Did you ever hear the story about how Mahatma Gandhi became a Christian? 

In his autobiography, he wrote about his experience while he was in college. He was fascinated with the teachings of Jesus Christ. In India, they had (and still have) the caste system. The caste system meant that whatever social class you were born into, rich or poor, you stayed in. This separated people and locked them into their social status.

When Gandhi heard about Jesus and his teachings, that could be the answer to India's caste system. However, when he made his way into a Christian church he was greeted with a reply along the lines of "You can't worship here. Go and worship with your own kind."

He walked out and never attended another Church. He figured if Christianity also has a caste system, he didn't want to become a Christian.

At the center of this story is the sin of ELITISM (Unity Killer). Elitism is an attitude of superiority that lifts some people up while demeaning others. It is a mindset that uses illegitimate criteria, false conclusions and ungodly perspectives to judge people (such as race, class, culture, etc.), making some superior at the cost of making others inferior. 

It is clear that Elitism will kill unity in the body of Christ, and we must get rid of it through LOVE. We must love others no matter their race, culture or class - their uniqueness - and we must consider their needs as more important than our own.

"My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law." ~ James 2:1-9

"This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other" ~ 1 John 4:10-11

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." ~ Phil 2:3-4

Adapted from Dr Tony Evans devotional "The Power Of Unity"