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India's Caste System. thousands years old officially abolished more than 3,000 castes and sub-castes "untouchables" also called Dalits forbidden by Hindu law books to possess any wealth other than “dogs and donkey”. Dalits. barred from education
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India's Caste System thousands years old officially abolished more than 3,000 castes and sub-castes "untouchables" also called Dalits forbidden by Hindu law books to possess any wealth other than “dogs and donkey”
Dalits • barred from education • promised advancement through a near endless cycle of rebirths • if they unquestioningly submit, their "atma" (soul) may progress toward nirvana • 165 million - half the size of the U S • rising up under Dr. B. R. Ambedkar - affectionately known as Babasaheb
Rosa Parks born February 4, 1913 daughter of a carpenter and a teacher named by the Congress as the "Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement" no legendary woman, just a 42 year old seamstress
Thursday, December 1, 1955Montgomery, AL When the bus driver moved the sign behind Parks, she did not get up to move. The driver then said, "Why don't you stand up?" Parks responded, "I don't think I should have to stand up."
Rosa Parks died at the age of 92 on October 24, 2005. She became the 31st person, the first woman, the first American who had not been a U.S. government official, and only the second non-government official to lie in state.
There's a constant struggle to overcome the very human and pervasive propensity to discriminate. And it's not over yet. We still have negative attitudes towards other kinds of people - perhaps not different in skin color, but people who dress different, think different, talk different, or act different.
Prejudice often comes out in: • jokes • gossip • when we use language like, "those kind of people" • avoidance and unfriendliness
When His disciples were asked why He was eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:10-13)
The Pharisee's Thanksgiving Prayer "God, I thank you that I am not like other men . . . " (Luke 18:11)
We look down on others when: • they're less spiritual • they’re less intellectual • their clothing is inferior • they're women • they're men • they have unusual facial features or body size • they're poor • they're wealthy
James 2:1-9 "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."
We all are sinners - we do hold prejudices. We must look at what the Bible says, and then come humbly to seek forgiveness for this sin, and receive the Holy Spirit's help to "go and sin no more."
Moses on partiality and favoritism "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. " (Leviticus 19:15, 18) "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. " (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17; 10:17; 16:18)
The Book of Job Elihu said, "I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away." (Job 32:6, 21, 22) Job himself acknowledged, "He would surely rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality." (Job 13:10)
Solomon - Proverbs 24:23; 28:21 King Jehoshaphat - II Chronicles 19:6, 7 The last prophetic voice of the OT - Malachi 2:9
Jesus - Sermon on the Mount "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1)
Two important foundation stones form the basis of non-prejudice and non-discrimination: 1. God Himself sets the standard - He does not show favoritism. Colossians 3:25 Romans 2:6-11 Ephesians 6:7-9 Luke 20:21
Two important foundation stones form the basis of non-prejudice and non-discrimination: 1. God Himself sets the standard - He does not show favoritism. 2. Being one in Christ means that we are all equal in His sight. Galatians 3:26-29 Colossians 3:11
"Preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) "That is, to every human being. Man has no right to limit this offer to any class of men." (Albert Barnes)
Today we are confronting and abandoning the insidious sins of prejudice and discrimination.
Young John and the Elder Deacon