Two Reasons Why There’s Discrimination Among Believers 

Acts 8:14 (NIV) – When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

There was a serious discrimination and tension between Jews and Samaritans. There was palpable rivalry. Each group felt superior to the other.

After the reign of King Solomon the third king of Israel, the kingdom broke into two. Ten tribes out of twelve formed the northern kingdom with headquarters in Samaria. Two tribes formed the southern kingdom whose headquarters was Jerusalem. These headquarters were also religious centers of worship. Those in Jerusalem felt they were spiritually superior. Those in Samaria felt they were spiritually pure. The tension and rivalry was alive!

The northern kingdom was taken to Assyrian captivity. The southern kingdom was taken to Babylonian captivity. The northern kingdom almost disappeared in captivity. Samaritans are its remnants. After Babylonian captivity and as life in Israel got restored- the two communities continued their rivalry. 

When Jesus came the rivalry and discrimination was going on. When the early church began the difference between the two communities was actively on. 

John 4:7-9 (NIV) – 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

The differences were so significant that they couldn’t share even a cup of drinking water. The Samaritan woman told Jesus that she can’t give Him water because He is a Jew. That is the only reason and a big reason.

John 4:19-20 (NIV) – 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

As the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman goes on, she highlights the point of difference. She says Jews feel superior because of Jerusalem. She acknowledges that Jesus is a prophet but she wants a clarification on this thorny issue in the right place of worship.

Acts 8:4-5 (NIV) – 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.

After Pentecost when disciples received the Holy Spirit and power, they started preaching and persecution followed. Because of persecution they were scattered and Philip went Samaria. Philip a Jew went to preach in Samaria. What had changed?

Philip was only able to go to Samaria after conversion. After receding the Holy Spirit. Discrimination ended and the apostles could preach even among Samaritans. The main reason why there is discrimination is because we are not converted and we have not received the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had no problem interacting with a Samaritan and more so a woman. There was a discrimination against all women yet Jesus was speaking to a woman in public. To make it worse, a Samaritan woman!

John 4:27 (NIV) – Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

Jesus even shocked His disciples. They were surprised that He was talking to a woman! Jesus had no gender discrimination. He had the power of the Holy Spirit since baptism.

Without conversion and power of the Holy Spirit, discrimination will not end. Where there is discrimination there is no conversion and no power of the Holy Spirit. The first reason why there is discrimination among believers is that they are not truly converted and have not received the Holy Spirit!

Do you have feelings of discrimination? Do you feel the other race or tribe are inferior to yours? Do you have stereotypes against the other people group or even nationalities. It means you are not yet converted and you do not have the Holy Spirit. If you persist in these paths of discrimination, you will be doomed eternally. Get converted and receive the Holy Spirit and your discrimination against people of other race, gender, nationality, tribe, etc., will end!

Acts 8:14 (NIV) – When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

Apostles in Jerusalem couldn’t believe that discrimination had just disappeared and now the gospel was being preached in Samaria by Jews. They sent Peter and John to verify this miracle of no discrimination where there had been discrimination for hundreds of years!

Acts 8:25 (NIV) – After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Peter and John witnessed the end of discrimination. They too preached among Samaritans as they returned to Jerusalem. They had a testimony that discrimination was over.

If the agenda is the gospel, there will be no discrimination. If the agenda is salvation there will be no discrimination. If the agenda is eternal life there will be no discrimination. Second reason for discrimination is the agenda we are pursuing.

If you are focused on eternal things, there will be no discrimination. But if the agenda is just drinking water and other resources like which is the superior place of worship, then there will be discrimination. The second reason for discrimination is the agenda we are pursuing!

If you are converted and full of the Holy Spirit with an agenda of eternal life, there will be no discrimination. If your agenda is sharing power and resources, you will discriminate against others so that you get the lion’s share. Those who discriminate against others are not converted, do not have the Holy Spirit, they do not pursue a divine agenda, and unless they change from these ways they will be in church but eventually they will get lost eternally!

Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV) – 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In Christ there is no discrimination. We don’t even notice anyone’s gender. We don’t even know each other’s ethnicity or race. We are all brothers and sisters in faith! In Jesus’s name, Amen!

Someone you know will only know about this article if you share with them. Someone you know needs this article. Share this with one more person. Don’t copy the text. Copy THE LINK or send the website address which is reikesis.com so that they too read the word of God FROM THE WEBSITE and access more. YOU CAN COMMENT on this article at the bottom of the article. Also remember this author has a YouTube channel @ReiKesis which has hundreds of videos for you! Thanks for your loyal support of this ministry!