Probably no time in our history as a nation has this thought reverberated and resonated more throughout society than it does today. In light of today’s social issues, whether race, sex, religion, or socio-economic status, the idea that “all people are equal” is constantly on our minds and in the media. In my previous blog, That’s Not Fair , I mentioned that Scripture does not teach that all men are created equal. I also mentioned that idea of equality is mentioned in the Bible. However, the concept of equality as expressed in Scripture is far removed from equality as embraced by many today. The Declaration of Independence states that “All men are created equal,” but nowhere is this found in Scripture.
How does Scripture speak to equality? In what ways as people are we equal? The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rm 3:23). Every person in the world, regardless of race, sex, religion, and wealth, are sinners accordingly to God’s absolute truth. In the immediate context of Romans 3, Paul is discussing Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), that there is no distinction (v. 22b). But the word, “all”, includes all people. We’re all in the same boat, under the condemnation of sin, and destined for judgment. David writes in Psalm 14, “The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God. Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one. We are all equally lost and in need of salvation. There’s not one righteousness.” As a start, we are all indeed equal – equally up the proverbial “creek without a paddle.”
By God’s grace the story does not end here, with all people equally under sin. The good news has an equality element as well. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” “World” points to all people. Christ came to save the world — the poor, the rich, the famous, the infamous, the privileged, the commoner, people of all ethnicities and religions. All have equal access to the Savior. He sees not the externals of men and women, but sees the heart of each person. All are welcome to come humbly before God and receive salvation.
God sees only two distinctions in people: those who follow His Son and those who reject His Son. In this regard there is inequality. But this inequality is the result of one’s own choice. The inequality is not imposed on an individual by external forces, but the consequence of internal decisions.
God values equally those who know Him. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3) All who call on His name are loved by God and equal before His eyes. There is no distinction. All who have not confessed Jesus as Lord are also loved by Him and equally welcomed to come to Him. He sees not race, nor sex, nor customs, nor wealth, nor education, nor status. “God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God did not create all people equal. Even if He did, by each one’s choices, the initial equality we possessed would eventually fade. God created each according to His will. God values the differences in each person as much as He values unity among those who are different. Corporately, we are one body, but each person is a different body part. “For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.” (Rom. 12) As members of one body, we look out for one another, but each member must carry his/her weight. Injury to one member affects the entire body. Even something as trivial as a stubbed toe affects the entire body.
There is much talk today about equality or inequalities. The truth is that we have more commonality than differences, yet we often prefer to magnify the differences. Why do we focus so much on inequalities today?
We focus on the external and the superficial instead of important character traits. Today we highly value the externals, one’s appearance, possessions and status, over a person’s inner character. Our society is known more for its embrace of the fleeting and ever-changing superficial values than for its regard of traits such as perseverance, patience, humility, honesty, faithfulness, etc. Ironically these traits are more valuable and accessible to all, whereas fame and wealth are accessible and achieved by only a few. Inequalities in wealth, appearance, power, and status will always be with us. They existed in Abraham’s time, exist today, and will exist until Christ returns. We pass laws, write books, discuss in forums, all in an effort to rid society of these inequalities. We may move the needle a bit, but in the end we will still be frustrated with the inequalities.
We have embraced a lie of this world, that we are defined by the externals – appearance and possessions. This was the very mistake the prophet Samuel made when he was sent to anoint a new king. Samuel thought a king would be defined his external appearance. We’re told to focus on what we lack instead of who we are (inner character). This undue weight placed on the externals is killing us morally as a society and producing the ripe fruit of mal-contentment.
We reject God’s sovereignty in how He created us. This is related to the previous point. Sometimes acceptance is the path to freedom. We must seek God to know when to accept things and when to change things. Not all things can be changed. Constant fighting against the status quo will only lead to exhaustion. As we value what God values, we will be more content with how God created us.
Finally, we place undue value on other’s perception of us to the point that we are controlled by these perceptions. In the discussion of equality, the focus naturally falls on the externals. The externals are visible and apparent to all. It’s so easy to make snap judgments of someone based on the externals. The inner qualities, however, are not so apparent. This enslavement to others’ opinions and the embrace of the externals fuel the rancor in discussions of equality. Equality is also viewed as having the same privileges or rights. Those whose citizenship is not of this world will not have the same worldly privileges and rights as those who claim citizenship in this world. Ultimately in this world, equality is judged by my ability relative to someone else’s ability to exercise what I want with no regard to consequences, or my ability to acquire possessions relative to someone else’s ability.
In the end, in regards to what truly counts, equality is within our grasp. However, equality eludes us because we have focused on the superficial, and our continual embrace of the superficial makes equality forever elusive.
Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come. 