This should disturb anyone who really loves the Lord Jesus. These simply have no place in the hearts of God’s people or in His Church. He calls us to do for others what He has so graciously done for us in Jesus: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. This is God’s truth about the matter.

Where are you at on all this?  Do you harbor ill feelings toward others who are different?  David’s words in Psalm 139:23-24 give direction to those who desire to honor the Lord in all things.  He writes, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What’s at stake here? Well, a number of things. But perhaps none is more important than our public testimony of Jesus Christ. What will set us apart in this dark world? Jesus told His disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” He also said to His Father in the garden: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  John 17:20-21.  This is our Savior’s desire. Is it yours?

(Updated July 2025)