Equality is a buzz word in our current day and society. We seem to be truly concerned about equality (and yes, I say we seem to be concerned with it, as I will explain in a moment). Recent events like the Supreme Court ruling on homosexual marriage has the word "equality" attached to it. We hold to things like an equal right to vote, or to an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
That sounds really good. In fact, I would dare say that if you went and asked your average Christian in the USA if God is for equality, he or she would probably say yes. And yet, there are a large number of sections of God's Word that truly challenge this notion that everyone should be equal. (And as a bit of a side note, think about it from this standpoint. What does it truly mean to have equality? Does it mean that everyone gets the same? Does it mean that everyone's voice is heard the same? Does it mean that everyone gets the same opportunities regardless of education, intelligence, opportunity, and the like? Challenging questions to consider in this discussion.)
So, is God concerned with equality? I would venture to say that He is not. Sure, He created us all to be equally loved and cared for by Him, and He has equally purchased and redeemed us from sin, death, and the devil through His Son Jesus. But that seems to be about the extent to which God concerns Himself with equality.
Think about some of the topics that would create a controversy in a congregation. Women's rights is one that jumps to mind for many. Some would say that women deserve an equal right to serve as pastors. Yet, from the pages of Scripture, you have a rather challenging time to hold that argument up. So, what do those who support such a notion do? They try to change the context. "It was a cultural thing," they say. And yet, the idea that God may not be a great promoter of equality may not seem to cross their minds.
Think about it this way, too. When the various gifts of the Spirit are given out, does it say that all are given them equally? No. Rather, it quite pointedly shows that some get one or two gifts, others get one or two gifts, and that means that there are those who get less, or practically none, of a particular gift. God is not so much about equality when it comes to spiritual gifts, it seems, or else all could heal equally, speak in languages equally, discern spirits equally, teach equally, and the like.
Tomorrow I plan to post about why I believe God isn't about equality. But for today, I've given us enough to chew on.
That sounds really good. In fact, I would dare say that if you went and asked your average Christian in the USA if God is for equality, he or she would probably say yes. And yet, there are a large number of sections of God's Word that truly challenge this notion that everyone should be equal. (And as a bit of a side note, think about it from this standpoint. What does it truly mean to have equality? Does it mean that everyone gets the same? Does it mean that everyone's voice is heard the same? Does it mean that everyone gets the same opportunities regardless of education, intelligence, opportunity, and the like? Challenging questions to consider in this discussion.)
So, is God concerned with equality? I would venture to say that He is not. Sure, He created us all to be equally loved and cared for by Him, and He has equally purchased and redeemed us from sin, death, and the devil through His Son Jesus. But that seems to be about the extent to which God concerns Himself with equality.
Think about some of the topics that would create a controversy in a congregation. Women's rights is one that jumps to mind for many. Some would say that women deserve an equal right to serve as pastors. Yet, from the pages of Scripture, you have a rather challenging time to hold that argument up. So, what do those who support such a notion do? They try to change the context. "It was a cultural thing," they say. And yet, the idea that God may not be a great promoter of equality may not seem to cross their minds.
Think about it this way, too. When the various gifts of the Spirit are given out, does it say that all are given them equally? No. Rather, it quite pointedly shows that some get one or two gifts, others get one or two gifts, and that means that there are those who get less, or practically none, of a particular gift. God is not so much about equality when it comes to spiritual gifts, it seems, or else all could heal equally, speak in languages equally, discern spirits equally, teach equally, and the like.
Tomorrow I plan to post about why I believe God isn't about equality. But for today, I've given us enough to chew on.
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