Pride and Prejudice

Today’s scripture: John 4:1-30, 39-42 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Lynnette Pullen):

I have always been thrilled and excited to be a part of our church’s Vacation Bible School. It’s a cherished honor to spread God’s word and help kids understand the message.

However, a few years back, all week long I was painfully reminded of the rejection and even hatred that we encounter in the LGBT community. As the kids told stories to relate to some the people in the Bible, it was clear to me that at an early age they had experienced prejudice. Many thanked God for providing a church that loved and accepted them and their families. The outside world can be cruel. It’s good to have a safe place to come and worship. I love how Jesus is always reaching out to outcasts. This part of John reminds me that God’s salvation is meant for everyone regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, social status or past sins.

In the story of the woman at the well, He spoke to a woman of a despised mixed race, with a bad reputation, in a public place! Even the woman was shocked and wanted to make sure Jesus knew she was a Samaritan. I think it would be something like a white man talking to a black woman at a segregated water fountain in the 1950s.

He then went on to “out” her, exposing the most intimate details of her love life. I honestly was a little baffled by that. Maybe Jesus wanted to get her attention. I don’t know, but it was a bold move. The woman challenges Jesus a bit, but then realizes that she truly is speaking to the Messiah.

She then does something totally amazing to me. She witnesses to all of her fellow Samaritans about Jesus, using her own encounter with Him as a testimony. It’s amazing because she had to “out” herself in order to explain the significance of the encounter. I wondered if it was common knowledge that she had several husbands — but if it were, then her testimony wouldn’t have been convincing and they probably would have laughed it off. Maybe she didn’t tell them the details — but it would have been hard to give this testimony without including details for it to be meaningful. What Jesus said to her had to be something that she knew was secret — only she and her God knew. These are the secrets you hold deep in your heart and you never tell a soul.

I wonder if I would be willing to “out” myself in order to tell others of God. I don’t mean just my sexuality. I mean other things, like my darkest transgressions and my deepest fears. Would I be willing to expose myself to people around me, like the woman at the well, in order to point the way to Christ? Could I tell my story of what I was like before I met Christ, places I lived, things I had done, even my current struggles, so that others could see my life and give the credit to God? Or would I let my pride stand in the way?

Thought for the day: God, help me to recognize and eliminate my prejudices so I can share your message with everyone. God, help me let go of my pride and fear so I may freely and boldly share my personal encounter with you.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.