Bias 3

We know GOD is love but we must also know He is not biased.   God has no favorites or is not impartial.  He is the Creator.  He is the Lord. He is the King.  He is the Savior.  He sets the rules and he being unbiased is Holy. 

 

Deuteronomy 10:17

 “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.”

Romans 2:11

“God does not play favorites.”

Colossians 3:25

 “But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done.  For God has no favorites.”

Acts 10:34

 “ Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”

1 Peter 1:17

 “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites.  He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.”

God who is love isn’t restricted by any bias and doesn’t contour his speech to be more “accommodating” to one audience or group over another.   

Some may think that these scriptures are just talking about God and they exclude us as Christians but do they?

James 2:9 says,

 “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Deuteronomy 1:17 says,

 “Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike.  Do not be afraid of anyone, for the judgment belongs to God.  Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”

How many times did God have prophets speak difficult truths to kings and people?

 

In the bible we are called “ambassadors for Christ” because we do not represent ourselves but God.  We represent no government on earth but a power all humanity will have to answer to.   We are to be foreigner ambassadors-reconciling people to God but how can there be any reconciling if wrong and sin are never confronted, mentioned or is skirted, evaded or dodged around?  When we feel the urge to not confront sin what is manipulating us?  Who are really living for?

2 Corinthians 5:15-21

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Such A Time As This….

Most of who are acquainted with the story of Esther know this quote, “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance of the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die.  What’s more, who can say but that you have been evaluated to the palace for just such at time as this.” Esther 4:14

Do you know who evaluates you? It is God and when His Spirit tells you and I to speak we need to speak the truth in all humility and love.   For the words we speak might just save someone’s life.

 "The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism."--Norman Vincent Peale

When we try to avoid potential conflicts by neglecting to confront people of their sin- we are allowing only greater harm then good.  By not confronting sin we too as Christians fall into the snare of sin of bias and prejudice.   A true friend is one who speaks the truth and a true friendship is one that can handle the truth no matter good, bad, painful, or unpleasant.

"To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."--Elbert Hubbard

Here are something’s that came to me when I thought about the negative form of bias. 

·      Bias leads to lies and deception. 

·      Bias leads to endangering people’s souls.

·      Bias makes one blind to the bigger picture God has in store.

·      Bias inhibits instead of enables.

·      Bias makes our actions show we are ashamed of Christ and God's word.

·      Bias shows our love for others is greater then our love for God.

·      Bias is really another form of self-ambition- to be affirmed, appreciated, comfortable and accepted by people more then God.

·      Bias leads to self-deception. 

·      Bias can be manipulated by fear.

·      Bias runs on worldly wisdom and worldly gain. (example: using ulterior motives to gain or secure a position or material possessions)

·      Bias is favoritism.

·      Bias is pride -thinking you’re a better/ or incapable or not worthy of such a task.

·      Bias is thinking you know it all. You in your mind have decided the outcome and you act and speak according to the perceived outcome (such as tone of voice, language, litigation, perceptions, body language, etc), which usually ends up with you and whoever else on the defense. 

·      Bias is a lack faith in God.  (example: It puts God and you in a box.  You think GOD can only works within certain parameters, conditions, environments.)

·      Bias ignores the truth for temporary ease.

·      Bias on anyone other then God can easily make us UPSET and be manipulated!!!

Think of a person with integrity or shows integrity... how do they show their integrity?

 Are they biased and how are they biased? Are they favorably biased toward God and His truth? Do they speak the truth even in difficult circumstances?  Do they take sides? Do they admit their wrong and sin?  Do they not only speak it but do they show repentance in their actions that follow?

Think about this passage for a moment:  How is the writer unbiased?  How did he show integrity?  Was he looking out for himself or for those around him? 

"You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you." 1 Thessalonians 2:1-7