Dear Heavenly Father,
You are a God who loves all of his children, yet I fear that we do not have the same love for these same people. As I reflect on the sixth chapter of Acts, I am struck by how easy it is to bring our prejudices into the church. I am guilty of this!
So often, we consciously or subconsciously ask questions that dictate how we treat specific people. What kind of clothes are people wearing? What ethnicity are they? Does the church have women elders or pastors? Was a particular person baptized as a baby or as an adult? Does a particular person have a disability that makes us uncomfortable?
I pray that you will guard our minds from prejudices related to social class. Rich, poor, or middle class should not change the way we treat specific people. Do we edge away from the smelly person in tattered clothes? Do we clutch our purse tighter to our bodies as we try to get away? Do we sidle up to the investment banker or venture capitalist in hopes that we will be invited to a cool party or introduced to the in-crowd? These types of behavior have no place in the church and I repent of both my conscious actions and subconscious actions.
When it comes to matters of ethnicity, so often we prefer the familiar. Please forgive us when we avoid or have fear of those with a different skin color, language, or accent. You made each person to uniquely represent a reflection of you. Together, we are created in your image. Just as you are one God in three persons, we are one church with many persons. Please help us to see each individual as you see them.
Gender is another place where the church struggles. So often, women are told that they cannot hold certain roles or express certain opinions. Sometimes we wish the Bible were more clear in certain areas of life. Some verses are phrased in absolutes, but it is unclear whether the absolute for for a particular situation, or for all time. Given that there were several women leaders in both the Old Testament and New Testament (Miriam, Deborah, Phoebe, and others), it seems like the latter is a better choice and rules that are too broad or specific may need to be questioned. With all of the education that women have in today’s society, please help us to know if we are wrong in opening the highest leadership positions to women. Please help us not to have prejudice against those who make different decisions from our own.
In matters of disability, it is so easy to avoid those who have differences. The scar or birthmark on a person’s face can make us turn away during fellowship time. When we see the person with a mental disability heading our way, often we find a way to escape to the bathroom. This is wrong! So often, I just want to isolate myself from the problems of the world and only talk to my closest friends, but this is not the way that you made the church! Each of us have a purpose and when we cut ourselves off from those we deem inferior, we are cutting ourselves off from the church.
Pride is another big barrier. Some Christians are proud that they have been a Christian as long as they can remember. Other Christians are proud that they led a sinful life and then chose as an adult to reject their former life and accept Jesus as their Lord and savior. Pride can come from many places: leadership roles, financial generosity, going on the most difficult mission trip, and more! When we do things to further your kingdom, please keep us from the sin of pride. You do not need any one of us, but you do delight whenever we say yes. Help us to say yes because we love you, not because we want the approval of others.
Thank you for choosing each one of us to be your child. Please help us to see each of your children as your image bearer. When we despise one of your children, we are despising you. Please be merciful to us as we learn your ways. Help us to seek forgiveness when we mess up. Strengthen us to break down barriers that divide us and help us to join together in the beautiful, diverse creation that we are.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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