Sometimes, to get to an answer we need to ask questions. Not only to ask questions, we need to ask the right questions.
So, concerning today's topic on discrimination, we also need to ask the right questions. We need to ask;
1. What is discrimination?
2. How do we respond to it as Christians?
Our first thought on discrimination will inevitably go to racial discrimination due to our Malaysian context. That is a reasonable thought of course.
But is discrimination limited to just racial motivations? Are there any other forms of discrimination?
Is there a social economic discrimination in terms of education, class, income group etc.? Is there a gender discrimination? Is there a generation gap discrimination? Is there a moral discrimination? Is there a geographical discrimination? Is there a political discrimination? And how about discrimination against those who are handicapped?
In a very broad sense, we can discriminate in almost any way. We can discriminate against someone who could not use another language. Banana man for example? We can discriminate against someone because they do not wear the clothes we wear, hang out at places we do, do the things we do, use the gadgets we use, and even believing in the things we do.
So what is discrimination. In the simplest of sense, discrimination means denying someone something simply based on a factor that does not fairly provide a reason why the person is denied access to that something. Too difficult? Discrimination means denying someone something based on invalid reasons. For example, denying freedom to someone infected with a highly infectious disease by quarantine for a limited time is not considered discrimination or imprisonment whereas denying someone freedom because he is of a certain race is.
Let’s look at examples of discrimination in the New Testament before looking reviewing the biblical response. What are the examples that you can think of?
Here is a list of examples.
1. Nazareth being discriminated by Nathanael.
2. Social discrimination against those considered sinful e.g., lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes etc.
3. Discrimination of the Roman empire in taxation against subjugated people, only citizens are exempted.
4. Discrimination against non-citizens. Paul had better privileges as a citizen.
5. Discrimination against Gentiles. Jews do not share their inherited promises from God with outsiders.
6. Discrimination against slaves
7. Discrimination against Samaritans. Jews considered their neighbours as half-breeds.
8. Discrimination against Jews. Romans considered Jews as troublemakers.
There are of course many others if you read the Bible more carefully, especially in the Old Testament. But what is important is not the comprehensive listing of all the examples. What is important is to look at how the Lord and faithful believers responded to discrimination and from there, learn how to respond to the discrimination we face in our current day and situation.
Let's look at how our Lord responded to some of the examples above.
1. Jesus ignored and accepted Nathaniel
2. Jesus walked away when they questioned his birth, authority and wanted to kill him.
3. Jesus engaged and reconciled tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Samaritans, Romans
4. Jesus rebuked not those who questioned his racial identity, but their sin against the Holy Spirit.
5. Jesus obeyed and paid taxes
7. Jesus died and forgave even those who murdered him.
8. Despite being submitted to discrimination as Jew, Paul preached to all.
9. God's purpose is to reconcile all to Him, regardless of race and culture. (Titus chapter 3)
When we are discriminated by those in power like in the case of the Jews by the Roman empire, how should we respond? Do we respond like how the Jews responded when they thought Paul brought Gentiles into the temple? Do we respond in violence and in more exclusivity, having laws that even forbade the Jews from entering the houses of the Gentiles? Or do we like Paul, imitate Christ, and share the gospel to all for the benefit of all? Do we as Chinese band together in exclusivity, especially economically and deny other races the benefit? Or do we act like Paul and share the gospel for the benefit of all?
Responding like the Samaritan
1. Is it easy to do?
2. Does it benefit you buy now?
3. Is it the right thing to do as a Christian?
If we are able to act like the Samaritan, we have shown love to our enemies. We have obeyed God. We have acted like Jesus. We have shown Jesus to the world. And we will be rewarded like Jesus. Our suffering now cannot be compared to the Lord's suffering. It cannot be compared to the rewards from the Father in the end.
So, concerning today's topic on discrimination, we also need to ask the right questions. We need to ask;
1. What is discrimination?
2. How do we respond to it as Christians?
Our first thought on discrimination will inevitably go to racial discrimination due to our Malaysian context. That is a reasonable thought of course.
But is discrimination limited to just racial motivations? Are there any other forms of discrimination?
Is there a social economic discrimination in terms of education, class, income group etc.? Is there a gender discrimination? Is there a generation gap discrimination? Is there a moral discrimination? Is there a geographical discrimination? Is there a political discrimination? And how about discrimination against those who are handicapped?
In a very broad sense, we can discriminate in almost any way. We can discriminate against someone who could not use another language. Banana man for example? We can discriminate against someone because they do not wear the clothes we wear, hang out at places we do, do the things we do, use the gadgets we use, and even believing in the things we do.
So what is discrimination. In the simplest of sense, discrimination means denying someone something simply based on a factor that does not fairly provide a reason why the person is denied access to that something. Too difficult? Discrimination means denying someone something based on invalid reasons. For example, denying freedom to someone infected with a highly infectious disease by quarantine for a limited time is not considered discrimination or imprisonment whereas denying someone freedom because he is of a certain race is.
Let’s look at examples of discrimination in the New Testament before looking reviewing the biblical response. What are the examples that you can think of?
Here is a list of examples.
1. Nazareth being discriminated by Nathanael.
2. Social discrimination against those considered sinful e.g., lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes etc.
3. Discrimination of the Roman empire in taxation against subjugated people, only citizens are exempted.
4. Discrimination against non-citizens. Paul had better privileges as a citizen.
5. Discrimination against Gentiles. Jews do not share their inherited promises from God with outsiders.
6. Discrimination against slaves
7. Discrimination against Samaritans. Jews considered their neighbours as half-breeds.
8. Discrimination against Jews. Romans considered Jews as troublemakers.
There are of course many others if you read the Bible more carefully, especially in the Old Testament. But what is important is not the comprehensive listing of all the examples. What is important is to look at how the Lord and faithful believers responded to discrimination and from there, learn how to respond to the discrimination we face in our current day and situation.
Let's look at how our Lord responded to some of the examples above.
1. Jesus ignored and accepted Nathaniel
2. Jesus walked away when they questioned his birth, authority and wanted to kill him.
3. Jesus engaged and reconciled tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Samaritans, Romans
4. Jesus rebuked not those who questioned his racial identity, but their sin against the Holy Spirit.
5. Jesus obeyed and paid taxes
7. Jesus died and forgave even those who murdered him.
8. Despite being submitted to discrimination as Jew, Paul preached to all.
9. God's purpose is to reconcile all to Him, regardless of race and culture. (Titus chapter 3)
When we are discriminated by those in power like in the case of the Jews by the Roman empire, how should we respond? Do we respond like how the Jews responded when they thought Paul brought Gentiles into the temple? Do we respond in violence and in more exclusivity, having laws that even forbade the Jews from entering the houses of the Gentiles? Or do we like Paul, imitate Christ, and share the gospel to all for the benefit of all? Do we as Chinese band together in exclusivity, especially economically and deny other races the benefit? Or do we act like Paul and share the gospel for the benefit of all?
Responding like the Samaritan
1. Is it easy to do?
2. Does it benefit you buy now?
3. Is it the right thing to do as a Christian?
If we are able to act like the Samaritan, we have shown love to our enemies. We have obeyed God. We have acted like Jesus. We have shown Jesus to the world. And we will be rewarded like Jesus. Our suffering now cannot be compared to the Lord's suffering. It cannot be compared to the rewards from the Father in the end.
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