At certain points in a person’s life, he surely must have experienced being discriminated, or being treated unfairly and differently by others for different reasons.
Sometimes a person is discriminated because of his race, religion, lowly standing in society, educational attainment, gender identity, and physical appearance. Others, on the other hand, get discriminated if they are found to have a contagious disease, or if they happened to have an unsavory past, like having done foolish things before, or having a child out of wedlock.
But whatever the case may be, it is wrong to discriminate people. Unfortunately though, discrimination is practiced not only among individuals who regard themselves better and more superior than the rest but also in institutions that are supposed to promote equity and fairness, like religion, for instance.
Indeed there are really religions that practice discrimination. They do not treat all people fairly. They give special treatment to the rich and famous while they give a cold shoulder treatment to the poor and to people whom they perceive to have a “not-so-good” reputation in society.
As we are guided by the word of God, we, in the Church of God, do not practice discrimination. We treat people with fairness and kindness, and we give them the best accommodation we can regardless of whether they are rich and educated, or poor, illiterate, shabbily dressed, physically challenged, etc. They are all welcome in the Church of God.
For one, the Bible tells us that God does not discriminate people.
ROMANS 2:11 (KJV) says,
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Meaning, God does not play favorites; He does not practice favoritism. Not only God the Father but also the Son. Like the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ also treats all people with fairness. JAMES 2:1 (KJV) says,
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
We must treat people fairly because all people were created by God. All of us are His creations and in His eyes we are all important. That is why 1 TIMOTHY 2:4 says, “it is God’s will that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
The fact that God wants all men to be saved is a proof of how much He loves every man – irrespective of his condition in life. And He is giving all men an equal chance to salvation.
2 PETER 3:9 (KJV) says,
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but his longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God does not want even one man to perish; what He wants is for all men to come to repentance and be saved.
In the true church, the Church of God, we treat each other equally. This way, we are able to achieve unity in the organization, at the same time, avoid divisiveness.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-27 (KJV) says,
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
We have to maintain that sense of love and care for each other among members. We do not get affected by their positions in society nor by the kind of life that they had before they became members of the Church.
Actually, in the first century church, there was a particular member who used to be an evil-doer. She was Mary Magdalene. When she was baptized, seven demons went out of her. But despite her past, she was accepted as a member of the church. And when she became a member, she played an important role in the propagation of the Gospel. In fact, she was one of those women who helped the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In LUKE 8:2-3 (KJV), it says,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
These women, including Mary Magdalene, supported the Lord Jesus Christ when He was preaching the Gospel in different places. They helped the ministry in every way they could.
So, regardless of your past life, regardless of whether you are a single mother, or you used to be a prostitute before or whatever, you could become a member of the Church of God. In the Church of God, we do not discriminate people. Everybody is welcome here because God wants all men to be saved.
On our part, we are always ready to welcome you with open arms. And we are more than willing to help you discover the true teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
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