Northfield Methodist Church

Dear Friends

Today marks the last Sunday of the Christian calendar before moving into a new year that begins with Advent. On a more practical time frame, that means that there are only four more Sundays before Christmas!!
We also use this Sunday for our last focus in the Practical Christian Living series. We trust that where it has unsettled and made uncomfortable, there too it has birthed new life and growth. Our final focus on Overcoming Prejudice, is no different. We would love some feedback on the Practical Christian Living series.

Prejudice is a sensitive subject, especially but not exclusively because of our own history as a country. While prejudice is a much wider issue, we are foolish to ignore the natural implications it has across racial, cultural, ethnic, class and language divides which are so pronounced in our beloved country.

It is not uncommon to hear people say they are tired of this issue and would love to move life in South Africa past the issue of prejudice. So would I. But we can only move past this issue by making it a non issue – it doesn’t just happen, it doesn’t suddenly change. We choose it and give ourselves (time, energy and resources) to its resolution and it is resolved when we love, bless, pray and give indiscriminately (Luke 6:27-30).

How do I know I’ve got there – overcome prejudice? Prejudice is a non issue, not when we stop speaking against a group of people in our society, but when we actively stand up and defend and protect the group being attacked. Prejudice is a non issue, not when I allow others to live as they wish, but lovingly welcome others to live in my presence as they live as they wish. Prejudice is a non issue, not when I give freedom of choice to others, but when I lovingly engage with others in their freedom of choice.

Risky stuff!! No wonder why the Jewish and Roman world acted so swiftly to snuff out Jesus!

May this Sunday move us as a church forward towards prejudice overcome and love realised.

Shalom

The Ministry Team