Jan. 20, 2008

Confronting Our Deepest Prejudices

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

John 1:43-51

Opening Illustration – South Korean Dogsled races can cross into North Korea. Evidence that two sides are finally working through decades of hatred and prejudice.

Passage reminds us that our prejudices get in the way of seeing God’s work in the world.

Signs Gospel - Jesus is the Son of God.

Andrew – John’s disciple – finds Peter (Cephas)

Jesus finds Philip in Galilee – “Follow Me”

Philip follows by finding Nathaniel (Bartholomew)

Philip says Jesus is the one Moses and the prophets wrote about.

Nathaniel – “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”

Philip – “Come and see” Nathaniel suspends disbelief.

Jesus says “An Israelite with no deceit”

Jesus saw him before he came with Philip – sitting under fig tree.

Sign? Nathaniel “Son of God, King of Israel”

Jesus promised greater signs – Angels ascending and descending. Reminiscent of Jacob’s ladder. Confirmation of Jesus as God’s Son.

Passage gas many meanings; Focus on prejudice as a blinding influence.

Nathaniel’s prejudice almost kept him from seeing the Messiah.

What prejudices do we hold that keep us from seeing God’s work in the world today?

Nathaniel’s case – religious prejudice.

What does religious prejudice look like today? Claims that Islam is inferior to Christianity – undergirds Middle East policy.

Other prejudices – racial prejudices. Claims of prejudice in denial of bail to Alderman Michael McGee.

Prejudice influences discussion of undocumented immigration.

Prejudice against the poor – at fault for their own condition, undeserving of help.

One root of prejudice is fear, fear of loss of control.

Another root is injustice – way of protecting ourselves against further injustice.

Passage teaches us that these prejudices are incompatible with the kingdom of God. They may keep us from seeing it in the world around us.

Contrasts the difference between allowing our prejudices to blind us and seeing through them.

Looking past our prejudices allows us to see the good in others, just as Jesus was able to see father and more clearly than Nathaniel.

Kairos vs. Chronos – Dr. King realized the Kairos time had come to confront racist structures in our society, and especially in the church.

In an eerie evocation of his past that foreboded his future, he reminisced how he nearly died in 1958 when a deranged woman stabbed him in a Harlem book store. He then related how on his flight from Atlanta to Memphis that morning a bomb scare caused the pilot to announce to the passengers that a threat to King's life necessitated a special guard on board. King continued:

"And then I got into Memphis, and some began to say the threats—or talk about the threats—that were out, what would happen to me from some of our white sick brothers. Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now, because I have been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody I would like to live—a long life—longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now; I just want to do God's will....So I'm happy tonight! I'm not worried about anything! I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!"