The Light of God

The sermon highlights the importance of treating each other with respect and dignity as preached by the Bible and the great evil of discrimination which is prevalent in our society.

Running head: THE LIGHT OF GOD
The Light of God
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Sermon Manuscript
John in Chapter 9 verse 5 of the Bible said “As long as I am in the world, I am the
light of the world”. This actually is an indicative of the fact that all the human beings are
created in the light of the Almighty and thereby equal to Him. However, as I look around
myself I find that the evils of discrimination or inequality are still predominant in our society
and community which is completely opposite to the idea that had been preached by John and
others in the Bible. It is precisely this issue that I would like to discuss in this sermon and
show the great evil that we are committing by resorting to such kinds of actions.
The Bible, which I have stressed over the years is the word of God and should be
followed in a sacrosanct manner states all individuals are equal and equally loved by Him.
More importantly, He created each one of you in His own image so that there is no difference
between you or any other person in this world. Furthermore, He had always insisted you all
should love as well as respect each other and this becomes apparent from the line of “Love
thy neighbour”. However, I am sad to say that when I walk through this precinct or talk with
the people of my community I feel that ‘children of God’ are not following the teachings of
the Bible or the words of the Almighty in an ardent manner. Furthermore, His words are not
only being disregarded but at the same actions are committed to nullify it as well. The
discrimination which is prevalent in our community and precinct is nothing short of this.
I personally believe that discrimination is one of the major problems that our
community is facing currently which is not only derogatory because of its unethicality but
also because of the fact it is against the words of the Almighty as well. As the children of
God, our primary responsibility is to welcome His word and also to respect it and as long as
we are capable of doing each one of us in equal. However, the discrimination which exists in
our community on the basis of the wealth, culture, social background, sexuality and other

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aspects of the lives of the people is completely derogatory. I mean to say that when God
Himself created each of us in His own image as equals then who are we to discriminate
against each other thinking that some of our brothers are below or inferior us just because
they seem to lack some of the material possessions that we have? I mean look at the verse of
John who clearly said each one of us is the light of the world and have an equal responsibility
towards the propagation of the word of God and also to spread His teachings and wisdoms.
However, by discriminating our brothers we commit a great sin and thereby are siding with
the Devil himself. As you know the Devil tries to lure us in doing things which our hearts
does not want to do but we should have the necessary control ourselves to resist such
temptations and refrain from indulging in such unethical and unjustified actions against our
brothers.
The process of discrimination which forms an integral part of our community is not
only derogatory but at the same time affects our brothers physically as well as emotionally. In
this regard, I would like to say that because of the discrimination which exists within the
framework of our community the individuals are not being able to fulfil their basic
psychosocial needs. More importantly, this at the same time significantly limits the number
of opportunities which are available to the individuals who are the victims of discrimination
and stigmatisation. This in turn significantly reduces the quality of life of these individuals
and at the same time hinders the maximisation of the full potential of their lives. Furthermore,
by resorting to action of discrimination as well as stigmatisation we are not only disregarding
the word of God but at the same time committing a great crime against our fellow brothers as
well. I mean to say that if God Himself had created each one of us as equals then who are we
then to segregate or discriminate them on the basis of their skin colour, wealth, social or
cultural backgrounds and others attributes?

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I would like to say that by discriminating our brothers on the basis of their different
attributes like wealth, social or cultural backgrounds and others we are not only committing a
sin against them but at the same time against ourselves as well. This is important because of
the fact that by indulging in such kinds of actions we are reducing the power of our light and
also our ability or the capability of doing well or good for our brothers which as a matter of
fact should be the ultimate goal or objective of our life. For example, when you are
discriminating your brothers just because you have access to more material things than your
brothers you are not hindering your own ability of receiving the word of God but at the same
time disrespecting His word as well. In this regard, I would like to say that Jesus Himself
treated all of His disciples or followers as equals and never discriminated any of His
followers or disciples just because they possessed less material things or were from cultural
or social backgrounds which were deemed to be lower. More importantly, he mingled with all
sets of people be it the farmers, peasants, shepherds, prostitutes, knights and others and
always treated them with the kind of love and dignity that befits the human beings and the
children of God.
I would to ask you guys what you want to do: take pleasure in the discrimination
which you are inflicting on your fellow brothers or follow the words of God and treat them
with dignity and respect that they deserve by virtue of being the children of God? I am not
going to tell you exactly what you are going to do or influence you in choosing any particular
action but the thing that I would urge you people to do is to take a moment and truthfully
answer to yourself whether the act of discrimination that you are committing is fair and going
to help you in any way possible to be nearer to God? As you know that our time on this earth
is limited and after death we have to face the Judgement day and answer for the things that
have done in you brief existence on the earth. So tell me honestly would be able to justify the
act of discrimination that you people are committing against your fellow brothers at that point

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of time? I know that there is a great temptation to do or perform evil deeds and as you the
devil works in mysterious ways but as know we all the light of God and as long as we are on
this earth we are responsible for spreading it so as to make our lives better and also of our
brothers.
I hope that you people understand the fact that by discriminating others or by deeming
them you would not be able to make your own life any better. I know that there is a desire
within each one of us to be better than our fellow brothers not only in terms of the love or the
family that we have but also in terms of the material possessions that we have. More
importantly, it is seen that many times in order to prove to ourselves that our lives are much
better than the ones led by our brothers we resort to the action of deeming or discriminating
them just to boost our egos. However, by resorting to the usage of such actions we are doing
more evil than good not just to our fellow brothers but also to ourselves as well. Furthermore,
by resorting to the usage of such kinds of actions we are not only hindering our own ability to
receive the light and the word of God but at the same time hindering our own ability to come
closer to God. It is on the basis of these facts that I would urge each one of you to take a
minute and rethink whether by discriminating your fellow brothers you are actually following
the dictum of John in the above give verse. Thus, I would request you all to not only give up
this derogatory action but at the same time urge you all practice such actions which will not
only foster fraternity and harmony but at the same time contribute towards the improvement
of the condition of the life of your fellow brothers. This in turn will not only help you all to
come closer to God but at the same time to realise the true meaning of the verse of John as
well.

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Rationale for the Sermon
The above given sermon is important not only because of the fact that it sheds light on
the verse of John which is perhaps one of the most important ones of the Bible but at the
same time because of the fact that it seeks to address the evil of discrimination. Dessel et al.1
are of the viewpoint that the evil of discrimination is perhaps one of the most important
wicked problems that the world is presently facing because of the damage that it is causing to
the society as well as the human beings. For example, it is commonly seen that the process of
discrimination not only affects the victims physically but emotionally as well and as a matter
of fact in some of the serious cases scars them for their entire life2. As a matter of fact, it is
seen that almost six in ten individuals on a global basis had to face one form of
discrimination or the other during the entire course of their life3.
As opined by Shah4, unlike the earlier times when the individuals had to face
discrimination on the basis of their skin-colour the people in the contemporary times had to
face discrimination on the score of their social or cultural background, sexual orientation,
education, economic condition and other aspects of their lives. More importantly, it is seen
that the evil of discrimination is not only in complete disregard of the various legalisations
given by the national governments of the world but at the same time in utter disregard of the
human rights of the individuals as well5. Furthermore, it is seen that the processes of
1 Dessel, Adrienne B., Jeanna Jacobsen, Denise L. Levy, David McCarty-Caplan, Terrence O. Lewis, and Laura
E. Kaplan. "LGBTQ Topics and Christianity in Social Work: Tackling the Tough Questions." Social Work &
Christianity 44 (2017).
2 Keane, David. Caste-based discrimination in international human rights law. Routledge, 2016.
3 Newman, Peter A., Sophia Fantus, Michael R. Woodford, and Marie-Jolie Rwigema. "“Pray That God Will
Change You”: The Religious Social Ecology of Bias-Based Bullying Targeting Sexual and Gender Minority
Youth—A Qualitative Study of Service Providers and Educators." Journal of Adolescent Research 33, no. 5
(2018): 523-548.
4 Shah, Sarah. "Does Religion Buffer the Effects of Discrimination on Distress for Religious Minorities? The
Case of Arab Americans." Society and Mental Health (2018): 2156869318799145.
5 Auestad, Lene. Respect, plurality, and prejudice: A psychoanalytical and philosophical enquiry into the
dynamics of social exclusion and discrimination. Routledge, 2018.

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discrimination and stigmatisation had wide-ranging effect on the lives of the victims starting
from their mental health to their physical abilities and also their confidence level as well. For
example, in the majority of the cases it is seen that the victims of discrimination start to lose
faith in themselves and their confidence level is being affected in a significant manner6.
Coxon7 has articulated the viewpoint that one of the most important responsibilities of
the pastoral priests is to address the different issues that the members of their community is
currently facing as well as to bring them to the path of God. More importantly, it is seen that
the preachers are also required to introduce the different members of their community to the
word of God and also the Bible and through this not only improve the quality of their lives
but at the same time the different problems faced by them8. This is important because of the
fact that the contemporary people in their bid to earn greater material things are increasingly
deviating away from religion and the teachings of God. Thus, the preachers are not only
required to bring these people once again within the fold of religion but at the same time
make them realise the great sins that they are committing by deviating away from the path of
God.
The Bible and the teachings of the various saints, priests and others indicate that two
of the most important purposes of the human beings is to receive the word of God and also to
respect it9. More importantly, the Bible clearly states that the human beings are created by
God in His own image and there is no difference between them. The net result of this is that
6 Shah, Sarah. "Does Religion Buffer the Effects of Discrimination on Distress for Religious Minorities? The
Case of Arab Americans." Society and Mental Health (2018): 2156869318799145.
7 Coxon, Paul S. Exploring the New Exodus in John: A Biblical Theological Investigation of John Chapters 5-
10. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.
8 Rogerson, John William. According to the Scriptures?: The Challenge of Using the Bible in Social, Moral, and
Political Questions. Routledge, 2016.
9 Hammett, John S. Biblical foundations for Baptist churches: A contemporary ecclesiology. Kregel Academic,
2019.

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the idea that the individuals should not only respect or love each other but at the same
perform the kind of action which will in turn help in the improvement of the quality of their
lives had gained prominence10. Furthermore, they are required to indulge in the kind of
actions which will not only propagate the word of God but at the same time enable them to
understand it in a better manner as well. Thus, it can be said that when the process of
discrimination or stigmatisation is analysed in this context then it not only becomes
derogatory but at the same time against the dictums of the Almighty as well.
Newman et al.11 are of the viewpoint that the evil of discrimination not only adversely
affects the quality of the lives of the people but at the same time are in complete contradiction
to the teachings of the Bible and the other religious texts of Christianity. For example, the sin
of discrimination that the human beings are committing against their own brothers is not only
leading them to the path of sin but at the same time can in many ways be seen as a fall from
the glory of the God itself12. This is perhaps one of the major reasons why the people who are
falling to the temptation of committing discrimination are being seen as individuals who had
fallen to the temptation of the devil itself. More importantly, the different religious texts
clearly state that the primary purpose of the different individuals on the earth in their brief
existence should be to spread the light of God and thereby commit as many good or positive
actions as they can13. However, at the same time it needs to be said that the evil action, that is,
discrimination that they are committing does not in any way contribute towards the
10 Campbell, Gordon. "The Catholic Contribution to the King James Bible." In The English Bible in the Early
Modern World, pp. 131-140. BRILL, 2018.
11 Newman, Peter A., Sophia Fantus, Michael R. Woodford, and Marie-Jolie Rwigema. "“Pray That God Will
Change You”: The Religious Social Ecology of Bias-Based Bullying Targeting Sexual and Gender Minority
Youth—A Qualitative Study of Service Providers and Educators." Journal of Adolescent Research 33, no. 5
(2018): 523-548.
12 Keane, David. Caste-based discrimination in international human rights law. Routledge, 2016.
13 Auestad, Lene. Respect, plurality, and prejudice: A psychoanalytical and philosophical enquiry into the
dynamics of social exclusion and discrimination. Routledge, 2018.

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improvement of the quality of the lives of the people nor does it help in the spreading of the
light of God14. On the basis of these facts and also the damage or the harm that these actions
towards the victims it can be said that discrimination is an action that the human beings need
to give up. Moreover, the preachers are also required to play a key role in the resolution of
these problems by making the people aware of the great sin that they are committing by
indulging in the different acts of discrimination. It is because of this reasons that I have
selected the social issue of discrimination as the key concept of the sermon.
14 Keane, David. Caste-based discrimination in international human rights law. Routledge, 2016.

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References
Auestad, Lene. Respect, plurality, and prejudice: A psychoanalytical and philosophical
enquiry into the dynamics of social exclusion and discrimination. Routledge, 2018.
Campbell, Gordon. "The Catholic Contribution to the King James Bible." In The English
Bible in the Early Modern World, pp. 131-140. BRILL, 2018.
Coxon, Paul S. Exploring the New Exodus in John: A Biblical Theological Investigation of
John Chapters 5-10. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.
Dessel, Adrienne B., Jeanna Jacobsen, Denise L. Levy, David McCarty-Caplan, Terrence O.
Lewis, and Laura E. Kaplan. "LGBTQ Topics and Christianity in Social Work: Tackling the
Tough Questions." Social Work & Christianity 44 (2017).
Hammett, John S. Biblical foundations for Baptist churches: A contemporary ecclesiology.
Kregel Academic, 2019.
Keane, David. Caste-based discrimination in international human rights law. Routledge,
2016.
Newman, Peter A., Sophia Fantus, Michael R. Woodford, and Marie-Jolie Rwigema. "“Pray
That God Will Change You”: The Religious Social Ecology of Bias-Based Bullying
Targeting Sexual and Gender Minority Youth—A Qualitative Study of Service Providers and
Educators." Journal of Adolescent Research 33, no. 5 (2018): 523-548.
Rogerson, John William. According to the Scriptures?: The Challenge of Using the Bible in
Social, Moral, and Political Questions. Routledge, 2016.
Shah, Sarah. "Does Religion Buffer the Effects of Discrimination on Distress for Religious
Minorities? The Case of Arab Americans." Society and Mental Health (2018):
2156869318799145.

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