Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Pious said, "No one capable of human thought and speech is immune from harboring prejudice; it often takes deliberate effort and awareness to reduce prejudice; with sufficient motivation, it can he done." (Pious, 2003, p. 38).
I find myself guilty of passing prejudice thoughts, not necessarily negative, but thoughts that derive from what I know about cultures. I see a man walking down the street with a turban and automatically I assume he is from Iran or I see someone sitting under a tree at the park with dreadlocks and I assume he is high. Sometimes, I don't even realize I'm thinking these things until after I've left and assess how I treated the person or think about what just happened. Sometimes I don’t notice it at all and someone I’m with points out that I was acting “funny” or different towards that person.
In the book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell, he talks about two different attitudes towards things like race or gender after taking the IAT (Implicit Association Test). The first attitude being the conscious attitudes—what we choose to believe and direct our behavior deliberately and the second being our unconscious attitudes—what we've learned, books we read, movies we watch, and dominate groups that surround us, forming an opinion underneath what we actually state and choose to believe.
The IAT test is usually done on a computer screen with two columns, for example "Male" and "Female" and then down the center a list of names like, "Holly" "Brad" "Jane" "Derek" "Dan" "Erica" and so on. The names will flash on the computer screen and if the name belongs on the right column (say "Dan" flashes and "Male" is on the right) you would hit the letter 'e' and if it belongs on the right (for "female") you would hit the letter 'i'. The advantage of doing the IAT on a computer is that the responses are measured down to the millisecond, which is used to assign the test takers score. Your score evaluates your word association with a certain subject. There are multiple types of IATs and subjects will pair with other subjects, for example: "Male and Career" and "Female and Family" and will give you several nouns like, "Sarah, Babies, Office, Domestic" etc.
During the "Race IAT" it will ask you what your attitudes towards blacks and whites are. Gladwell, as most I assume would answer, said, "I think of the races as equal." As the test begins, a series of faces flash on the screen, both black and white and you divide them into their own columns. Easy enough.
Next, they pair "European American or Bad" and "African American or Good" and the list of nouns are: hurt, evil, glorious, a picture of a black man, a picture of a white man, and wonderful. Gladwell says that, "Immediately something strange happened...the task of putting the words and faces in the right categories suddenly became more difficult and I found myself slowing down...I had to think."
Next "European American" and "Good" were paired and "African American" and "Bad" were paired with the exact same list of nouns. This time, Gladwell tells us that he was having no trouble at all putting the words and faces in the right category.
Gladwell argues against Pious' quote above that we actually have no control and don't deliberately choose our unconscious attitudes and even more astonishingly, we may not even be aware of them. Gladwell also tells us that, “the IAT is a good predictor of how we act in certain kinds of spontaneous situations.” There is evidence that if your associations are strong pro in on direction that that will affect how you behave in the presence of a white or black person.
So my question is which is more true? Our conscious opinions that we form ourselves or our unconscious opinions that have been formed for us?
(If you’d like to try a computerized IAT and try and break the construct that I’ve formed about your unconscious attitudes, visit www.implicit.harvard.edu, I’d love to hear your responses.)
Carol P. Harvey, M. June Allard. (2008). Understanding and Managing Diversity. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Malcolm Gladwell. (2005). Blink. New York: Back Bay Books/Little, Brown and Company.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A Call to Persevere
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
Hebrews 10:19-39 (New Living Translation)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a
Studious man who taught at a small college in the western United
States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at
This particular institution. Every student was required to take this
Course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the
Gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon
The course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts,
Most students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve
Was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto
Seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he
Was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the
School football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could
Talk with him."How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you
Think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I
Need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can
You D o it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well.. I think I can...yeah, I can do it"
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let
Me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the
Room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of
Donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra
Fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was
Pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going
To get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's
Class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,
"Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do
Ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then
Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's
Desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe,
Do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten
Push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the
First aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their
Donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott
Was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was
Very popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve,
Would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"
Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my
Desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't
Want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just
Stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be
Getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming
Out around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were
beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny,
"Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more
push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"
Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students
were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the
desks.
Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these
pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat
on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get
red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in
the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten
pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work
for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve
was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class,
however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on
the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the
professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were
34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to
make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.
Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was
taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each
one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups.
You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr.
Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the
room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice,
"NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and
said , "No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you
will have to do ten pushups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of
the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he
said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"
Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason,
bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those
visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with
each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity.
By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was
no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in
the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both
cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the
second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups
so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.
Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you
want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr.
Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it
alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that
everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.
When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my
grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade.
Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior
work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes
up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my
party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made
a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding
that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350
pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that
our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy
hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done
everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some
of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically
exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding
"Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might
understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that
have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us
all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to
accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the
desk?"
Friday, March 19, 2010
See 'Quest Series: Righteousness" for previous conversation.
7. Based on this passage, explain what is required to be right with God. What does John 14:6 say?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:10 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Ok – so, having a relationship with Jesus and trusting in God and knowing that there is nothing we can do to earn his righteousness…
Is that right?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:33 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
It’s definitely not about earning or not earning righteousness. Righteousness cannot be earned. It’s a standing with God. Our position moves from being at odds with him, to being right with him, once we know him. So, yes, I guess I misinterpreted the “becoming” part. We do become righteous with God once we know him. It’s positional. (Think basketball. Pivoting. Position. Etc. :])
Based on John 14:6 it’s about knowing Jesus. That is the requirement for being right with God. Which makes sense to look back in Romans 1:17, “17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." We know God by knowing his Word and receiving the Spirit when we begin our relationship with Jesus.
From the study on Romans by Max Lucado ...
‘I have a duty to all people,” Paul told the Roman church (Rom. 1:14 NCV). He had something for them—a message. He’d been entrusted as a Pony Express courier with a divine message, the gospel. Nothing mattered more to Paul than the gospel. “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” he wrote next, “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16 NIV).
Paul existed to deliver the message. how people remembered him was secondary. (Else why would he introduce himself as a slave? Rom 1:1). How people remembered Christ was primary. Paul’s message was not about himself. His message was all about Christ. (From it’s Not About Me by Max Lucado)
Reaction:
6. How would you describe righteousness to a new believer?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 8:57 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Righteousness – following in Christ’s footsteps, glorifying him every step of the way.. umm.. having God in our mind through all our actions thinking what he would do (WWJD?)
I don’t know. I suck.
What do you think?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:03 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Maybe the good that Gods sees in us because of Jesus?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:12 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
Haha you do not suck.
The word “righteousness” is seen mostly two way in the bible, and its' significance depends upon context. In some places it means, an attribute of God; in other places, the imagined attainment of human merit.
In Rom. 1:17, the use of the word here: "For in it," [in the gospel plan], "the righteousness of God is revealed." Here the significance is the condition or quality of being right in the sight of God.
So, the way I’d define ‘righteousness’ to a new believer would look something like: While living in sin, disobeying God's law and trying to guide yourself through life without God, you are not right; your state is wrong; you do not enjoy or necessarily want/like fellowship with God. BUT, in the gospel, God reveals how you can be right, in condition, in quality and in life. The gospel tells us HOW WE CAN BE RIGHT by learning about God’s attributes and how we can be obedient-motivated by love and fellowship with Him through the gospel; our ‘instruction’ book. without God, we try to do things on a "do-it-yourself" plan of salvation, which just won’t work.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:27 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
I don’t see how that is righteousness.. I gotta think on this one for a bit..
So, in fewer words – righteousness is what God creates in us once we accept God in our lives and we start learning about God and his character? OR so, once we accept Christ in our lives and know he died for our sins, he begins to change us.. these changes are what makes us righteous in Gods eyes? right? like, we don’t have to do anything to become righteous.. We just.. Become it.. ??
Ok – grace. Grace is how it happens, but righteousness is what we are..?
Wow. I’m in over my head here…
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:46 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
So, self-righteousness would be depending on ourselves to live and be and do what we think is right; which is wrong. Righteousness is being right with God, which we learn what that is and means through the Gospel and knowing God’s character because through knowing God and his character, we learn what is right, what sin is, what he wants from us, etc. Righteousness=Right with God. (In fewer words)
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:54 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Ok – so in a round about way, its like Gods grace and mercy, etc.
Good talk. That is cool. I haven’t ever focused on righteousness. SWEET!
Ok – moving on: 7)Based on this passage, explain what is required to be right with God. What does John 14:6 say?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:12 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
Well, wait. No, I don’t think righteousness is God’s grace and mercy. It’s a…way of life? It’s an attribute you put on as you learn more about God. It’s a standing. You are either right with God, or you are right with yourself. I’m not so sure there is any other option. I think it’s one of those things that can interchange with our decisions to do what we want and not what God wants; sin. It’s not necessarily a gift I don’t think. It’s a choice. To be right with God means to not try and do it yourself. To be a righteous ‘man’ of God is to not be self-righteous, or self doing, directing and deciding.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:12 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Hmm.. ok.
Lots to think on here.
Friday, February 19, 2010
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 10:43 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
I’m learning about God’s sovernty lately, and it is pretty cool how he comes through with things when they are benefiting him
I read Philippians 3 last night, and it was TOTALLY saying exactly what I had just decided the night before – about not dwelling on the past, not forgetting about it so you can still learn from it, but picking up and moving on.
Read it real quick if you can. Its pretty short
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:02 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, (This reminds me of you! Your desire!) becoming like him in his death, (I don’t think many people really grasp what this looks like. He was rejected, hated, murdered, scorned, abused…that is kind of what the cross looks like, you know? And yet IN All of that. There is glory. Because Christ conquered it. Beautiful.) 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, (Because we have accepted Christ) or have already been made perfect, (Because we are made perfect or blameless when we accept Christ) but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. (Because we’ll never get it right until we are in Heaven.) But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, (The kingdom of Heaven and all it’s majesty.) 14I press on (think about what pressing on really is. It’s not easy. It’s like treading water upstream. Interesting…) toward the goal (what is our goal? Do you know?) to win the prize (What is our prize? Do you know?) for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (AMEN!)
I love Philippians.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:08 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
Are you rhetorically asking what the goal and prize is?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:10 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
Sort of. It’s just interesting to me. Do we know what that means? Is it simple? This is how I tend to read the bible. I insert my own thoughts. Haha I’m a big question asker. It has to do with becoming a certified tutor in high school. Ask questions to answer questions kind of mentality. It helps me digest all of this, you know?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:13 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
Yeah, and it helps us retain it. THAT is my struggle.
I really like Philippians. I will be done with it tonight. There are only 4 chapters……
I think next I’m going to go to 1 John (lots about love in there) then go back to John or Matthew so I can learn more about Gods character. I HATE doing that though, cause I want to read the whole thing and I keep rereading chapters…… thoughts?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:17 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
Retaining it is the hardest for me too. I think that’s why we have to CONTINUE to read things. There are so many things I forget. That’s also why journaling is good.
1 John is one of my favorites. I have a bible study to go with it if you want to follow along with that?
Yeah, I think it’s okay to reread chapters. The Psalms are good too because that’s more from a human standpoint about how we can feel towards or about God and it’s the most relatable book for us. Those are fun to read. You don’t feel so crazy.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:38 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
I was thinking about being saved yesterday, and how I am not certain.. but in Philippians 3, it focused on God knowing your heart. I think I have a pretty good heart, and a huge desire to learn.. so even though I make big mistakes, and don’t know Him all that well yet, I think He knows what I want…
What do you think?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:38 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: change of lunch plans
Yeah. When I became a Christian I went a whole year without being certain. At my church at the end of the sermon they would tell you that if you needed prayer, that there would be pastors at the front to pray with you. So one day I was sitting there and I was kind of like, I have no idea if I’m a Christian or if there is anything else I have to do, so I got up and walked down and just said to the pastor, “I don’t know if I’m officially a Christian. How do I know?” He kind of chuckled and said that you just have to invite God into your life. And accept him. So we prayed together and I did that, again. And then I was like okay, cool. I’m official.
Have you ever prayed that prayer? “God, I’m yours.”?
You’re totally right about the heart topic. God doesn’t say to figure it out and get your mistakes cleared up and know me like you know the back of your hand, THEN we can talk. He’s relation. And invented dating and courting and friendship and gets what happens through each of those processes. He knows it’s a time delay. And he’s totally okay with that.