Is Discrimination Good or Bad?
Richard Hollerman
Suppose that someone were to ask you, “Is discrimination good or bad?” Just what would you say? Would you say it is good—or would you say it is bad?
We need to define terms before we are prepared to answer such an interesting question. Discrimination means “the act of discriminating.” It also means, “the ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment.” Further, it means “treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice” (The American Heritage College Dictionary).
As we can see, the term does have a range of meaning, some good and some bad. Some of this depends on whether we are true Christians and thereby “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16b). Consider the first definition. We all need to be discriminating in life. This is wise and is to be pursued.
Secondly, we all need to make distinctions in life and have true and wise discernment. In this sense, we must definitely practice discrimination. We are aware of the fact that “discernment” is something that we greatly need.
Thirdly, do we offer treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit? Do we practice partiality? As we can see, this is a principle that very much demonstrates modern views and lifestyle. It can be good or bad, depending on what we mean by it.
By this we mean that people might say that one is discriminating if he says that a Hindu or Buddhist must not be a Christian elder or overseer (Acts 14:24; 1 Timothy 3:1-7). As we can see, this question and issue makes no sense. We would all agree that a member of these religions cannot be an overseer in the body of Christ. This position is open only to a follower of Jesus—a mature male in the body. No one else is qualified.
If we follow this line of reasoning further, is it not right to be “discriminating” under this situation and numerous other situations in life? But here is where the unbeliever raises an objection: “We must not be discriminating! Discrimination is wrong! We must treat every person the same!” But is this right? Is it sane? Is it even rational? Of course, it is not. We definitely must be discriminating under certain circumstances—and those circumstances are defined by God in His Word.
Consider these clear examples:
Is it discriminating for a husband to be the “head” of his wife? We know what God has already said about this: “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:3). This is God’s view. A person may object to it, but in reality, we know that this is true. If God made us, He should know what He wants in regard to headship. The man (the husband) is the “head” over the woman, his wife. Some may try to deny this truth by saying that one is being “discriminatory” to say that the husband is the head over his wife, but it is there in a clear and unmistakable manner. To deny it is to put oneself over God and reject the Word of God.
But this is only one among dozens or even hundreds of other examples that could be offered. Is it discriminatory for a couple to take their children out of the public schools and begin to teach their sons and daughters at home? Yes and no? The couple is practicing godly discrimination to affirm that the public secular schools are worldly and are based on a wrong, humanistic, and evil philosophy. Thus it is a “good” discrimination. It must be done by wise and Biblical parents.
In light of this, please answer these questions:
- Is it discriminatory for a woman to reject a male suitor and say that she does not believe that God would want her to be the wife of a particular man?
- Is it discriminatory for a man to say that he will not work for a certain company that promotes abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia?
- Is it discriminatory for one to say that God is not pleased for one to be and practice homosexuality, bisexuality, pedophilia, polygamy, polyandry, or other sexual aberrations?
- Is it discriminatory for the Christian to say that he will not promote or participate in drug-taking and drug-selling?
- Is it discriminatory for a couple to say that they refuse to condone living in huge and luxurious homes?
- Is it discriminatory for a man to say that he cannot work on or sell luxury cars and trucks?
- Is it discriminatory for one to say that a particular school promotes the sin and lie of evolution, the sin of immorality, or the sin of materialism?
- Is it discriminatory for one to say that she cannot read a certain book because it is filled with immoral relationships and behavior?
- Is it discriminatory for parents to forbid their children from playing with certain worldly and disobedient children in the neighborhood?
- Is it discriminatory for homeowners to refuse to invite a certain family in to eat (if that family were to exert a negative influence on their children)?
- Is it discriminatory for one to say that a male should have short hair and a woman should have long hair?
- Is it discriminatory for one to refuse to even think of a woman as a spouse if she is a confirmed feminist? Or one to refuse to even think of a man as a spouse if he is lazy, dishonest, and refuses to lead?
- Is it discriminatory for the owner of a business to refuse to allow a woman to apply for a certain job if it would keep her from her God-given role as a wife or if it would require that she exercise authority over a man?
- Is it discriminatory for a Christian business-owner to refuse to promote bisexuality, adultery, fornication, or other sexual sins?
Obviously, such a list to go on but we can see that discrimination is not only good but also necessary in certain circumstances. Many (but not all) would understand this if they were honest. We know that secularists, feminists, humanists, and unbelievers in general may object to certain of these examples, but we can see that the principle of discrimination must be in place to act and live rationally.
Discrimination is a Loaded Term in our Day
Because we are living in a humanistic and secularist culture, we know that most people are filled with wrong and sinful philosophies and they won’t be able to understand the principle that we are seeking to convey. In our age, the term “discrimination” has come to be looked on as a very desirable trait. Some might say, “Bill is one who rejects all forms of discrimination!” Or one may say, “Mary will not allow discrimination to be part of her company.” In this way, such people not only are practicing a good, worthy, and honorable discrimination or judgment, but they are saying that they reject a discrimination that God Himself condones and promotes.
In other words, they not only discriminate between colors and sizes but also people and relationships and actions. If you were to walk into a house and a room where the wall has been painted black with yellow polka dots, would you be prejudicial to say that this was a strange and unsightly color for a wall? If it were orange color with red stripes, would it be wrong to tell the owner that this is an ugly wall? We definitely need to be discriminating under certain circumstances.
If (according to the news) one were a baker, what would you think if the owner refused to bake a cake for two homosexuals or two people who are entering an adulterous union? Would this be a good option—or would the owner be considered discriminating? Would he or she be rightly charged with discrimination to refuse such an assignment? (We will not raise the question here whether a Christian has any right to bake unhealthy “junk food” as part of his or her occupation.) Many people in our world would say that the owner is promoting discrimination if he refuses to bake a cake that would endorse or encourage sin of any kind. What is the owner to do? Millions of people condemned the owner when he refused to provide a cake for the “wedding” of two sodomites. What would you do?
We leave this question with you: Do you believe in discrimination? Do you discriminate in your life or on the job? If you do practice discrimination, is it the “good” kind or the “bad” kind? If you are committed to Jesus Christ, will you make sure that the discrimination that you have promotes the will of God rather than fleshly decisions?