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It appears that in the era
of political correctness the error of believing “everything should be equal” is
creating a breakdown in society and creating a lot of confusion. While being
treated the same on some level is a noble thought, the reality is that we’re
not all the same. On that premise, Matt Walsh
wrote a very good blog post explaining why there is no such thing as marriage
equality. And there is a lot of truth to that.
There are a lot of reasons
why we’re not the same or should be treated the same. In society’s twisted
logic, equality seems to trump every rational reason for the order of nature
and nature’s law. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically men and women
are different. Yet society would stipulate that equality must exist in order to
promote fairness in every facet of life. While there are many things that men
and women can do that are the same and can be considered equal, there are significant
differences in the dynamics of the genders that can be and should be
appreciated. Men, if they take on their proper roles as fathers in the family, impact
their children in their psychological well-being and social behavior that
cannot be substituted by only having a mother present. They are also vitally
important in how they eventually relate to God the Father. Moreover, women are
extremely important in the influence of their children’s lives as they promote
stability, academic success, and emotional and psychological health, to name a
few. Again, these are attributes and benefits that cannot be substituted if
only a father were present in the children’s lives.
Certainly there are many
other examples that can be given to illustrate the point that equality, or
fairness, is not always the wisest course of action. Yet governments often use
this tactic of equality to advance their agenda. In this day and age, people
are increasingly falling prey to the idea that wealth ought to be equal. For
example, there is a class of people who get an education, work hard, take risks,
and are ultimately successful. They are thereby rewarded with wealth and a
higher standard of living. However, there is a different class of people who
don’t work as hard or put in nearly enough effort; but, because of envy toward
the rich, they feel slighted somehow. So, in order to bring about this idea of equality,
society pushes the government to create laws and policies that effectively
force wealth redistribution. Some may see this idea, which is termed Socialism,
as a good thing; many others do not.
Equality sounds like a
good idea on the surface. In many ways, equality works if it’s appropriate. If
a woman works at the same job and does the same work at the same level as a
man, she should receive equal pay. There are applications in life that this
principle can be proven fair and effective. However, life isn’t always fair and
is usually beyond our control. Consider how a young man who is healthy,
exercises, and eats right. This person is then diagnosed with cancer. The
cancer is so extreme, such as stage IV type cancer, this guy only has six
months to live. Within three or four months, he is given in to the disease and
dies. Now, another person comes along who does nothing to take care of herself.
She sits around all day eating junk food and is physically non-active. She is
soon discovered to have stage IV type cancer as well. However, because of
aggressive treatments her cancer is caught in time and it goes into remission.
If life were fair and everyone were treated equal, it would stand to reason that
the woman should have died as well. That would be fair.
To be certain, differences
exist in nature, and by association in the affairs of man, that we should not
only accept but appreciate. It’s a world in which God created. And if the world
is viewed through a Biblical perspective, it’s much easier to appreciate and
understand. To further illustrate this point, we could examine fairness from
God’s perspective. Take, for example, our rebellious nature and how we have
sinned against God. Do we really want God to give us exactly what we deserve,
what is fair and equitable? In Scripture, Romans 3:10-18
tell us that there is no one righteous; in fact, we’re all worthless because
there is no one who does good. This is significant because following these
verses is another passage, Romans 3:23,
that tells us that we all have sinned. Now follow this thought over to Romans 6:23,
where Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. Fairness dictates that
we all should die.
Ponder the previous point
that we have all sinned and should die. Understand that there is nothing
inherently good about any one of us. We sin and we do things that are abhorrent
to God, our Creator. God, being the Creator, is also Judge over heaven and
earth. He decides our beginning and our end. And it is His judgment that to sin
is to deserve death. This death is not just physical death but spiritual death.
Since being with God is eternal life, being separated from God is eternal
death. That’s what is at stake. The Bible talks about how this kind of death,
or in other words going to hell, is what we deserve. So while we’re
contemplating this idea of equality, let’s face the fact that with all things
being fair or equal, what we deserve is God’s wrath.
Now consider the notion
that instead of dooming mankind to eternal hell and separation from Him, which
the Bible describes as torment, God instead formulates a plan to save us. As Judge,
He determines that mankind is guilty. But in the process of penalizing us for
our sins, as a merciful and gracious Redeemer, He determines there is a way for
us to be justified and reconciled back to Him. From the beginning of time,
blood has had significance regarding life; as in life giving. In the Old
Testament, to offer pure, unblemished sacrifices with bulls and goats and such
was a symbolic way to show that blood was a substantial aspect in atoning for
sins. What God did was go above and beyond to show His love for us by offering as
a sacrifice His one, and only Son. Jesus was the ultimate, perfect, spotless Lamb
of God. Jesus’s blood that was shed on the cross effectively washed away our
sin once and for all. So, in referencing the other part of Romans 6:23, God’s
Word tells us that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Interestingly, Jesus who
was perfect and sinless was offered up as a sacrifice for our sins. We sinned
and Jesus paid the price. Do you see the irony here? Romans 5:8
says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.” What exactly is fair about that? Do we demand
equality and fair treatment in regards to our sin? Do we want to demand
fairness in order to receive what we deserve, God’s wrath? Or do we dare
believe that we can cry out for mercy and receive His forgiveness, thus avoid
our “due wages.”
The unfair treatment of
Jesus is an example of why this post is titled, “What’s good for the goose may
not be good for the gander.” Who would volunteer to say that they want to
receive the same torture, punishment, ridicule, and execution on the cross that Jesus
endured that led to His death? Who would want to experience the most horrific
death imaginable, and then have the weight of their sins placed on their
shoulders and die a spiritual death? Jesus endured spiritual death and, as a
result, was separated from God the Father for a period of time; who would want
to experience that for even a millisecond?
There’s another reason why
we shouldn't think that since something works for one person that it should be
the same for everybody. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul writes
something about this regarding the treatment of believers within the church. He
tells us that among believers we shouldn’t assume that we’re all the same in
terms of maturity and spiritual development. Instead of arguing that we should act
as if we’re all equal, Paul assumes that the more mature Christian should take
the responsibility of caring for and being sensitive to the less mature
believer.
Maybe what Paul is talking
about in Romans is not necessarily only about maturity. It’s more about caring
for our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what spiritual path we’re on.
Consider what Paul has to say in these passages:
13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your
mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or
sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that
nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then
for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because
of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating
destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is
good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18
because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives
human approval.
19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual
edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food
is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else
to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything
else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.
Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But
whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from
faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
What Paul tells us in
these passages is that the Lord God has provided everything to us for our
enjoyment. Don’t misunderstand this statement. What God has provided for us to
enjoy, man has taken and perverted it in many ways. So, for example, drinking a
beverage from the fruit of the vine is something considered good initially.
However, man found a way to take something good and use it in excess and therefore
become drunk and influenced by wine. That is not good and is not an example of
what Paul would say is acceptable behavior.
What, then, is Paul
talking about? Let’s take the example of wine as an illustration. As
Christians, is it wrong for us to consume alcoholic beverages, such as wine?
One could argue that it perfectly acceptable, according to Paul’s statement.
But what if there’s another believer that takes issue with it? That believer
may have experiences in his or her family history that the thought of consuming
alcohol causes problems spiritually and may cause him or her to stumble. Paul
would exhort the Christian that finds alcohol acceptable to refrain from
drinking if it causes division or other problems within the church. What Paul
says is that we should make every effort to be at peace with each other and do
what is edifying for the church’s spiritual growth and development.
As Christians, let’s not
get caught up in the world’s ways of doing things. Political correctness seems to
be the driving, and dividing mechanism that governs how the culture conducts
itself. But instead of thinking what’s good for the goose is good for the
gander, let’s think instead of what we can do or say that will benefit others
and bring about their edification. It’s far better to be deprived of something,
and even endure unfairness for a while, if in the end love wins out and promotes
healthy relationships among the brethren. Hopefully, this kind of attitude and
approach will help someone along their spiritual journey and draw them closer
to Christ.
Equality is not
everything. Unless, of course, you’re one of those who wants to be fair and get
what you deserve. Who out there is standing in line for God’s wrath?
