vs. Prejudice
I WILL:
v Not confuse what is right with what is popular.
v Expect the same of myself as I expect of others.
v Look for ways to help others mature.
v Accept my own unchangeables and the unchangeables of others.
v Listen before I form an opinion.
Used with permission of
Character First
www.characterfirst.com
Being Christ-like is the essence of Godly character, which not only pleases our Heavenly Father, but also is the ultimate goal for all of humanity. How can we exhibit Christ-likeness in the character quality of TOLERANCE?
*Reading through
the Old Testament, God does not seem very tolerant, does he? Think of some
Bible examples of what many would consider intolerance. (For example, God
commanded all Canaanites killed when the Israelites entered the Promised Land;
breaking certain commands of God brought the death sentence, Moses was refused
entrance into the Promised Land because of one failure, Achan’s sin brought
destruction to his entire household.)
Often, however, we do not understand the whole story or see as God sees.
(God was really very tolerant with the Canaanite people, giving them four more
generations before their sin destroyed them-- Genesis 15:16, Deuteronomy 9:4-5;
12:31.)
What do you think God is really intolerant of? (Sin) Why? (It is
opposite to His holy nature, because he knows its consequences, etc.)
However, let’s look at God’s heart and His goal for people:
q Genesis 12:2,3; 18:18; 26:3,4; and 28:13-14 are all times that God repeated His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God called Abraham and his descendants to be His special nation and promised three blessings: a people (nation), a land, and become a blessing. Do you think God is prejudiced against everyone who is not a descendant of Abraham? How many people did God want to bless? The purpose for Israel was to be the agent that took the blessing to all people. How would all people be blessed? (Through Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, and his salvation available to all men.) As the spiritual family of Abraham, what is our purpose?
q Matthew 28:19-20: To how many nations (“ethne” – people groups, ethnic) did Jesus send his disciples? Also check out Matthew 24:14; why is God waiting to have Jesus return? Can we hold prejudices against people and keep this great commission? We must know and love the ones we disciple.
q Romans 2:1-11: What is the basis for judgment for God and, therefore, for us? (truth, v. 3) How do people show contempt for God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience? What is the goal of God’s tolerance? (repentance from sin) How does this contrast with the world’s view of tolerance – that all views and actions are equally good and must be accepted?
q Revelation 7:9: Who is going to be represented in the multitude around God’s throne? God’s purpose for ALL people will be fulfilled on that glorious day. How can a church be intolerant of other races, etc. when all will be welcomed in heaven? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could begin “practicing for heaven” now?
Christians are often called intolerant because of their strong convictions. How can we demonstrate God’s heart? How can we keep our convictions, yet show tolerance?
Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Therefore, Jesus is the great show-and-tell of God’s character in human expression. Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”; how do we witness to our belief that Jesus is the only way to God without being intolerant of someone who thinks differently? To see the tolerance of Jesus, divide the group into groups of two or three and give each group the following four questions, plus one of the listed scriptures:
1. In this passage, who did Jesus welcome that other people were prejudiced against? Who is like them today that may be the victims of prejudice?
2. How did Jesus minister to them? What was the result?
3. How can we be like Jesus to those who are victims of prejudice in our community?
4. What should be our response if we become the victims of intolerance or prejudice?
q Matthew 8:1-4
q Matthew 9:9-13
q Matthew 15:21-28
q Matthew 19:13-15
q Mark 5:1-20
q Luke 7:36-50
q Luke 18:35-43
q Luke 19:1-10
q John 4:1-42
TWO TYPES OF TOLERANCE:
Discuss the two types of tolerance:
Ø Tolerance in unchangeable features, and
Ø Tolerance in changeable features.
1.
Ten unchangeables in every person are part of God’s design and purpose:
Physical features Time in history
Parents Gender
Brothers & sisters Birth order
Race Aging
Mental capacity Death
Each one of these is a part of God’s
special prescription for an individual – it is God’s choice, so we know it is
right and helps fulfill His special purpose (Psalm 139:13-16). Sometimes we are
intolerant of others’ unchangeables (such as race), but sometimes we are also
intolerant of our own. Therefore, this would be a great time to teach God’s
design; excellent material is available in the IBLP Basic Seminar material.
Make a poster that you have divided into ten sections and put one of the
unchangeables in each section, then add pictures from magazines, etc. that
illustrate each unchangeable – then discuss how you can show tolerance in each
area (from Character First bulletin). Or give
each person ten colored
strips of paper and as you discuss each of the 10, write it on a strip. Then
link the strips together to form a paper chain to remember the importance of
accepting these things as God-given and to see that all of them together are
necessary for fulfilling God’s plan.
Expand this to discuss how we are intolerant of each of these
unchangeables in others. Prejudice is “pre-judging” and putting people in a
stereotype without really knowing them. God must have thought that diversity in
these areas was so important and beautiful that he made so much variety. Our
tolerance shows that we celebrate what God has done! How does Galatians
3:26-29 help us be tolerant? What is really the only thing that separates
people in God’s eyes?
2.
Share some changeable features where you can be intolerant
(incompetent job skills, character flaws, habits, styles, religion, social
standing, etc.) Assign one scripture to each of 5 groups: look for insights
into tolerance in areas where change is possible. Come back together and share
the findings.
1. I Thessalonians 5:12-15: how are we intolerant of leaders, idle, timid,
weak, etc? How are we to respond to each group?
2. In Acts, Barnabas, the Encourager, twice gives people “room to grow”: (1)
he takes a chance on Paul and stands up for him with the other disciples (Acts
9:26,27), and (2) when he wants to give John Mark another chance after he
deserted on the first missionary trip (Acts 15:36-39). What was the result in
each instance?
3. Romans 2:1-4: realize that we are often intolerant of others in areas we
are also guilty of; we need to cooperate with God in extending the kindness that
leads people to repentance. What is to be our response?
4. Galatians 6:1-4: How are we to respond to those who are caught in sin? To
other Christians? How does pride and comparisons lead to intolerance?
5. What are some things that Christians are intolerant of in the church that
keep us from winning the real battle (James 2:1-4)? On the other hand, what do
we often tolerate in the church that keeps us from victory (see I Cor. 5:9-13).
IS THAT REALLY TOLERANCE? Tolerance is a very misunderstood quality in our day. Consider this insight from Josh McDowell:
“Twelve to 24 months from now pastors, leaders, and parents in churches across our country are likely to wake up and say, "What happened to our young people?" The answer will be summed up in one word ... tolerance. In almost every Christian home, you will find two definitions of tolerance -- one held by the parents, the other by the kids. Both think they are saying the same thing -- but they aren't. And parents are realizing it too late.
The traditional definition of tolerance is: "to recognize and respect (others' beliefs, practices, etc.) without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing" (Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary). This is what you and I were taught. But today's definition -- the one our kids are being taught -- is vastly different. It says "every individual's beliefs, values, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal." In other words, all beliefs are equal. All values are equal. All lifestyles are equal. All truth is equal.
So what's the problem? What happens when your child is taught that his beliefs and values are no different from a Muslim --or a homosexual -- or someone involved in pre-marital sex? This is today's tolerance. And it's the number one virtue in America, especially among our youth.
Our kids are being taught that all truth is relative to the individual. Knowing Right from Wrong doesn't matter. To say something is right or wrong is not being tolerant.
Josh McDowell -
www.Josh.org” Taken from
www.charactercincinnati.org.
“Gateways to Education”: Too often, students confuse tolerance with indifference ("whatever"), or apathy ("who cares?"), or even recklessness ("why not?").
In what areas is our society pushing this “new” tolerance? How can Christians respond to this in a Godly way? What must be our standard in deciding where to be “tolerant” and where to risk being called “intolerant”? Discuss: “A person who is wholly committed to tolerance must resort to total apathy.” (Scott Scruggs, Probe Ministries) The deciding factor in this multiculturalism and moral relativism is not truth but the right to decide what is true. Read II Thessalonians 2:9-11: what happens when people do not have a love of the truth? What is God’s response? Read on in verses 13-15 to see how Christians are to respond to the truth.
RECONCILIATION REQUIRED?
Reparation advocates suggest that payment be made to victims of prejudice in our history such as those who are the descendants of slaves. However, the Bible uses a different word – reconciliation. How are these two concepts different? Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:3 for clues to reconciliation, between God and man and between man and man. Consider beginning at the end of the passage: what stumbling blocks do we encounter? How can we facilitate true reconciliation in groups that are divided? “It is only when we are reconciled to God the Father that the “otherness” of another gender, race or culture becomes an attraction rather than a source of insecurity and division.” (John Dawson, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement)
Acts 10 and 11 tell a story of prejudice replaced by tolerance in the life of Peter. The Gentile, Cornelius, became a follower of the true God and Peter was the one God chose to lead him to Jesus.
What keys from this Scripture help us overcome prejudices today?
I Corinthians 5:9-12: Are we to be more tolerant with Christians or non-Christians? Why? What effects come with tolerance for sin in the church? What is the purpose of church discipline?
HOW MUCH TOLERANCE IS ENOUGH? Consider the meaning of “tolerance” in these areas and make analogies to our Christian lives:
Tolerance in an engine or machine: the difference between the allowable maximum and minimum sizes of some mechanical part. No tolerance causes an engine to seize when it gets hot and expands. Too much tolerance leads to poor performance and excess oil consumption. You need enough space, but not too much for the best performance. In relationships with others, what can result from too little tolerance? What can result from too much? We need to have tolerance in areas of growing character, but not so much that we reject truth.
Tolerance in drugs: the natural or developed ability to endure or resist the effects of a drug. How does tolerance help us not become bitter or resistant in relationships? How can we prevent becoming too tolerant of sin by exposure to it?
Tolerance in coins: the amount that coins are legally allowed to vary from a standard of weight, fineness, etc. What is the standard by which we are to judge everything in the world? (God’s truth). What happens to the value of life when we reject or vary too far from that standard?
Tolerance in plants: some plants are described as tolerant (for example, drought tolerant, meaning that it can live through very dry times, or disease tolerant, meaning that it is not easily destroyed by disease). How does tolerance help us overcome hard or challenging circumstances in life?
“YOU MUSTN’T JUDGE” is a common response by both Christians and non-Christians; is this true tolerance? Use the following scriptures and questions to develop a Biblical view. Consider putting each question and its corresponding scripture on a slip of paper, fold and put into a basket or bowl; then pray for God to guide in which ones to consider in discussion. Choose one at a time to discuss and do as many as your time allows.
Helps by Deanna J. Guy