We all have our prejudices. The rabbis in Jesus’ day loved to pray, “God I thank you that I am not a Gentile, not a woman and not a slave.” When Paul and Silas reached Philippi, their first convert was Lydia, a prominent leader in the community who had gone to the river to pray. Then they reached a young slave girl. Finally, imprisoned by the Roman authorities, they offered salvation to the Gentile jailor in the city of Philippi. In one city, the gospel broke down all three barriers: a Gentile, a woman and a slave all became followers of Christ.
How did it happen? The Philippian jailor presided over the beating which Paul and Silas received. But when Paul and Silas worshiped, the effects were seismic. It was daybreak at midnight when the prisoners were set free. Finally, when the jailor found forgiveness, he and his whole household were set free. How do we know the jailor was saved? He washed the wounds which Paul and Silas bore from the beating which he had watched. Christianity transforms us. Love leads to love.
Our world can be so hateful and dangerous. What is the answer? Let us be sure that our efforts to protect ourselves do not lead us down the road to hatred. In a denominational meeting years ago, one man vented against those who had harmed him in the past and demanded that we all join his anger. Prompted by the Spirit (I hope), I said to him, “But your enemies are not my enemies. I cannot live with hatred in my heart and simultaneously love God.” What if we saw people, all people, as those for whom Christ died? How would we relate to them? How would we pray for them?
