Veil of Prejudice

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28, NAS.

Joy* knew that her culture had prejudice against the Muslim people who lived on the same island, but she had never experienced it personally until she began working with her Muslim neighbors to show them the love of Christ. When she worked in the Muslim villages, she always covered her head with a scarf, like a modest Muslim woman. This was her way of showing respect to their culture. One day she went into a church with her head still covered. She walked into the church and was shocked at the looks that church women gave her.

“I could see hatred in their eyes,” said Joy. “Then I thought to myself, this is what it feels like to be a Muslim. No wonder they hate us if this is how we treat them.” Joy took off her head covering, and the women recognized her. Instantly their faces changed, and Joy was loved and accepted again. Joy never forgot that experience, and she prays for God to remove the hatred and prejudice from the lives of her brothers and sisters in the church.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will tear away the veil of hatred and prejudice between the Muslim and Christian people where Joy lives.

The church will reflect the love of Christ to her Muslim neighbors so that they may come to know salvation.

Muslims in the Pacific Rim will see more of Christ in the way Christians live out their faith.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.