Stereotyping

I was a stranger and you invited me in (Matthew 25:35).

We like to stereotype people. Stereotyping helps us to size up a stranger quickly so we know what to expect from them. I’m sure you’re familiar with all kinds of stereotypes. Irishmen like to fight. The British are stoic and reserved. Mexicans are lazy. The French are rude. You can’t tell what a Japanese man is thinking. Germans are good with technology. Native Americans are prone to drunkenness. People from India are well educated. Politicians and lawyers are crooked. Brunettes are smarter than blondes. Christians don’t have any fun, and they don’t want anyone else to have fun, either.

Did some of those stereotypes make you angry? They should. Every human being is a unique person with his own ideas and ways of doing things. Every person is a complex web of strengths and weaknesses, capable of brilliance one moment and utter stupidity the next. You cannot understand someone by hanging a label on them; they need time to get to know.

Sadly, most people are stingy with their time. They don’t want to make the effort to understand a stranger. We want everything to go fast. We aren’t willing to wait until marriage to participate in sex. We aren’t interested in a reading a book that looks too thick. We want pain to go away the instant that we swallow a pill. And when it comes to other people, we want quick answers to the question, 'should I get to know them?' So we look at hair and wardrobe; we notice skin color and language. In a few seconds we’ve assigned a stereotype, and use that snap judgment to strike up a conversation or just walk away.

My friend, you cannot use stereotypes to decide who is worthy of your time. Everyone is different; you cannot make accurate generalizations based on race or culture or even religion. Most Muslims are not terrorists committed to Jihad. Most Jews are not financial wizards out to swindle you. And Christians come in all types as well. Some of us are outgoing and friendly; others are shy or reserved. Some Christians grab life with both hands and find joy in every minute; others keep to themselves and committed to hard work. But we all have one thing in common—we know that Jesus loves us. He forgives us for being blind to our own faults. He forgives us for making mistakes, whether they are small or colossal. He knows each of us individually, and teaches us to respect each other despite our differences and failures. He urges us to befriend one another as He has befriended us.