Understanding Harmful Discrimination in the Church and Religious Organizations From a Biblical Perspective
Understanding Harmful Discrimination in the Church and Religious Organizations From a Biblical Perspective
Judy Williams | 2020
Abstract
The purpose of the seminar/workshop was to intentionally give participants an understanding of what harmful discrimination is in the church, and organizations look like from a biblical perspective in the 21st century. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated that “Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.” Therefore, the presenter of this seminar/workshop accomplished an informal qualitative experiment. The answer to the statement is correct. Once a Christian grows to a mature Christian achieving, God’s will in Jesus’ name. With facilitation from the Holy Spirit, there should be no such thing as harmful discrimination occurring in any church or organization. However, that is not the case. Leadership is responsible for teaching the congregation the way of the Bible. By doing an informal study by observation and voluntary working in one of the churches, it is apparent that individuals are either ignorant or intentionally trying to keep the member’s status quo with them versus us mentality. Individuals attending this awareness seminar/workshop may want to make a change in spiritual and personal life activities. Included are in-depth definitions. Along with illustrated examples of the distinct levels of discrimination from seminal authors such as the renowned professor Allport. It may be possible that by the end of this seminar/workshop, individuals and leaders will have a more detailed understanding of what harmful discrimination is and ways to alleviate it. The tools that will facilitate and alleviate harmful discrimination are the Holy Spirit, personal development and several other tools such as servant leadership. Also, to self-reflect to change the current behavior if the behavior is not in-line with that of the Lord and Savior’s purpose or will. It is recommended that leadership seek help with personnel development by seeking a coach or mentors. Here is an essential note in Scripture, Ephesians 4:17-18 New Testament Amplified [17] so then I say and solemnly testified in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence] that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility) of their minds. [18] their moral understanding is darkened, and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it: this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. Therefore it is imperative to engage in this seminar/workshop with an open mind.