Are You Prejudice? Heaven Help Us!

Are you a Christian? What church do you attend? Are you prejudice toward other churches? Do you believe that you attend the only correct, approved, right church? The only one whose members are going to Heaven? I am not talking New Age or other religions. I am talking within the mainstream Christian denominations where Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior.

One sunny summer afternoon in my bookstore, Heaven Help Us, a young woman came in with an adorable little girl. She looked about four years old and was beautiful. We began to chat about various things. I asked what her favorite book was and she asked if I had any pets because she didn’t. Did I have a favorite fruit because she loved strawberries, the sweet ones. I asked if she had a favorite song and she answered “Jesus Loves Me”. She wanted to know what animal Noah had on the ark I liked best. Hers was monkey and mine was koala bear. We were having fun learning about each other. Just as her mother joined us she asked what church I attended. After I answered her she turned that angelic face up to her mother and asked “is that one of those bad places, Mommy?” Her mommy grimaced and the little girl quietly asked “is that a question I am only supposed to ask at home with you and Daddy?” Her mommy curtly replied “yes”, grabbed the girl’s hand, and drug her out of the store. The sweet girl was looking over her shoulder telling me goodbye. The pile of merchandise left unpurchased on the counter.

For me it is heartbreaking when Christians influence sweet, innocent children to be prejudice. Children learn prejudice. It isn’t born in them. They can tell deep down it isn’t right. It is also disturbing when Christians judge other Christian churches. Doesn’t that contradict what those people are saying? Aren’t they not abiding by scripture and judging others, wrongly, too.

I cannot pretend to know the mind of God, just what His Word says. It tells me to love others. It tells me that He sent His Son for everyone that believes and not part of the denominations or one denomination. The Bible says that God loves me and you. He wants us to share that love with others. He wants us to tell others about Him and the way to salvation. It says not to judge others.

How do you treat other Christians? Do you love them? Do you teach your children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to honor and respect them all or only the members of your church? Do we live and act like Jesus? We need to try. Today’s a great day to begin.

“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1)

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:5-6)