What Would Happen If We Embraced ZERO Discrimination? …Hello weekend readers. If you go online and download a calendar for the year that has all the celebrations it’s kind of fun. We have national hot dog days, watermelon, beer-just fun stuff, but then we have others: 4th of July, Veterans Day, D-Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, Valentines Day etc. Yes, there are a lot of celebrations and many of them have deep connections to our soul. Thus my musings on discrimination, here we go…

On March 1, 2015, the United Nations was given the go ahead for this day to be called ZERO Discrimination Day throughout the world. The well-coordinated-funded global pushback against: women’s rights-human rights of LGBTQ-sexual/reproductive health rights-against democracy and civic space is not only a threat to everyone’s freedom; it’s a threat to our health and a threat to our planet. Upholding everyone’s rights is the responsibility of us all.

What does God think about discrimination? It’s an abomination to God! In Genesis 1:26-27 [Message] God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth. God created human beings; he created them godlike–reflecting God’s nature.”

When I read this scripture it reminded me how precious we are to God, no matter our color, religion, sex, poor, rich…God created us and he wants us to reflect God’s nature in us. How are we doing with that? In this polarized political debacle right now, if you aren’t white and you are poor you will be discriminated…if you are a woman who cannot birth a child you will be discriminated…if you are gay or transgender you will be discriminated…and that’s just a tad of what else is out there for us to trash someone.

I shudder when churches who should be sharing the love of God gloss over the problem of discrimination. In 2019, Pew Research discrimination statistics from Christian churches of all denominations were: 57% said people overlooking racial discrimination isn’t a problem; 42% said it was. The gap has changed to: 78% who say discrimination isn’t a problem and 22% said it is. Since when does a Christian church think discrimination and injustice is OK? Can you hear God crying?

What can we do on this ZERO discrimination day? Jesus has some ideas! Let’s model his attitude of humility in Matthew 20:28; or washed the feet of traitor Judas- John 13:27. While in Gentile regions and Samaria he ministered –Mark 7:2, 31; John 4:4. Rather than incite discrimination between “us and them,” Jesus’ came to earth to break down the barriers that separated people! Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.”

God has made all who trust in Jesus Christ to be one. There should be no discrimination within the Body of Christ because there is no discrimination with God! You may not have known that March 1 celebrates ‘ZERO Discrimination Day’ but now you do. So, let’s celebrate the inclusion of all people because all these people were created by God and God has a mandate for us in Ephesians 2:15 [Voice]: “Jesus is the embodiment of our peace, sent once and for all to take down the great barrier of hatred and hostility that has divided us so that we can become one.” Just imagine how this would change our world and our own lives?!

What’s your choice—barriers or hugs? Choose wisely. AMEN.