Pity the Prejudiced Man
Well, I spoke last week about how General Armstrong had such an impact on Booker T, and one thing that really had an impression on him was General Armstrong's refusal to be bitter. In the Civil War the General had fought against the South, but he says that on page 117: "He cherished no bitterness against the South, and in all my acquaintance with him, I never heard him speak in public or in private a single bitter word against the white men in the South."
“From his example”, Booker says. "in this respect I learned the lesson that great men cultivate love, and that only little men cherish a spirit of hatred." How about that? How different could South Africa look if the spirit of hatred around here had to disappear?
A Challenge for Us in South Africa
Then he says this: "I learned this lesson from General Armstrong and I resolved that I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him. I pity from the bottom of my heart any individual who is so unfortunate as to get into the habit of holding race prejudice."
Now these are challenging words to us in South Africa. We know that there's still racial tension around and we know that there's even tribal tension around, but this is surely not the way of God. And General Armstrong and Booker T here remind us that cherishing and harbouring a spirit of bitterness towards anybody is simply petty and pathetic.
Taking Prejudice to the Cross
I wonder how many of us today need to take our hatred and our prejudice to the cross, ask God to crucify it. Then ask God to rid us of these evil ways. Our friends, let respect and love all people regardless of their race in all directions, and like General Armstrong and like Booker T, refuse to let hatred and prejudice remain in our hearts.
The Holy Spirit can help us to do this, friends. We just need to take it to Him and walk in the freedom that He gives.
