To discriminate is to observe things, distinguish between them by observing their differences and deciding that some are better than others.
Discrimination has come to be seen as a negative word, but not by fathers who discriminate against young men who appear to have wrong designs on their teenage daughters. We discriminate when we choose certain restaurants, vehicles and foods over others. I confess to discriminating between types of coffee (I prefer espresso) and between coffee shops. (I prefer those with booths to those located in open malls.) I admit to discriminating against churches that are oppressive. I favour those that promote and practice liberty.
Sixty-four years ago I chose to follow Jesus Christ, after seeing him as the only way to God. Was my choice discriminatory? Yes. The first church Lorraine and I visited was in the hall of a pigeon club in Melbourne. As we were about to enter, I man greeted us with the question: “Do you speak in tongues?” We flew down the stairs and away from there! (We then went to a Pentecostal church in the city that greeted us more sensibly, and after we were filled with the Holy Spirit spoke languages we had not learned.)
Our church preaches and teaches original, genuine, unadulterated, biblical Christianity. A church in which all — regardless of race, colour and culture — are one in Jesus Christ. Not that there’s anything wrong with these three things, just that inside a genuine church all have the same identity because everyone is a “new creation” in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Note: I’ve nothing against pigeons, it’s just that since the Spirit of God came into my life, I much prefer the Dove.