The Biblical Approach to Bring True Equality
The ideas of equality, love and justice are popular themes in our divided world. People thirst for a world where ethnicities would have equal rights, where the rich and the poor would have the same opportunities, and where all religions could be freely practiced. Stories of vulnerable individuals and people groups from every corner of the earth being preyed upon have fueled an outcry for a world of peace and love. From the caste system in India to religious persecution in Sudan, the very concept of a loving world seems like an idealistic dream, a dream that has no path to becoming reality.
Looking closer home, equality and love are also lacking. Bullies beat up smaller children on the playground, business owners intimidate their workers, and parents favor one child over another. It is easy to understand why people desire equality, but it is a much different thing to actually achieve it. Political initiatives offer a glimmer of hope by promising equal opportunities for all citizens, but political action can do very little to offset the years of blatant racism, sexism, and cultural superiority. For all our efforts, it seems, real equality still lies well outside of our grasp.
2,000 years ago, Jesus entered a world that, much like ours, was polluted with inequality and injustice. In Jesus’ world, the Romans dominated the Jews, men took advantage of women, and the rich abused the poor. To counter this systemic evil, Jesus gave his life, among other reasons, to institute the church, a body which would have the capacity to rise above the ills of whatever society it might exist within. After 2,000 years of church history, it is clear that the church has not lived up to the ideals that it was designed to practice. However, in spite of its checkered past, the church offers the only lasting hope for a world that often seems destined to destroy itself through greed and jealousy.
It isn’t difficult to highlight the failures of the church to address inequality and defend the vulnerable. The Crusades of the Middle Ages and the American system of slavery and segregation are easy examples of how Christians failed to live up to the standards given in the Bible. However, it is only fair to point out that no other religion has been able to establish a firm foundation for a fair and equal society. In addition, the failures of the Christian church have often unfairly overshadowed the many ways that Christians have sacrificed for the sake of helping those who were powerless to help themselves. Christian history is filled with stories of doctors, missionaries, and public servants who made enormous personal sacrifices to bless the sick, the poor, orphans and immigrants. The mixed record of the church should not cause Christians today to lose hope; rather, it should inspire us to learn from the past, as we represent Christ in a cold, unfair world.
Despite being a supposedly free nation, the United States has no shortage of people groups who are underprivileged or looked down on. As a Christian in America, I believe we are called to minister to these people. The church must be proactive in responding to the needs of our society. The hatred, bigotry and racism that is so common must be confronted with Christ’s love. It is our duty to follow Jesus’ example of reaching out to the unloved, meeting their needs while proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. As we endeavor to follow Christ’s example, we must recognize specific groups of people who need our aid. After identifying these groups, we must carefully craft methods to help them, making sure that we are meeting their needs in an effective, God-honoring way.
The recent refugee crisis in Greece provides an excellent case study for how Christians can serve those who have no voice of their own. Various Christian organizations have become involved in helping refugees trapped in camps in Greece, while other organizations have focused on helping refuges who have immigrated to the United States. I am personally familiar with an organization called I58 which focuses on helping refugees in Greece. I58 uses both short-term and long-term workers to be a positive influence in a very dark setting, providing for both physical and spiritual needs. Meanwhile, Christian ministries within the United States have reached out to recent immigrants, helping them obtain jobs, learn English, and find affordable housing. This kind of work serves as a powerful testimony for the kingdom of God, showing the world the power of God’s love in the lives of His followers.
Unfortunately, the church has not had a perfect response to the immigration crisis. Many Christians, motivated in part by their political views, have focused on preventing refuges from coming to the United States because of the potential dangers that would be created. The risks posed to Americans through allowing these refugees to immigrate are worth considering, but these dangers are often exaggerated. Furthermore, Christians should expect some risks as they endeavor to serve those in need. Christians should not use danger as an excuse to avoid helping others.
In another example, Christians are often known for their opposition to abortion. This opposition is certainly appropriate, but an opposition to abortion should be coupled with a focus on adoption and support for single mothers. I’ve known many Christian families who adopted children, and I admire them for their hard work and courage. When believers show their concern for children born into undesirable circumstances, it validates our opposition to abortion. Not only are we willing to take a stand against ending the lives of unborn children, but we are also willing to take responsibility for children who were born unwanted by their parents.
One class of people that has never been viewed well by society is the inmate population, those serving time in prison for crimes they have committed. In Matthew 25, Jesus said that caring for prisoners would be an identifying mark of Christians. Hebrews 13:3 tells us to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them (ESV).” If Christians want to be known for caring for those who seem undeserving of love, there is probably no better place to start than in our prisons. Along with refuges, immigrants, unwanted children and prisoners, Christians should also take note of the needs of Muslims, homosexuals, and victims of abuse. All of these groups have often been overlooked by Christians because their needs seem too unusual or too challenging.
I would like to shift to looking at general principles that we must follow in order to meet the needs of those around us. The task of bringing love and equality cannot be fulfilled by good intentions. Without good strategies, it is possible that we will hurt the people we are attempting to help. Before we can successfully bring the love of Christ to others, we must recognize our own brokenness. If we think of ourselves as the solution to the problems we see in others, we will inevitably present an arrogant, offensive front to those we are trying to reach. It is important to see Christ, not ourselves, as the solution. In their book When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert tell us that “We are all broken, just in different ways.” An attitude of humility must be our starting point as we reach out to those around us. Ultimately, people want to be valued, not fixed. Only when a person understands their own worth, both God and to others, are they on the road to healing.
As we work with people who believe differently than we do, it is important to speak sensitively about our differences, rather than systematically trying to correct all the wrong beliefs that we see. For example, when working a with Muslim, it is often better to show them the love of Christ through a relationship, rather than argumentatively try to convince them of their error. Of course, every person and every situation will be different, but it is generally dangerous to try to convert someone without first earning their trust. People usually need to understand how much God loves them before they are willing to serve Him. If we want to bring true equality to the world, it will never happen by pressuring others to agree with us.
In addition, we need to work hard to understand the needs of those we are helping. Speaking truth in an insensitive manner will rarely help a person who is already struggling. A person struggling with depression or battling financial poverty needs more than truth: they need to know that they are valuable. Truth is vitally important, and we must never compromise it. However, there are better and worse times and ways to share truth. Those we seek to help are not projects to be completed; they are people to be loved.
The church, despite its mediocre past, still holds the only real answer to the world’s problems. Through the love of Christ, we can show a new path forward. This path is one of love, equality, and peace. However, the mission of showing this new way forward is not for the faint of heart. The stains of sin run deep, leaving us with a heavy burden to undue centuries of racism, hatred, and injustice. However, the stream of God’s grace runs deeper than any injustice or inequality; ultimately, this is God’s work, not ours.
Sources:
Corbett, Steve; Fikkert Brian. “When Helping Hurts.” Moody Publishers. 2009.
