"Now here is my point: there is a fine line between legitimate probability judgments and sinful prejudice. It is a real line. God sees it even when we don't. And my concern in this chapter is to plead with you not to let the legitimacy of probability judgments function in your heart as a subtle self-justification for sinful prejudice.
To say what I am saying is very risky. It's risky because there will be some people who read this, and, in the hardness of their hearts, they will take my words about generalizing and probability judgments and use them as a cloak for their own prejudices. I know that.
But I take that risk because there is another group of people--most who are reading this book, I hope--who deep down know we already use this self-justification. We don't have names for it. We don't work at it. It just comes naturally, and it feels so legitimate. I am pleading with born again people--real saints with remaining corruption in our hearts--I am pleading that you read this and say, 'Yes, thank you for helping me see the subtlety of my own sin. I must put this to death.'
Three Indications Of A Good Heart
I draw this chapter to a close with five indications of a sinful disposition toward other groups and three indications of a good heart, as we struggle with the line between inevitable generalizations and sinful prejudice. By 'good heart,' I mean the heart that has received Christ, knows forgiveness, and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, even though it is not yet perfect (Philippians 3:12-13). We have a sinful disposition when:
We want a person to fit a negative generalization (accurate or inaccurate) that we have formed about a
group.
We assume that a statistically true negative generalization is true of a particular person in the face of
individual evidence to the contrary.
We treat all the members of a group as if all must be characterized by a negative (or positive)
generalization.
We speak negatively of a group based on a generalization without giving any evidence that we
acknowledge and appreciate the exceptions .
We speak disparagingly of an entire group on the basis of a negative generalization without any personal
regard for those in the group who don't fit the generalization.
The evidence for a good heart in relationship to others would, of course, be the renunciation of those five traits. But more positively this good heart...
...desires to know people and treat people for who they really are as individuals, not simply as a representative of a class or a group. If this were not so, Jesus could never be recognized for who he really is. Do you desire--really desire--to know people and treat people as individuals not merely as samples of their group?
...is willing to take risks to act against negative expectations and belittling stereotypes when dealing with a person. Paul said,'Love...believes all things, hopes all things' (1 Corinthians 13:7). I think he meant that loves strives to believe and hope for the best, not the worst.
...is ready, like Nathaniel [John 1:43-51], to repent quickly and fully, when we have made a mistake, and judge someone wrongly.
God, Help Us
Our hearts are deceitful still. And corruption remains. We must constantly lean on the gospel of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus (Colossians 2:13-14). We must persistently conform our minds to Christ in the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:16) and adjust our walk to be 'in step with the truth of the gospel' (Galatians 2:14). We must continually 'put to death...what is earthly' in us because we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3, 5).
May the Lord give us absolute honesty with ourselves and with him. May he expose every remnant of sinful prejudice. May we never use the legitimacy of generalizing to cloak the sin of prejudice. May the glory of Christ shine in our lives. God, help us." pgs 222-224
- John Piper
from: http://www.amazon.com/Bloodlines-Cross-Christian-John-Piper/dp/1433528525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363654691&sr=8-1&keywords=bloodlines+john+piper
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