FAVORITISM AND DISCRIMINATION

There is discrimination in the world but there should not be discrimination in the Church. For scripture says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28) We are all one in Christ. When we come to Him and we receive His atonement for our sins we become one family. We become part of Christ's family. We are the new Israel. We are the New Jerusalem that God is talking about in the New Testament scriptures. (Galatians 4:26, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 3:12; 21:2,10) We are all one so it's irrelevant if someone is a Jew or a Greek. In our case, it is irrelevant if someone is black or white, Hispanic or Asian, or male or female. It doesn't matter in Jesus. When we go to heaven we are not going to have these bodies. I don't believe we are going to have different colored skins. I don't know how God is going to do the male/female stuff in heaven, but I do know that there is no marriage in heaven. Jesus definitely says that there is no heavenly marriage in scripture. (Matt. 22:30)
But many of us do not recognize the scripture for what it is saying. We do have discrimination in our churches and it's not just because of where we live. Unless you are in a very rural area, you are going to have different groupings. They may live on different sides of town, but as Christians, we should be associating with these groupings. There shouldn't be any reason why we wouldn't, unless, as I said earlier, you were in an area that predominantly contained your particular race and status. However, for most of us, this is not the case.
For example, I know of a Hispanic church that contains a number of the people who are poor. A church in another part of town is primarily Caucasian and wealthy. Wouldn't it be amazing if these two groups related to and helped each other? What we need to do, believers, is reach out to groups who are different from us; we need to fellowship with them. We sometimes limit ourselves culturally because we are not associating with others. Each group has its own style of singing in their church services. Some churches prefer hymns while others prefer contemporary music. And of course there are various styles in between. How often do you hear hymns written in the 1800s when you walk into a black church? Oftentimes, the attendees have rhythm and movement. They have "funk", if you want to call it that. But if these same black attendees were to come to a typical white middle class service, they might hear choruses that sound like they are from the 1970s.
Relate to One Another
Church, we need to stop limiting ourselves by the individual cultures we were raised in. We need to associate with one another. We need to associate with people who are different than us. God will provide us with opportunities. He will cross our paths with theirs. We will have the possibilities to interact with others that have different lifestyles. They may be a little different from you. But get to know them and relate to them. However, the main thing that I am concerned with is not so much who we associate with, but what are we doing with the opportunities we are given? How do we respond when we are in a position to associate with people who are different from us? Are we treating them like strangers and simply being cordial or are we treating them as flesh and blood? Are we treating them like brothers and sisters in Christ?
I realize this can be uncomfortable for some, especially if one person wants to relate in a family-type manner and the other doesn't. I am a white woman, and I sometimes feel out of place when I am working with others that are different than me. There may be three of us in a room, maybe two blacks and myself, and all of us are Christians. Sometimes the blacks start relating extremely well together and I feel left out. I don't have any feelings that they are different than I am in terms of Christ. Certainly, their skin is different and they may have been raised in a different culture but I want to know them; I want to relate to them. I don't want to have this relational difference. I know that in Christ there shouldn't be this difference.
We need to be perceptive as to how we are relating to other people. Are we letting the other people feel left out or are we including them and having them be part of our conversation, part of our lives? That's what God wants for us. He wants us to be part of each of others lives and to recognize one another as Christians… as brothers and sisters. He wants us to look beyond the color of the skin, to look beyond the way we are dressed, to look beyond the living situation we may be in financially.
Wouldn't it be great if there were no separations among us? Wouldn't it be wonderful if different churches related to each other beyond their social and economic barriers? I would love to see churches in the wealthier areas share their funds with churches in the poorer areas. Maybe they could take half the income they get on a weekly basis to some church where that is their six-month income. Imagine the blessing! If we did that, if we helped one another, and these monies went into helping these other individuals, think of the change that would occur in the Church. Think of the love that the world would see. That would be something the world would recognize and say, "This is truly of God."
Expand our Horizons
We need to change our mindset of being in our own little shell, in our own little world, and in our own little class. As a result of this mindset, we are not crossing whatever social or economic barriers that exist to reach others. We need to do that. God wants us to do that. Let me ask you a few questions to see if you need to expand your personal mindset.
What kind of music do you own?
What kind of artwork do you have in your home?
What kind of books do you read?
Your answers to these questions will reveal more about you. They will tell you if you are in your own little world or not. Do you see beyond your own set culture and your own ways? Do you listen primarily to "your" type of music and read "your" type of books or have you expanded?
For example, if you are a white person, do you have any black music or artwork? If you are a black person, do you own items written or created by Hispanics? Don't misunderstand me as saying that someone is in sin because they don't own a certain style of music or have a particular taste in art or reading. But the more variety you have, the less likely you are to fall into the "favoritism" category, not to mention your expanded ability to relate to others outside your own culture and perspectives.
Leadership in Our Churches
Now, let us consider functioning or ministry in the Church. There is a wickedness that is going on that God will no longer tolerate and that God wants to see changed. This wickedness is in those of us who simply allow people of certain color, certain sex, and possibly certain socioeconomic status to be in "leadership" in the Church. God is raising up and has always recognized "different" people for leadership. He desires to use people of all colors, both sexes, and all economic and social statuses in leadership.
Ask yourself the following questions:
If your church is in a predominantly white area and a black person were to move in and start fellowshipping with you, and God has given that person a calling to teach, would you let him start teaching? Or ...
Will you automatically peg that person into a certain role because he's black?
For example, maybe he is a good musician.
Do you allow him to be a musician in your church because blacks are culturally accepted as good musicians?
But since God has called him as a teacher, will you recognize him as such? Will you let him teach?
This is touching some of you right now, and you are realizing, "Yes, I have been wrong. I need to repent of this." God will accept your repentance and He will give you another opportunity to prove that repentance by putting into leadership those of a different race from you.
Women in the Church
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)
I am going to go even a step further. There is a more prevalent discriminatory pattern in the Church that affects 50 percent of the population. It is against women. Women are only allowed to function in certain roles in most churches.
Typically, women are allowed to take care of children. They are allowed to teach children's Sunday School or children's church or do anything related to children. Women are put into these roles. Some women belong in these roles, but not all women do. Some women are put into the hostessing role or a helper role. Again, some women are called to that and some are not. Some men are called to these things but they are not operating there, for whatever reason. I would dare say that these people are in the wrong "role" primarily due to the cultural discrimination that has infected the Church.
As an example, consider the following: What if a woman, as in the black man analogy, was called to be a teacher? Would you let her teach in front of a group of adults, men and women, during, a Sunday morning church service?
Check your answer and your own heart.
If you say, "No", I will ask you "Why not?"
If you say, "Yes," I will ask you "Why?"
God wants us to know what we believe and why we believe it. And now for the truth: If your answer was "No", I will tell you that God wants you to repent of that bad attitude and discriminatory mindset. It is wicked and it is wrong. You are keeping much of the population malfunctioning or non-functioning in the ministries that God has called them to.
There are men who are doing more than they should. (And we wonder why there is so much leadership burnout?!) There are women doing nothing or working in areas that they are not called to.
Why are so many Christian wives and mothers discontent? I dare say that many of them are not fulfilling the potential and callings that God has for them. They are locked into the limited Christian service opportunities mentioned above. With the busy lives that wives and mothers lead, the last thing they need is to do "service for God" which He has not called them to. They become "burned out". Some feel guilty because they end up doing nothing. And some of them are guilty because they are not pursuing what they know God wants them to do. Others are simply ignorant. They don't know God's calling for them.
We wonder why the Church is so ineffective and immature in this country. Many men who are functioning are doing "double-duty" while many women are doing the "wrong duty".
Some of you do recognize women and allow them to function. I want to commend you on that. You need to explain to other people why you believe this way, especially since there is a lot of misunderstanding and distortion in the Church. People are not clearly understanding or interpreting Scripture on this issue of women in the Church.
Many women are called to teach but are not allowed to do so. What if a woman was called as a pastor, or as an apostle? Well, we will allow women to be missionaries [which could be the same thing as an apostle (meaning called and sent) according to the scriptures], but we would not recognize them as such. We would call her a missionary, but never an apostle.
But, what if a woman wanted to be a pastor (defined as shepherd according to the scriptures), - I am not talking about teaching a one hour sermon of some sort, but a full-fledged pastor - would you accept and recognize her as such? Would you men let her be your pastor, if God has called her as such? If you say "No", you are discriminating and showing favoritism, the same favoritism talked about in James 3. In that chapter, it is talking about elevating the rich above the poor but the same principle could be carried to this area. In this case, the favoritism would be elevating men above women.
Now, some of you are throwing around in your mind a lot of scriptures. You're saying, "Well, what about this scripture that says women cannot teach? I am just following the Bible." You may even be saying, "I have nothing personally against a woman teaching, but God says so."
I would like to cover a few of those scriptures right now. The reason I bring up this issue regarding women is because God has been and is still raising up women in all the ministries. We are the ones who are holding them back from fulfilling God's will for them and us! It is a shame that God has to use the world to bring equal rights to women, because we won't. Satan likes to get his hand in there, as well, and some things that are being promoted as part of equal rights are not God's ideas. This can be confusing to some and they throw out the good parts with the bad. But the basic concept that women should be equal to men is correct. Church, I think there would be a lot of changes going on in the world if we would get that straight.
In a later chapter, I will talk about women who are raising children on one income. It is very difficult for them because they are often discriminated against financially. Many women are not getting the same positions as men, simply because they are women. If that person were in a male body, she would receive a higher salary and maybe get certain promotions that would help her support a family.
Church we need to be an example. The sad thing is, I see more discrimination in the churches against other races and the opposite sex than I have seen in non-Christians. That is a disgrace. Let's repent and change our mindset.
Now onto the scriptures: As mentioned earlier, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28) Notice there is no male or female in Christ Jesus. When we function spiritually, there should be no discrimination based on our sex.
There are other more controversial scriptures such as I Timothy 2. This passage is often used to tell women that they are to be quiet in church and not teach. The context begins with prayers being made for everybody in authority so that we can lead quiet and peaceful lives. It then goes on to say that we are to lift holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing. Next, starting with verse 9, Paul writes,
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [braided] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (KJV)
First of all, it said the woman Eve was deceived in the transgression. Adam was not. However, it's interesting to note that he rebelled. (See Genesis 3). He knew it was sin to take the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That's a thought that is often overlooked. Oftentimes, people point to this verse and say women are easily deceived.
Just because Eve was deceived by the serpent Satan doesn't mean that all women are deceived. (By the way, don't you think Adam might have been deceived if Satan directly offered him the fruit? If the answer is no, then his is the greater sin because he willfully disobeyed!) There are more deceptions in the world caused by men than by women, for example Mormonism, Scientology, Darwinism, and Jehovah's Witness to name a few.
Verse 15 says, "Notwithstanding she [Eve or woman] shall be saved in childbearing." What does this mean in this context? Does this mean that women are "saved" by having children? If so, where is the salvation of women who don't bear children? Is this saying that women are "saved" by having children rather than the salvation of Christ? Or does this mean that (Christian) women who bear children shall not die in childbearing?
A more accurate and adequate translation is "she shall be saved by the birth of the child" which refers to women being saved by Christ just as men are saved. This is more in line with classic Pauline writing. Read about the seed of the woman in Galatians 3. But even so, what does "she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety", have to do with the context of "women are not allowed to teach?"
Some have explained how and why women can teach by using verse 12, which says, "But I [Paul] suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." They explain that a woman cannot teach over a man. That did not mean she could not teach. But rather she could not "usurp" authority over a man.
There is a passage very similar to I Timothy. It is I Peter 3:1-8. It says,
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may be without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (KJV)
In comparison, again read I Timothy 2:8-15:
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [braided] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (KJV)
Notice that these two passages are talking about the same thing but in a different order. I Peter 3 starts with how wives should be subject to their own husbands, so that if any are disobedient they can be won back to Christ by observing their wives' behavior rather than hearing their words. I Timothy 2 mentions in verses 10-12 how a godly woman has good works, is silent and does not usurp authority over the man. I Peter 3:3,4 says,
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
This correlates with I Tim. 2:9,10:
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
I Peter 3 continues to discuss a wife's adorning and compares her with Sara, a holy woman of God from the Old Testament. I Timothy 2 discusses a woman's adorning in verses 9 and 10 and then contrasts this woman to Eve, another Old Testament woman in verses 13-15. I Peter 3:5,6 compares this wife with Sara while I Timothy 2:13,14 mentions Eve. Finally, I Peter 3 discusses how husbands should live with their wives so that their prayers would not be hindered. This is how I Timothy 2 begins. Even verse 8, which is the beginning of this comparison, begins with prayer. I Peter 3:7 tells husbands how to deal with their wives "…that your prayers be not hindered." I Timothy 2:8 says, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
In view of these comparisons, is it possible that the subjects of this discussion are the same in both chapters? Although, I Timothy 2 uses the words "the man" and "the woman" and I Peter 3 uses husbands and wives, could these be referring to the same thing? The answer to both of these questions is "Yes." For the same Greek word that is used for woman in I Timothy 2 is used for wife in I Peter 3. Also, the same Greek word used for man in I Timothy 2 is used for husband in I Peter 3. This means that the context of these passages would determine whether it applied to all women or to wives! What a revelation this is! It appears that the subject for both of these passages is husbands and wives.
This clarifies a lot of false teaching regarding women teaching in the Church. To highlight this, notice again that I Peter 3:1-2 discusses how a wife should be in subjection to her husband and win over her disobedient husband without saying anything. She is to win him with her behavior (translated as conversation in the KJV). Notice this correlates with I Tim 2:11,12: "Let the woman [better translated as "wife"] learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman [wife] to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man [her husband…notice it says the man not a man], but to be in silence." When the man in I Timothy 2:11,12 is considered the husband and the woman is considered the wife, it brings new meaning to this verse and women teaching in the Church.
And if there is still a question about women teaching and/or being silent, there are other scriptures that deal with this issue. I Timothy 2:11 says, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection." I Corinthians ll-14 discusses this issue in detail. The context involves group fellowship in the Church. Paul seems to be responding to previous correspondence from the Corinthian elders. If we notice the context, Paul is reiterating the rules the elders of the church have written to him. (See I Cor. 14:26-36.) The rule about women was written by the elders, not Paul. Paul corrects them.
Chapter 14 discusses prophesying and speaking in tongues and how that is to be done in the church meetings. This chapter starts and ends with commands about desiring to prophesy. Verse 1 says, "Follow after charity [love], and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." (KJV) Verse 39 says, "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues." (NKJV)
Shortly before this verse, it says,
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. WHAT? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (I Corinthians 14:34-39 KJV)
That last statement "to covet (eagerly desire) to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues" is part of the summary of this whole section. By the way, that includes women. Women are and were allowed to do that. Chapter ll, which is in the same context of church fellowship as chapter 14, talks about women praying and prophesying. Women are supposed to prophesy.
How can women prophesy and be silent in the church? I believe the answer is found in I Corinthians 14 where it says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." (v. 34 KJV) Where does it say this in the law? It doesn't say that anywhere in the Old Testament. Try to find it. It is not there. By the way, where does Paul ever point to the law, especially the Talmud, for his support? He stated that Christians are under grace, not under the law.
Paul goes on to say, "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church. (v. 35 KJV) His next statement is key to understanding the last two verses: "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?" (v. 36 KJV) He is using that statement to challenge his previous statement. Do you know why? The Corinthian church had been teaching that women were to remain silent and Paul was trying to show them that they were in error. He was showing the Corinthians that they are not the creators of the word of God. The statements in verses 34 and 35 are not God's words to them as they think. In verse 37, Paul clarifies this by saying, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commands of the Lord." Besides, Paul would be contradicting himself by telling women to prophesy in chapter 11 and then to be silent in chapter 14.
Paul finishes up this section by saying, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order." (vs. 38-40 KJV)
It is decent and in order for women to speak in the church. It always has been. It is common sense when you think about it. I believe much of the Church has misinterpreted and misunderstood the word of God in this area because discrimination and favoritism has blinded their eyes. As a result, there has been strong discrimination against women ministering in the church. Women have not been allowed to be pastors; women have not been allowed to teach and this is not right. Not only is this inaccurate to Paul's teachings, it is sinful when it is done knowingly.
Have you had enough scriptures? There's even more. An example appears in Acts 18.
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:24-26 KJV)
Aquila was the husband and Priscilla was his wife. THEY EXPOUNDED the word of God to him. (Oops! Wasn't Priscilla to remain silent? She's not supposed to teach a man!)
If you take the mindset that women are not to teach, she violated that, because she was teaching. Some of you have stated, "Well, she was married, with her husband. It's okay, then." But I ask you, "Where does the Bible say that?"
And what about the unmarried woman? There is even more discrimination against unmarried, single women and excuses like that don't help. We need to repent of excluding women from the ministry. We need to stop believing our lies and hold fast to the truth.
Another example is in Romans 16. Junia was mentioned as being of note among the apostles. (Rom. 16:7) Junia is a female name, i.e. a woman. She is of note among the apostles. It is reasonable to state that she was an apostle (although I realize this is not the only interpretation of this verse.)
These are some of the women in ministry and leadership in the Bible. But even as it is now, it was then - discrimination against women. But Jesus did not discriminate. Paul did not discriminate. God does not discriminate. After being shown these scriptures, are you going to do so?
Our Differences
It would be an interesting survey to see how many rich churches would accept somebody as their pastor who dresses poorly due to lack of finances - whether they be male, female, black, white, Hispanic or any other race. Would you allow any person, no matter what they looked like, be your pastor?
If somebody was a pastor of your church who was different from you, would you support him (or her)? What if she was a woman? How about somebody of another race? Or somebody who was very poor? Would you allow them to function in a place of leadership?
Do we treat all the members of the body of Christ the way Christ would treat them or do we try to put some in a corner and hide them away? Somebody doesn't look so good, maybe that person is deformed or has a birth defect, do you put him or her to work in a non-visible position as a way of helping your church? If that person has a teaching gift, do you let him or her teach in front of people? Or are you ashamed of their appearance? Church, we need to repent. We need to get the mindset that God has.
Nowhere in Scripture will you find any favoritism of any sort that is acceptable to God. There is no basis for discriminating against somebody on the basis of appearance as mentioned above (or by color or sex) and not allowing them to minister in some role or another. There can be a black pastor working with a white congregation and vice versa. There can be a poor pastor working with a rich congregation and vice versa. It is not our appearances that matter but our hearts.
All the ministries are to be functioning as God has called them to function, regardless of race, economic status, or sex. Nobody is to be raised above anybody else. We need to repent of showing favoritism and discriminating, as scripture does not allow this. It says in Galatians, "For we are all one in Christ." "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ." (Gal 3:28) By the way, what color do you think a Jew was back in Jesus' day? They weren't white and they weren't clearly black. There are many brothers and sisters all around this world that are of different colors, different races, different socioeconomic status and different sexes. Will we receive somebody simply on the basis of being a Christian or will we, as His Church, continue to show favoritism, discriminate and be a poor example to the world?

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In the Ministries chapter, I will discuss the differences between apostles, missionaries, pastors, etc., what they mean and how they function based on what the Bible says about them.
Women’s earnings were 74.2% of men’s earnings according to Time Almanac 2000. Borgna Brunner, ed., Time Almanac 2000 (Boston, MA: Family Education Company, 1999), 366.
I underlined this for the purpose of emphasis.
capitalization for emphasis
Some may think that the law Paul is referring to is probably the Talmud or Mishnah. The Talmud contains additional rules and laws that the Jewish leaders promoted among the people but are not necessarily found in the Old Testament. The Talmud is not God-ordained scripture. However, according to the Eretz Hemdah Institute, there is no Jewish source that says women should be silent in the synagogue.