The Invisible Wound: The Dangers of Discrimination & Prejudice in the Church

God hates prejudice and discrimination. It is a corrosive acid on the very foundation of society, transforming a potentially vibrant, unified whole into a fractured landscape defined by injustice and mistrust. It is an awful practice that systematically denies individuals their inherent dignity, stifling human potential by valuing characteristics like skin color or origin over talent and character. This leads to profound societal damage: economic progress stalls as innovation is excluded, institutions lose legitimacy in the eyes of the oppressed, and the collective psychological burden of chronic stress and inequity poisons public health.

A prejudiced society isn't just unfair; it is inherently self-destructive, choosing to operate at a fraction of its capacity by building walls where bridges are needed. While we often focus on the moral imperative of equality, it is crucial to understand the very real, measurable, and destructive consequences that result from prejudice and bias in action. It is especially dreadful because it is the antithesis of New Testament Christianity.

The Great Commission is the final, essential command given by the resurrected Jesus Christ to His disciples, (Matthew 28:18–20 and Mark 16:15-16). The command is a universal and perpetual mandate for His followers to actively "go and make disciples of all nations." This command transforms the Christian faith from a localized belief into a global, missional movement focused on education, spiritual formation, and the expansion of Christ's teaching to every corner of the world. In order to accomplish this task we cannot embrace any form of prejudice or discrimination. God does not prefer one group of people over another due to their wealth, social standing, or background (Acts 10:34).

What Are The Invisible Wounds?

At its core, discrimination is the unjust treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, religion, disability, or nationality. It manifests in countless ways, from overt hate crimes to subtle, systemic biases embedded in our institutions.

Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude toward an individual based solely on that individual's membership in a social group. It is essentially a pre-judgment—an opinion, feeling, or assumption about a person or group that is formed without sufficient knowledge, thought, or reason. While prejudice exists on an internal, cognitive level, often taking the form of negative stereotypes or preconceived notions, it serves as the underlying emotional foundation for discrimination (the unjust action) and stereotyping (the overly generalized belief).

Prejudice is maintained through confirmation bias, where people selectively seek out and remember information that supports their existing negative feelings toward a target group, making it highly resistant to change. This treatment causes countless invisible wounds particularly because an individual does not have control over their own race, age, sex, religion, disability, or nationality at birth. It’s unfair and unjustified.

The Devastating Toll of Hate

The most immediate danger of discrimination and prejudice is the harm it inflicts on the targeted individual. This is not just a matter of hurt feelings; the impact is deep, measurable, and often life-altering. It crosses a line that can bring harmful consequences to society as a whole.

Studies consistently link experiences of discrimination and prejudice to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The constant vigilance, fear of rejection, and internalization of negative stereotypes create a state of chronic stress.

The chronic stress resulting from discrimination and prejudice—often referred to as "minority stress"—can lead to serious physical health issues. Elevated levels of stress hormones like cortisol contribute to an increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. We must remember that we’re all the children of Adam & Eve in the Garden. We are family.

Discrimination and prejudice in hiring, promotion, and wage setting creates significant economic disparities. This leads to persistent poverty, limits generational wealth building, and restricts access to crucial resources like quality housing and education. The Bible speaks directly against this kind of bias, particularly against the poor

James 2:1-4 warns, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism... If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not shown favoritism among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

When students face bias, discrimination and prejudice, whether from peers or teachers, their academic performance suffers. They may drop out, feel disconnected, and ultimately be prevented from achieving their full intellectual potential. Image the repercussions if this were to happen in a church family. God loves a blended family! We all belong in the Lord’s church!

The Cost to the Church, Society & Economy

Discrimination and prejudice are not just viewed a personal problem; it actively harms the collective fabric of society. When people are judged by who they are rather than what they can do, society loses out on their talents, ideas, and contributions.

Imagine the groundbreaking discoveries, innovations, and works of art that are never realized because brilliant minds are shut out of universities, boardrooms, and laboratories due to systemic bias. Diversity drives innovation, and discrimination acts as a powerful brake on progress. This principle is rooted in the belief that all humanity reflects the Divine, as stated in Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

Discrimination, particularly when practiced by institutions like law enforcement or the justice system, breeds deep mistrust. When one group feels perpetually targeted or unfairly treated, the foundational trust necessary for a functional society dissolves. This loss of trust can lead to increased conflict, social unrest, decreased cooperation with those of opposing views, lack of trust with authorities and often the formation of isolated, insular communities.

The ultimate call is to love all people, reflecting the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." How can someone claim to love God and hate their neighbor? This is what John wrestles with in the letter of I John.

Dismantling the Structures of Bias

Recognizing the dangers of discrimination and prejudice is the first step; the next is action. We must move beyond simply condemning overt acts and actively work to dismantle the structures that perpetuate bias.  We must foster genuine understanding and appreciation for diverse experiences, starting in schools and continuing in workplaces.

We should support legislation that guarantees equal pay, protects voting rights, and promotes equity in housing and criminal justice. In a similar way we must hold corporations, government agencies, and educational bodies accountable for implementing healthy practices. The church falls under a greater scrutiny in that our authority is God and His holy word. We must have accountability.

Micah 6:8 offers an ethical demand: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." We’ve got to learn to recognize and respectfully challenge subtle, everyday acts of bias that cumulatively cause significant harm.

The danger of discrimination and prejudice is that it makes our world smaller, sicker, and poorer. A truly just society is one where every person is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the invisible wound of prejudice is finally healed.

I Corinthians 12:27 says, "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it," and Romans 12:5, which says, "so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another". Additionally, verses like I Corinthians 12:12-27and Ephesians 4:16 further elaborate on this metaphor, explaining that while the body has many parts, all parts are members of one body in Christ. Every person is a valued member of the Body of Christ.

Concluding Thoughts

Some might ask, “Why are you so passionate about this subject?” It’s not because my parents raised me right.  It’s not because my grandparents spoke Navajo and raised my mom on a reservation. It’s not because I have Native American blood in my veins. It’s not because I have family members that are minorities. It’s not because I’ve visited foreign countries and served in worldwide missions. It’s not because the Iglesia de Cristo is close to my heart and I’ve tried to learn Spanish to communicate with my brethren.

I’m passionate about this issue because my Savior was passionate about this issue. It must be a priority of the church of Christ today. Let me be unequivocally clear: for those who claim the name of Christ, prejudice and discrimination are not merely social failings—they are a profound betrayal of the Gospel itself. There is no theological loophole, no cultural exception, and no historical excuse that justifies the practice of judging, marginalizing, or hating another human being.

The core commandment is not a suggestion; it is a divine mandate: to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. How dare we stand in our places of worship, professing belief in a Savior who demolished the walls of enmity and embraced the outcast, yet allow the rot of racism, sexism, or bias to fester in our hearts, our churches, or our communities?

This is not passive work. We are not called to politely tolerate; we are commanded to actively love. Christians must stop merely disagreeing with discrimination and start stamping it out with the unwavering force of biblical conviction. We must repent for our complicity, silence, and ignorance.

To allow prejudice to stand is to declare that the revolutionary power of Christ's love is insufficient to transform our hearts. This is a lie. The mission of the Church is not complete until every single person is treated with the inherent dignity and profound respect gifted to them by their Creator.

Let the world see in us not judgment, but the radical, earth-shaking, and unifying love that alone is worthy of the name Christian. The time for polite discussion is over. The time for righteous action is now. What would Jesus do?

You are loved.

Ray Reynolds, PhD

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