Stereotypes

stereotypes_typography_by_thomasdriver-d5qnx9cLiving in the Spirit
September 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ –Luke 15:1-2

Stereotype: something repeated or reproduced without variation: something conforming to a fixed or general pattern and lacking individual distinguishing marks or qualities; especially: a standardized mental picture held in common by members of a group and representing an oversimplified opinion, affective attitude, or uncritical judgment (as of a person, a race, an issue, or an event) *

We all do it, stereotype others. Remember the movie; White Men Can’t Jump. ** The thing is once we get to know people we soon discover that people are pretty much alike. Meyers-Briggs*** developed a test to categorize different personality types some time back that seems to be descriptive of all people without regard to race, gender, etc. The key to crossing from stereotype to reality lies in getting to know someone or a group of people. Jesus got to know people.

Our scripture today illustrates two forms of stereotypes: All tax-collectors are bad (Sorry Matthew) and my judgment of sin prohibits me from even getting to know someone else. We can plug our contemporary ideas into both of these statements very easily. “All non-Christians are bad.” I would never go to an “R” rated movie and, therefore, never associate with anyone who did. (Sorry, The Passion of Christ.) Silly examples perhaps but all stereotypes are silly.

The USA’s demographics require us to break through our stereotypes, doing what Jesus did, and commanded us to do: welcome, the stranger.

Prayer: Lord, becoming one with all your children challenges us to meet and know your children. Give us the courage to unload our stereotypes, fill the void with your love, and help us delight in the diversity you created. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Stereotype.
**http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105812/
***http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.