This past weekend my daughter and I watched the film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, Emma.  I think most Jane Austen fans recognize that her books are far more than romantic stories, they are social commentaries, ever as much applicable today as when they were originally written.

If you have read the book or seen the movie you know that Emma was a young woman given to meddling in the affairs of others, determined to set up “appropriate matches” amongst available young men and women, and quite opinionated about “station” and appropriate behavior—the thing is, she did not recognize her biases as such.  Her good works and kindnesses were born of a sense of duty rather than compassion for the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable.  Graciously, she recognized her faults and honestly experienced grief for the pain she caused.

One of the most insidious aspects of bias is that we do not recognize it in ourselves, and yet nothing causes more division than the recognition of our differences in the light of “better than”, “smarter than”, “worse than”, or the myriad of other ways we use to compare ourselves to the lives of others.

I felt a bit of bias this past week as I glanced at the headline of an article sharply criticizing a less than stellar action taken by some Christians.  I didn’t read the article, didn’t want to and really did not want to get into a position of defense.  I just felt a sense of wounding in my heart and the silent objection, “Hey! Not all Christians behave that way—we’re not all like that!”  I also understand that anyone who wants to be offended with Christians and Christianity will be, and they will find ample fuel for the weapons of media and opinion.

In the realm of opinion and conviction there is bias between liberal and conservative, democrat and republican, Christian and atheist, between races or “cultural demographics”, in social identity and standing, as well as in employment and financial status—wherever there are differences, there is potential for bias.

Sadly, Christians are not exempt from spirits or attitudes of bias—between denominations, the day we attend church, our acceptance or rejection of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their relevancy, interpretation of doctrine and end times, just to name a few bases for division.  And yet, the apostle Paul teaches that, “God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:24, 25).  Amazing! That God so deliberately gives honor to those who otherwise do not have it.

The apostle Paul also urges us to “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:3-7).  Our problems with bias begin when we think of ourselves as something and others as nothing.

Bias, or partiality in thought, wears many disguises such as self-righteousness (not limited to Christians), intellect clothed in a robe of superiority, limited vision—focusing on what one expects to see without recognizing the limitations of that view, considering the “blessed” to be clothed in financial prosperity rather than soul health and prosperity, differences in manners and mannerisms—I cannot begin to list the many ways that bias affects our attitudes and relationships! …and yet, I can guarantee that they do.

James, the brother of Jesus teaches, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality….but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:1, 9).  Sin is first bound up in our attitudes and inner beings before it ever gets translated into actions.  The thing is, we usually have a very strong rational and defense for how we view and relate to others—and we do not recognize the blind spots that may exist.

The beauty and grace of God offers sight to the blind, and those who claim enlightenment are truly blind—Jesus taught the Pharisees this principle, “’For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’  Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, “We see”.  Therefore your sin remains’” (John 9:39-41).  (We mustn’t condemn the Pharisees because our attitudes very often resemble theirs!)

My prayer is that my vision not be clouded; instead, I recognize the vulnerability of my humanity in that I am prone to bias and criticism.  I am eager to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal sin in my life, because when I confess my sins before God, He is faithful and He is just to forgive them. …and the best part?  He cleanses me from unrighteousness, not only in my actions but also in the attitudes of my heart.