Let Those Without Prejudice...

John North
(Excerpt from a contribution which appeared in the NZ Baptist)

At the beginning of this twentieth century, a lot of people expressed great optimism about the glorious future ahead. A Baptist preacher was quoted as saying: "A great vision floats before us - of a Europe enlightened, emancipated, unified a lovely province in the Saviour's empire!"

Sadly, the reality was to be different. People back then had no inkling of the lunatic nationalism that would run amok and cause such misery and destruction.

In our day, as the century nears its end, there is still a vicious epidemic of ethnic hate and enmity in many places. The discouraging truth seems to be that it is entirely natural for us humans to hate, fear and despise others who are different. And it's not just those people "over there" who have such darkness lurking within. How often we hear comments and tones of voice in an ordinary conversation which reveal a deep prejudice against some other group.

We are all in this together. Let those without prejudice throw the first stone! But fortunately, there is more to be said. Along with our darkness, there is also, deep in human hearts, an obstinate belief that life does not have to be like this, that God meant it to be different. It was Jesus whose love reached across the barbed wire boundaries of ethnic group, gender and religious class in his day. He wanted the temple to be a place of prayer for all nations. His followers were to build a new community out of all nations where former barriers would no longer divide. His program was so radical that they crucified him. In answer, he prayed forgiveness for his tormentors.

One of the most moving memorials I have seen was to Edith Cavill, the nurse who was shot in the First World War because she was helping allied prisoners to escape. Having experienced the destructiveness of bitter nationalism, she knew there had to be a better way. Her words echo still: "Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness to anyone."