Everywhere I Go: Learning to See JesusSample

THE SIN OF PARTIALITY Isn't it good that you and I don't decide who is "worth saving?" We're too easily deceived by appearances. We may think the rich, profane executive who has the world by the tail would make a dynamite Christian if he were "cleaned up," but judge the down-and-out derelict as a more likely candidate for prison. Years ago a play called "Tobacco Road" caused a stir at its Atlanta, Georgia premier because those in the audience were offended by its main character, Jeter Lester. Lester was the epitome of every bad southern stereotype: uncouth, swaggering, dishonest, mean. The city's elite were repulsed by the idea that the south might be full of Jeter Lester's, and re-dedicated themselves to social reform to remedy that possibility. Oddly enough, the same crowd did not object to the equally wretched main character of another play, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" Virginia, too, was a mean, foul-mouthed bully, but she was wealthy. And well-connected. And educated. These two characters, whose demographics were miles apart, were actually more alike than different. How do we treat the Jeter Lester's and the Virginia Wolf's? Usually, we ignore the Jeter's (hoping they'll go away) and show preference to the Virginia's. After all, they have potential. But to Christ, they're one and the same. He loves them, and died for them both. How can we then, choose one over the other?