No Partiality in Christianity

Racism is to believe and act on negative stereotypes about ethnic groups. Favoritism is to believe and act on positive stereotypes about groups of people rather than interacting with each person as an individual. We have looked at how the Bible explicitly condemns racism/ethnic bias. The Bible teaches that we are one “blood” – we are all descendants of Adam and Eve (Acts 17:26).

It is equally explicit that God does not show favoritism to any group of people. Moses warned the Israelites not to think too highly of themselves. While they played a special role in God’s plan to save all people, He would judge all people by the same standard, “)For Yehovah your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality,” (Deuteronomy 10:17).

We see this warning against partiality/favoritism throughout the scriptures. The laws in the Old Testament were to be equally applied to Jews and gentiles that became followers of Yehovah (Exodus 12:49). The commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” is applied to Jews (Leviticus 19:18) and gentile believers (Leviticus 19:34). Civil law was likewise to apply, regardless of social status. Partiality was not to be shown to the rich (Leviticus 19:13) or the poor (Exodus 23: 3, 6). Justice was not to be perverted in dealing with the aliens and politically powerless (Deuteronomy 24:7).

One way that God demonstrates the equality of our standing before Him is in the price paid for our atonement. Under the law, all people paid the same atonement price (Exodus 30:15). In the New Testament Peter taught that, Jesus had paid the same infinite price for atonement of each person. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood…of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3, 18-19)

Paul repeatedly taught believers “there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:10; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:7-9 and Colossians 3:25).

Before Peter was willing to share the Gospel with gentiles, God had to remind him “God is not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:34-35). Peter teaches this truth in 1 Peter 1:17, “you address as Father the One who impartially judges.”

James warned believers “do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1). He then gives an example of favoritism based on wealth and social status (James 2:2-7). He ends with a stern warning, “if you show partiality, you are committing sin” (James 2:8-9).

At the last supper Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus raises the standard from loving others as we love our selves, to loving others as He loves them! That means loving without partiality.