Stereotypes

August 26, 2018

Jesus Ruins Everything
Stereotypes 

1. What do stereotypes look like in our world?

Sterotype Definition:
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

We live in a world that is so saturated with stereotypes, that it affects the way that we see and experience EVERYTHING.

But, Jesus ruins everything we know about Stereotypes.

2. What does Jesus say about Stereotypes?

Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus used a Samaritan in the story for a reason! He was destroying the stereotype and getting his followers to get off their high horses and start loving everyone.

- In Matthew 20, 
Jesus challenges the stereotype of kings, 
and explains that he didn't come to be served, but to serve others
.
- In John 4
 with the woman at the well, 
Jesus challenges the stereotypes of 
talking to a woman, talking to an adulteress, and talking to a Samaritan
.
- In Matthew 12
 when taking to the religious leaders,
 Jesus challenged the stereotype of what it means to follow God
.
- When Jesus picked his disciples,
 He challenged the stereotype of age 
by picking teenagers to pour into
.
- In Matthew 8 
Jesus healed a leper
 and challenged the stereotype of “untouchable” or “unclean” people
.
-When Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin,
 He challenged the stereotype of every other religion.

Jesus wasn’t only against stereotypes, He did everything in his power to destroy stereotypes. Because Jesus loved everyone equally, and stereotypes are often the opposite of that.  When we start looking past these stupid stereotypes,
 we start looking at who people actually are! We look past the things we think we know based on 
age, gender, race, everything else.  We can also try so hard to get away from stereotypes that we try to shove everyone into the same box, and treat people like they aren’t any different at all.

How should we handle sterotypes in our world?

1. Stereotypes make us assume things that aren’t true.

2. Stereotypes put unrealistic expectations on people

3. Stereotypes simplify a complex person into 1 simple story.
Ted Talk: The Danger of a Single Story
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -
“A single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story...  The consequence of the single story is this: it robs people of their dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.”

4. Believing Stereotypes about yourself gives other people power over you.
South African Pastor -
“The thing about black managers in South Africa in the 90s is that the main thing for them to deal with isn’t discrimination, but instead managing their own rage in relation to the discrimination.”

5. Stereotyping people puts a wall up between them and Jesus.

Communication Card
- I will stop judging people first by their external characteristics.
- I will respond patiently when stereotypes are thrown at me.
- I will try and put myself in someone else’s shoes before reacting.