10 Things God Can't Do: #4

4. God Can't Be Prejudiced

Acts 10: 34-35 -- "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.' " [NIV]

 

image: rlstoller.wordpress.com

There was an odd rhythm to the quirky wheel on my shopping cart and it took great effort to keep the thing from pulling to the left. It was all I could do to keep from bumping into shelves. So I wasn't really paying attention when I rounded the corner of the men's section in search of just the right socks for my three guys. As I raised my eye level from the hard floor and the damaged wheel to the rows and rows of socks - there ahead of me [before I could tuck tail and run] was the woman.

THE woman I used to know from church. The unmarried one that took advantage of a sick friend and ended up having an affair with her husband. I'm sure my eyes bugged out a little when I rolled them up toward the ceiling and attempted to pretend that I didn't see her. I even tried to turn my back slightly in hopes that she wouldn't see my face. But - as luck would have it - she recognized me and our eyes met in a silent, stale embrace. She quickly looked down at her own feet and mumbled something to the tune of hi and then quickly turned and walked away.

To think, there I was all worried that I would have to be polite and say something nice when I couldn't dig up a nice word in my head to express to a fellow sister in Christ - when as it turned out - I didn't have to say anything at all.

It broke my heart and my cheeks turned red from the shame of it. Not because I didn't get to speak, but because of what I saw in her sunken, dark rimmed, red eyes as she looked up into mine. She was sad. She was humiliated. And she was broken.

The Woman knew what she did was wrong. She was ashamed of her actions and hurting. Not only was it hard for her to square her shoulders and walk with her head held high because of the condescending and judgmental way she was treated by people she used to call friends - but - she did in fact love the couple that she'd hurt, and hurt in return from the pain of the whole ordeal. I don't know all the details - maybe she didn't mean to love the married man or turn her back on her friend. The only thing I can tell you is that I saw a great deal of shame and pain in her one stolen look when I bumped into her at Walmart.

What if God treated me the way I had attempted to treat her? What if my Savior didn't accept it when I said I was sorry and decided to pretend He didn't know me?

I'm not better than The Woman. I sin differently, that's all. A sin is a sin - and I would be crushed [have been crushed, actually] if I lost what few earthly friends I have over a stupid thing I did and later regretted.

Understand, I'm not defending The Woman's actions and I think all of us should feel ashamed when we do things that hurt our Father and our fellow man - but my point is - who am I to judge? What lily white environment did I step out of to refuse to acknowledge a hurting fellow sister in Christ? We ALL make mistakes and do dumb things sometimes. Should we all just stop talking to and loving one another?

I have to ask for God to forgive me when I exercise prejudice against people for sinning. After all, Jesus died on the cross for all sins - not just mine. I sure am glad He can't be prejudiced.