"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels..." What a tremendous array of witnesses! And for what? "That thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality" (1 Tim. 5:21). Here a Greek word, prokrima, makes its single appearance in the New Testament. It means judging before-time, or prejudice (See ASV).

Timothy would "receive accusation" concerning elders - but he must protect the elders by demanding adequate witnesses. He must not be hasty - to lay hands on any man. In brief, judgements had to be made then, as now; and Timothy is reminded that all who judge are themselves standing before God ("no respecter of persons"), and Christ ("with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged"), and the elect host of heavenly beings.

Pre-judging means drawing conclusions without sufficient evidence. It means disregard for the charged one's rights or claims; an unreasoned bent, without due examination or knowledge; bias. premature judgement. it is an ugly ungodly unrighteous attitude that causes us to ignore the Creator and mistreat His creatures - and that sin is compounded when the creatures are our brethren in the Lord.

It closes eyes to beauty, stops ears to truth, and steals from us the rationality that is our God-given heritage. It has burned as witches those whose only fault was being different or misunderstood. It has deprived man of noble ideas, because they were new; of marvelous developments, because they called for change. Prejudice has built "spite" fences, and prevented a flow of love that could enrich our lives beyond fondest imagination. It negates the very brotherhood of man.

But more, prejudice - self-serving badge of littleness - creates in him who harbors it a distorted sense of greatness. He defies justice and justifies foolishness. With the wisdom of a fool he enthrones himself, and shuts out God; for "we must be taught of God," and a prejudiced man will not be taught anything greater than his prejudices. Only the "honest and good heart" will inherit heaven.

- Plain Talk, Jan. 1974