As we saw in Part One, bias—a preset inclination that slants our mindset in a particular direction—is endemic to human nature. Our biases, which spring from our unreliable hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), affect how we regard others and events and even our religious beliefs. A Christian, then, must be aware of his or her biases and seek to train them to mirror God's righteous perspectives.

A telling example of God's perspective comes from the Old Testament. In I Samuel 16, when God sent Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel, the prophet immediately assumed Eliab, the tall, strong, firstborn son of Jesse, was God's choice. He based his conclusion on Eliab's outward appearance, but the Lord corrected him:

Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (I Samuel 16:7)

Samuel's initial reaction—coupled with a dogmatic approach: "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!" (verse 6)—revealed a bias toward physical stature. God had to remind him that divine wisdom sees deeper than human prejudice. His refusal of Eliab as Israel's king hints at some fundamental flaw in the man, which God could see but Samuel could not, one that might have led to another Saul-like monarch (compare I Samuel 9:1-2).

Biblical accounts of prejudicial behavior remind us that bias is not some modern discovery, but it is as old as human nature itself. It works in both the converted and unconverted. Left unchecked, it leads a person away from truth and toward pride, many kinds of sin, and disunity.

Bias matters because it touches on a Christian's ability to discern truth. If an individual's biases are not aligned with God's way, he will believe perversions of the truth or even outright falsehoods. The standard is clear: Jesus declares in John 14:6 that He is "the way, the truth, and the life." If our spiritual vision is clouded by bias, we risk missing the truth in Christ's message, misjudging others, and misapplying God's Word.

Biases can also lead to division in the Body of Christ. In James 2:1-13, the apostle warns the church against showing favoritism, in this case, valuing a rich person more than a poor one. This form of bias dishonors the poor and undermines the church's unity. Likewise, racial or cultural biases can fracture fellowship and weaken our witness. Christ died to reconcile us with Him and with each other (Ephesians 2:14-18). But when biases prevail, we build walls that Christ already broke down by His sacrifice.

Unchecked bias also blinds us to God's wisdom. Proverbs 3:5 instructs: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." But our biases often drive us to lean heavily on our limited, self-centered, skewed perspective. Scripture teaches us instead to humble ourselves, admit the weakness of our own reasoning, and rely on God's guidance.

Bias is not only present in grand biblical narratives. It seeps into our everyday choices. For example:

• News and media: We may be drawn only to voices that reaffirm what we already believe rather than seeking a balanced perspective rooted in truth.

• Church life: We may favor those who share our background, worship style, or theological preferences, while neglecting fellowship with others in the Body of Christ.

• Relationships: We may jump to conclusions about others based on appearance, age, or cultural background instead of seeing them as individuals made in God's image.

• Decision-making: We may overvalue our own experience and intuition rather than consulting God's Word, praying for His assistance, and seeking wise counsel.

These subtle, ingrained biases rarely announce themselves. Instead, they act quietly, unnoticed, always lurking as invisible habits of thought. Thus, Christians must actively guard their minds, second-guess their assumptions, and submit to God's transforming power.

How, then, should Christians address bias? Scripture provides both warnings and promises that equip us to resist it and live in truth.

1. Renew the mind: Romans 12:2 calls believers to "be transformed by the renewing of [their] minds" rather than conforming to the patterns of this world. Renewal comes through regular immersion in Scripture, prayer, and openness to God correcting us when our thoughts, words, and deeds wander.

2. Cultivate humility: Bias thrives on pride—the assumption that our perspective is sufficient: "I know I'm right." Humility allows us to admit, "I might be wrong," and opens us to God's correction. Philippians 2:3 reminds us, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

3. Seek God's wisdom within the fellowship: We are less likely to veer into blind spots when we seek counsel from other believers who are also anchored in Christ. Proverbs 11:14 teaches, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Our church community can help us challenge assumptions and expose biases we cannot see unaided.

4. Practice righteous judgment: Jesus says in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Godly judgment discerns through the Spirit, not through immediate, superficial impressions. Judging righteously requires us to slow down, look deeper, pray earnestly, and analyze thoroughly, allowing God and His Word to shape how we interpret situations.

5. Remember Christ's teachings: Ultimately, bias is defeated by remembering the anchoring truth of the gospel. We need Christ and His wisdom! When we live in that reality, pride, favoritism, and discrimination lose their grip.

Bias is more than a mental glitch—it reflects the human heart's tendency to stray from God's truth toward selfishness and sin. Yet, through Christ, believers are invited to walk in true freedom and be renewed in mind and spirit. The more we allow Christ to influence our thinking, the more we have the freedom to move away from sin toward holiness.

As Christians, we are called to resist bias, not only for our own clarity, but also as a witness to the world. When the church lives without favoritism and with steadfast commitment to truth, it shines as a light in a fractured, self-deceived culture. By God's grace, we must continue to examine our hearts, repent of hidden prejudices, and trust in God's Spirit to guide us into all truth.