It’s Black and White
Acts 10:34,35 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (NRSV)
Okay, so this may be a bit uncomfortable, but the fact is that many people look down their noses at others with a different coloured skin, or different shaped eyes. For many, it’s an instinctive, if unwelcomed reaction bred into them through the culture in which they’re immersed, like it or not.
Racism is an ugly thing. Since time began people have been discriminated against, enslaved, tortured and killed, based on race. Of course, it couldn’t happen today, could it? Hmm.
I’ve just returned from a few weeks overseas. Now I love a good steak and every time I visit this particular city, I visit my favourite steak restaurant on the planet. But this time I noticed something. There wasn’t one black person in the place – not a one. In another country, where they have attendants in the public toilets, I noticed that ninety-nine percent of them were black. And in my own country, the life expectancy of a black person is about twenty years less than that of a white person.
Around the world, poverty and disadvantage are much higher amongst people with a dark skin than those with a light skin. And yet, Jesus died for each one of us; Jew or Greek, rich or poor, black or white. He doesn’t discriminate.
Acts 10:34,35 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (NRSV)
Racism begins in our hearts with wrong attitudes, with a lack of compassion, a lack of understanding of different cultures. And it’s perpetuated by our failure to speak out against it.
Truly, God shows no partiality. He’s not interested in the colour of our skin. He’s interested in what goes on in our hearts.
No matter how you look at it, racism is wrong. It’s black and white.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Henry Davies
Dear Berni We’re all created by God . Who’s to say God could be black or white. I just pray that only his word is ...
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Dear Berni
We’re all created by God . Who’s to say God could be black or white. I just pray that only his word is black and white to us ! and racism should not be in our thoughts. Amen .
Thanks Henry.