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Key Bible Verse: "I solemnly command you—to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone" (1 Timothy 5:21). Bonus Reading:Romans 15:5-9a

One evening I went to see the movie Higher Learning with some friends. Having bought the tickets in advance, two of us—a white woman and me (a black man)—waited outside the theater until everyone in our group (including other Caucasians and some Asian Americans) made it in.

The theater was packed, but we found seats toward the back. As the movie began, and the unsettling scenes rolled on, I realized that, except for our group, the entire audience was African American.

At the end of the movie a black woman is shot and killed by a white racist, and a black man is unjustly beaten by white policemen. The theater-goers exploded with rage at the scenes. And I was angry about what I'd seen.

The movie ended and the lights came on. As people filed out past me, I grew uncomfortable sitting with a white woman. She didn't understand how I felt, and I didn't want to explain. I wanted to go find the black friends who were part of our group and hang with them. I didn't want to publicly associate with the white believers in our group. I was tempted to sin by rejecting my brothers and sisters in Christ because of what others might think or do. But I stayed—as I knew Jesus would.

—Kevin Blue in Faith on the Edge

My Response: I can identify with Kevin because …

Thought to Apply: All the people like us are we, and everyone else is they.—RUDYARD KIPLING (British author)

Adapted from Faith on the Edge (InterVarsity, 1999) by permission.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, if I'm part of the problem for unity in Your Church, make me willing to take action to become part of the solution.

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