Being a discriminating person was once a very positive attribute. It meant that person was able to wisely choose the best food, clothing, furniture, etc. The term began to turn negative when people began to choose one group of people as better than other groups. I grew up in a time when there was some very real negative discrimination that was based on what political party a person supported; whether they were management or labor; rich or poor; had a college degree or high school diploma; and yes – the color of their skin.
According to scripture, bad discrimination doesn’t always involve race. To choose one group of people over another for any reason is a sin. James wrote, “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there or else sit on the floor’ well doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?” “Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Lev. 19:18) But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.” (James 2:1-5 & 8-9)
That brings me to one of my favorite topics – stereotyping. Judging a person by the group to which they belong. Our society has become increasingly divided because stereotyping more groups of people than I can even begin to list here has become standard practice. Stereotyping puts each of us in a box with others who share one quality with us. We then become fearful or hateful toward anyone in a different box. EVERY stereotype is false and exposes evil motives. Every box is falsely labeled and is a figment of someone’s evil imagination. God created each of us as unique individuals. We each have unique DNA, experience different environments and have free will to react to those environments differently. With the possible exception of identical siblings, no group of two or more people is alike. The larger the group the more variety exists within it.
The main way to explode those many stereotypes and break out of our boxes is to begin to judge each individual we meet only by their words, actions and character, just as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed for his children. Paul made it clear many times in his letters that individuals who teach false doctrines or create dissension in the church should be expelled. As far as is possible we need to expel those individuals from our lives too.
As Christian believers, we share a most important quality. We each have the same Holy Spirit within us and I gladly share that box with my brothers and sisters in Christ in spite of any superficial differences we may have. But instead of fearing or hating those non-believers outside of our box we are commanded to love them and try to lead them to Christ.