Maybe Biases
Things have been happening quickly, as recorded in the Book of Acts: a group of over 3,000 people have responded to the message that Jesus is the awaited Messiah and he is alive. Opposition has begun with the Jewish religious leaders seeking to punish and stop this new movement. So, the new follower's of Jesus are in an exciting and interesting time to say the least.
One exciting and interesting feature of this time has to do with the need to provide some attention to this new community. We see this in the opening verses of Acts 6 as the sharing of resources and food occurs.
The sharing of resources has to do with an increase in the number of disciples (Acts 6:1). One is made immediately aware that this growth has created a need for some attention because there are widows who are being left out of the daily distribution of food. These widows are adherents to Judaism but are from a Greek/Gentile heritage.
It looks like some attention is needed because there might be some bias going on since there is neglect to a specific group. The Jewish widow's (Jewish in heritage) are not being neglected while the Hellenistic (Greek/Gentile heritage) are being neglected.
Could it be possible that there is bias and prejudice in the midst of this early group of follower's of Jesus? It seems possible to me that this is exactly what is going on in some form to neglect Gentile/Hellenistic converts to Judaism.
Long term biases, beliefs, and practices are not magically removed when someone becomes a follower of Jesus. We bring all we have experienced and lived when we come to faith in Jesus and then enter into a life of learning how to live out our faith.
REFLECT: Have you considered the possibility that you have some biases that did not immediately "drop off" when you became a follower of Jesus? How have you seen biases "crop up" in your journey with following Jesus?