America Got It Wrong
All men are not created equal
God created some vessels for honor and some for dishonor (Romans 9:21). He created each of us with different gifts and callings in life (I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-12). Instead of equality, God calls us to follow unity.
The problem with equality is that everyone begins trying to seek the same level instead of pursue their personal best. It is not just okay to be different; it is wrong to conform. We should be transformed into His glorious image, not conform to that of the world around us or compare ourselves among ourselves.
We do not have inalienable rights
The topic of equality leads into the personal demand for respect and individual rights. Jesus did not march around saying, “Give me my rights!” Instead, the King of Heaven came to serve people who were largely His inferiors. If He had sought His rights, everyone would have had to bow to Him. Instead of seeking His own good, He gave Himself for the good of others (Ephesians 5:26-32; Philippians 2:3-11).
God’s people care about others and seek their good. They do not live to receive respect or to be equal. The spirit of Christianity is the spirit of servanthood. No one owes us a living. We do not deserve fair treatment. Consider this mindset in opposition to the spirit of the age:
Submitting yourselves one to another in love
Instead of demanding or equalizing, humble yourself. Equality does not make a peaceful society; wars are fought when everyone demands personal rights. Submission does make peace. When everyone submits to each other in a body of believers, peace and harmony reign. In the church we all look out for the best interests of each other—in other words a person does not have to defend his or her civil rights because caring people already are. Each individual is freed from self-defense and self-promotion to be able to care for the needs of others.
We do not live by self-evident truths based on reason and self-will. We live by the invisible mystery of God in Christ showing His great love through the church. We hold this Truth which is not so evident, that He made Himself of no reputation and took up the form of a servant.
2 Comments
Why do so many people try to equate the bill of rights or constitution as some third rail of biblical truth? These were never written to give equal rights to all people. If they were people would have never had to seek and demand equality. The Bible says neither Jew or Greek, male or female, but like you said, this country got it wrong.
Christianity goes through seasons of becoming distracted by politics and social causes. We must stay focused on the eternal kingdom most of all.