What does God think about equality and diversity? Take a look at God's word and we can see how He sees it.
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."
Romans 12: 3-8
We are hearing quite a bit from the mainstream media about inequalities and injustices in our society. The Declaration of Independence actually says that all men are created equal. But what does that mean?
What it doesn't mean, is that some people are more valuable than others. It also doesn't mean that all men and women have the same talents, skills, and abilities. It does mean that each person in this country has certain unalienable rights We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In the church, each member is endowed with specific giftings. God also has given each person special, unique talents and strengths. There is not one person who can do everything. Each person will have strengths in certain areas, and areas which are different than others.
God likens the concept of spiritual gifts to a human body. Each organ has its own function. Yet, no organ acts independently of all the other organs, for the person to thrive. It takes all the organs, bones, muscles, glands, and other body parts for the body to function correctly.
In America today, there is a thought that everyone should be the same. No one person should have any superior skill that another doesn't have. What's even worse, there is the thought that the person with talent or skill should lower himself or herself and not have that skill since that skill was not given to everyone.
In the olden days, when a child was in school and exhibited certain traits or strengths in an area, the teachers and parents would work with the child to help him or her to develop those skills. Those specific skills usually ended up defining the type of trade or career the child would have when he or she grew up. The child was trained in the way that God wired him or her to be, and that skill turned into a lifelong career that provided sustenance for the person and his or her family.
But today, skills and talents are frowned upon. In the eyes of many, the skill or strength puts the person on a pedestal (they think) and that person needs to come down. In their darkened thinking, people should not have skills unless everyone has that same skill. Otherwise, according to these people, that is considered an inequality. It is unfair.
It is unfair to them, that someone like Michael Jackson can perform a concert and make a ton of money from it. Yet, in their hypocritical thinking, many of them are the ones who would go to his concerts and by purchasing a ticket, they are actually supporting an economical system they say they don't believe in!
Yes, God gives each person skills and talents. They are to be used for His glory, and to serve one another in the body of Christ. Each person is unique, yet, each person has the same value in God's eyes as everyone else who was created by God.
We are diverse, yet equal. It is not unfair. God gives gifts to people, and they may vary from one person to the next. God also provides challenges for each person to grow in. Every person has their share of blessings and hardships. They are all given to us by God.
When we put our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are under God's umbrella of protection. Whatever happens to us while we are under His protection is for our good and His glory. He gives His grace and help through trials. And we are to use His blessings to point people to Him and to help them to see their need for a Savior.
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| "Get down from your pedestal!" Words from a special kind of stupid |
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