By Nab B.
July 27, 2021
(updated OCT 4, 2025)
Anyone, group, or church promoting division and distinction among believers, however little, is diametrically opposed to the "Spirit of Christ," which works to unite all into "one" with him and his Father, "That they all may be one." (John 17:21)
One ungodly bias that persists, especially among Evangelical Christians, is the belief that there is a separation, a distinction between Jews and non Jews, teaching that Jews, then and now, somehow have a special status, covenantally and doctrinally, from other non-Jewish Christians! To validate their claim, certain Old Testament passages are misinterpreted and misapplied to modern-day Israel.
"The spirit" of this teaching is "deceiving." Jesus would have denounced it at once, as you will see why. Any distinction taught and promoted couldn't be of God!
If Jesus and his apostles never approved of any distinction, who then was responsible for pushing this teaching? The New Testament tells us it was Jewish Judaizers who wanted to divide the early Church. The book of Acts and Apostolic writings show that divisions among early Christians were mainly caused by Judaizers.
Today, many churches teach the doctrine of "Dispensationalism," claiming arrogantly that God has two distinct people: national Israel, and the Christian church! The doctrine is taught to pastors in seminaries. Also, special study Bibles were produced with comprehensive commentaries and references to promote today's Israel as the fulfillment of OT prophecies, giving it a special status!
"Dispensationalism" has a powerful "deluding" influence; not only does it cause distinction and favouritism, but it can also lead to pain and suffering for others.
When churches and their pastors teach a separation and a distinction between Jews and Christians (or any others), I wonder if they haven't heard Jesus saying he would gather all Jews and Gentiles into "One Fold," "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16)
There's only one meaning to the verse above:
"Other sheep" ┄┄ Gentiles
"This fold" ┄┄┄ Israel
"One fold" ┄┄┄ Jews & Gentiles
"One Shepherd." ┄Jesus Christ
Race, ethnicity, bloodline, status, or gender are irrelevant among followers of Jesus Christ, for they are all "ONE" in the Father and the Son, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor 12:13)
Paul's discourse in Ephesians 2:11-22 destroys any distinction in the "Body of Christ"! It may require careful reading:
“Remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
(Eph 2:11-22)
And in case the above isn't enough, here are plenty more Bible passages,
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28)
"Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." (Rom 3:29)
"Then Peter . . . said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality." (Acts 10:34) NKJV
What do we do with church teachings? "We test them!" Churches and pastors aren't immune to "deception." Every doctrine has a "spirit" behind it which ought to be discerned. Is it from God, deceiving spirits, or from men? We test everything by the "spirit of God," by the scriptures, and reason to avoid falsehood.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
(1 John 4:1 BLB)