I was going to a store to get some groceries and I was on a queue to pay for the things I bought. Just as I stood on, a young woman walked in with a bag looking around like she was lost and I noticed people started feeling uneasy. Then the security personnels had to check what the woman was carrying in her bag because she was wearing an Hijab. This attitude is known as PREJUDICE.
According to the dictionary,Prejudice can be defined as a feeling of like or dislike for someone or something especially when it is not reasonable or logical. Prejudice is a negative opinion usually targeted towards a particular race or group. Prejudice is bad because it is not based on facts or experience, it is just targeted to destroy other people's reputation or out of fear.
In the Bible, in the Old and New Testament racial , national and sexual discrimination were displayed and it is a wrong act for Christians. Prejudice among people were rampant in the days of the Old Testament when nations were at war and women were enslaved and in the New Testament when the disciples and Apostles were hunted for believing in Jesus. A very significant one is the Jews considering the Samaritans as unclean.
Matthew 5:45
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
1John 4:20–21
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Jesus teaching was to shun prejudice towards one another. Jesus always taught love towards everyone and even our enemies. As Christians, prejudice doesn't have a place in our hearts because prejudice violates humility, love and obedience. The Bible teaches us to treat other people how we want to be treated, so why treat someone else with bias if we cannot accept it.
