Did God really say we are to discriminate?

Yes … yes He did.

This is what God says, “Anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemies the Lord. That person must be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off. His guilt remains on him.” Numbers 15:30-31

Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he still refuses to listen, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:17

The Apostle Paul said, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you approve! When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Paul also warned, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

There are any number of other verses that command us to avoid discriminating against someone based on his or her ethnicity, gender, or social status. Here are two examples.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

“For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4

But when it comes to sinful behavior, God, Christ, and the Apostle Paul are in agreement: If you, in private and with love, show them how their behavior is at odds with God’s word and they repent of their sin, you have acted as a true disciple of Christ. If, however, they continue to flaunt their sinful behavior, have nothing to do with them.

This goes for any community that tolerates sin and calls it love. “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Love your neighbor as yourself; refuse to tolerate sin. This sums up the life and teachings of Christ on discrimination.