From [1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27-28 and Colossians 3:10-11] we see that all believers are one in Christ, and all of their distinctions have been abolished. This is the basis upon which the church is built. If we bring all our earthly distinctions into the church and into the Lord, we will corrupt the church and spoil the relationships among the brothers and sisters. (p. 114)

We cannot separate God's children by nationality. For instance, we cannot have Chinese Christianity. If it is Chinese then it is no longer Christ. In the Body of Christ, in the new man, we are fully one; there are no national distinctions of any kind. Even nationalism as strong as that of the Jews has been annulled by the Lord. (p. 116; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

I have received the life of Christ, and a brother in England or a brother in India or Japan has also received the same life of Christ. We are united according to the life of Christ, not according to our nationalities. We must have a very clear vision about this. In the Body, in Christ, and in the new man, nationality does not exist. That distinction has been totally abolished. (p. 117; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

After the First World War, a few brothers from England went to Germany for a conference. During the conference, a brother stood up and introduced the British brothers with the words, “The war is over, and some English brothers are here to visit us. We warmly welcome them.” After this introduction, a brother from England stood up and said, “We are not English brothers; we are brothers from England.” This is a marvelous word. Thank God, there are no national distinctions in Christ. (p. 117; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

In the church, relationships between masters and servants cease. When Philemon and Onesimus knelt down to pray together, Onesimus was Philemon's brother. But when they rose up to do their work, Onesimus was Philemon's slave. In Christ all class distinctions are totally abolished. There is no more class consciousness or class struggle. (p. 119; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

Before God we must see that today we may be a servant, a subordinate, or an employee. We should take our stand in the workplace and learn to submit to our superior or master. However, when we come before God, we should not yield to someone just because he is our master or boss. (p. 119; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

Only Christians can break down all class distinctions, and only they can do it thoroughly. Only Christians can hold hands together and greet each other as brothers because only they have love. Only Christians-those who are in Christ-can remove all class distinctions. A young person must realize that as long as he is a believer in Christ, his Christian boss is his brother and his Christian subordinate is also his brother. His Christian master is his brother, and his Christian slave is also his brother. The distinction between the free man and the salve is annulled entirely; this distinction no longer exists. (p. 120; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

In this world the male occupies one role and the female occupies another role. In church administration the male also has his place and the female her place. Within the family the husband has his place and the wife has her place. However, in Christ and in the new man, both the man and the woman have the same stand; there is no distinction between them. (p. 121; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

Once I asked a certain craftsman in Shanghai, who was a brother in the Lord, “Brother, how are the brothers in your place doing?” He replied, “Are you asking about the male brothers or the female brothers?” This answer could not have been put better. When we come to the Lord and touch Him, we transcend all male and female distinctions. We are beyond gender. Before the Lord and in Christ, there is no distinction between male and female. (p. 122; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

Since all kinds of people can be Christians, one must learn to drop ethnic characteristics when he comes into the church. There is no such thing in the church life. Many problems arise in the church today because people bring their ethnic flavor into the church; they try to bring in their own distinctive characteristics. Do not condemn a person just because he has a different temperament than yours. You have to realize that others may not appreciate you that much either. (p. 123; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

Whether you are quick or quiet, cold or warm, intellectual or sentimental, as soon as you become a brother and enter the church life, you have to drop your disposition. Such things do not belong to the church. As soon as you introduce these natural elements into the church, they become standards for judgment and separation, and brothers will be divided. You will become the standard, and all those who are up to your standard will be considered good Christians, while all those who are not up to your standard will be considered poor Christians. (p. 124; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

All confusion in the church issues from different human temperaments. Your silence is not necessarily good, nor is your talkativeness. Your reservation is not necessarily good, nor is your warmth. Your strong intellect may not necessarily be good, nor are your intense emotions. All these are distinctions outside of Christ. They are represented by the Greeks and the Jews. None of these natural dispositions can be brought into the church life. (p. 124; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

A new believer must learn from the beginning to reject anything that comes from the old man. He should not say, “This is the way I was.” Many brothers shamelessly speak this way. We must tell them that we do not want their old person. They should not bring in their old person. That is not something in Christ, and we cannot create distinctions based on that. (p. 124; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Colossians 3:10-11)

We must learn to “live as Romans among Romans” and be under the law among those who are under the law. Whatever kind of culture we are in, we do as others do. If some African brothers come to China, and they have the knowledge of God, they should use chopsticks. If we go to Africa, we may have to eat with our hands. We do not want to come into conflict with the local brothers and sisters. When we go to them, we must learn to live among them. Then they come to us, they must learn to live among us. (p. 128; Colossians 3:10-11)

Today we can fall into the same pitfall as the Jews [concerning circumcision and uncircumcision], paying too much attention to external signs. You cannot set yourselves apart from others just because you are obedient to the Lord with respect to certain physical symbols [baptism by immersion, head covering, laying on of hands, breaking of bread, etc.]. It is wrong to separate God's children according to these things. (p. 128; Colossians 3:10-11)