Luke 13:15-16 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Jesus throughout His ministry journey broke cultural differences, caste discrimination and class disparities. He established our intrinsic value by reiterating the image of God that is concealed in us. Social status is determined by the class, caste, creed and customs. Networth determines the class, the nationality and pedigree decides the caste; the cultural practices instils the customs of each country and community. Jesus picked the socially low caste and outcaste to heal and restore. He also broke the customary practices of legalism and established love. There was a woman crippled and bent over for 18 years in the synagogue and Jesus healed her on Sabbath. The Jewish leaders were indignant as Jesus broke the Mosaic law by ‘working’ on Sabbath. However, Jesus pointed out their culture was cutthroat legalism and not the law that Moses established. Jesus came to establish the “Kingdom of Heaven” on earth. There are no differences based on the colour of our skin, race or creed, wealth, status or gender in heaven.
If we start looking at each other as sons and daughters of the most high God, we will not mistreat each other based on money, ethnicity or culture.
The image of God establishes the principle of our intrinsic value as sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
1. Class: Discrimination based on the wealth, riches and affluence is condemned as evil motives. James 2:3-4 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”–well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?. The worth and value of the soul of a popper on the streets is the same as the prince in a palace. The poor, under privileged and penny less are also created in the image of God.
2. Creed: Bigotry based on caste and creed is detestable to the Lord. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Our judgements of people based on their nationality and chauvinism based on caste is despicable before the Lord. Suppression, oppression or deprivation that is vouched by cultural practices is sinful. The practice of dowry, differential seating arrangements for social groups, privileges based on influence or affluence are ugly, obnoxious and loathsome before the Lord as we are all created in the image of God.
3. Custom: Customary practices are ‘unwritten social laws’ of a community but when they become cruel, cutthroat and crude they become violation of Biblical truths. Proverbs 17:5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. Mocking, mistreating and manipulating the poor, vulnerable and defenceless is a mockery against God as they are created in the image of God.
Dr. Myles Munroe was called a “retarded black monkey” by a teacher from UK. It was Dr. Munroe’s mother who reversed the wrong image impressed on him based on Ephesians 3:20 and reiterated that he was created in the image of the Almighty God. Dr. Munroe obtained three Bachelor Degrees, a Master’s Degree and 5 Doctorates and was an ordained minister, affluent businessman, an author, speaker and leadership consultant and advisor to national leaders.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I am not who the society has branded me. Holy spirit please ingrain the truth of the good news that I am the child of the most High God. Amen
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