All Men Are Created Equal

Today I want to look at the phrase, “all men are created equal.”  You should recognize it as being from our Declaration of Independence.  A fuller quote is: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights;…”  I believe it is important for Christians to be biblical in how they view this statement.

Clearly the equality that is being recognized is not that of strength, wealth, or abilities.  When we compare these things there seems to be great inequality.  So the founders had something more fundamental than our physical nature.  That said, it was commonly expressed that even these physical differences were not so great that they couldn’t be overcome by the mental prowess or collaboration of the weak.  In other words the differences were not enough to elevate the strong, rich, and able to a higher status (gods among men),  Despite the differences we are still all humans and must deal with the realities and limitations of what that entails.

In Acts 17 Paul is waiting in Athens, Greece for Silas and Timothy to join him.  He had fled the northern area of Thessalonica and Berea due to violent opposition to his teaching.  While he was there he began to talk with his fellow Jews in the synagogues and with Gentiles in the marketplace.  At some point he is invited to speak further about his teachings at a special forum in Athens where the philosophers of that day would pit there views against each other.  In verses 22-32 we have an address that Paul gives in this forum.  I believe it will be quite instructive in regard to our topic.

All People Are Equal In Origin

In verse 24 Paul points out that there is a God who created all peoples and all things.  This Creator is being referenced in the phrase, “all men are created equal.” Thus the Creator is the God of every nation, peoples, or individuals, whether they understand that or not.  The Greeks worshipped a multitude of gods, but Paul points out that they do not know their Creator.  This God is in no need of anything from us.  However, He does receive worship from those who will worship Him from the heart and in Spirit.

Now, the foundation of evolution rejects the idea of a creator.  But putting that aside, evolution has always contended that some species are more advanced than others.  Historically this has included what we call “races” today.  Thus it promoted the idea that some races are more superior then others.  The Bible rejects this idea.  All men come from the same Creator and through the same creation.  Let’s take this a bit deeper.

All People Are Equal In Their Humanity

Paul goes on to say at the end of verse 25, that God is the source of everyone’s life, breath, and all things.  Thus humans are all dependent on God for everything.  In verse 26 he points out that we are all from one blood.  The Bible traces all mankind back to a single couple, Adam and Eve.  Though time, environment and procreation have developed variations within the human species, we are still of one blood. In our modern scientific age we have been able to determine that most differences between “races” are cultural and not biological.  Only .2% of the DNA code differs among peoples of the world and only .012% has impact upon those things we label as race.  On top of this a person needing an organ donor may be a better match with a person of another race than another of his own.

We are all part of the same human family.  It is difficult to hold a family together once it goes past 3 generations.  There is a part of us that laments this and tries to work against it.  But the sheer size and geographical spread work against us.  In a sense all of us, no matter how different in looks and customs, come from the same Great, Great, …..Grand father/mother.  The sheer size makes it impossible to be close.  But it doesn’t mean we have to see the others as somehow less human, or inferior to us.

Paul points out that it was God who appointed the nations and set their limits.  Now the term nation here is not associated with skin color.  It is a term that points to those who have common culture and customs.  Even the term “race” in the English language was not associated with skin color until recent years.  It was used to describe the differences between the Brits, Normans, Irish, Scots etc…  These were all different races thought they had the same skin color.  Why?  Because their culture, history, and customs were different.  Biblically speaking it is language that makes the biggest difference among mankind not skin color.  All people regardless of where they come are equally human and have an equal right to exist upon this planet.

All People Are Equal In Their Need

In Acts 17:27-31, Paul points out several needs that all mankind have.  First, we all have the need to find God.  As much as we may disagree with God’s decision to confuse the languages, its intent is that those differences might cause us to search for him.  The term “grope” conjures the image of a blind man feeling for something.

Secondly, God is not far from any of us.  Yes, he is far in light of our limitations.  But he is not far from us in the sense that everything we have comes from him.  He is our source of everything.

Thus in verse 30 he points out that we have all been ignorant of God’s way.  Even Israel, who had been given much light, as a whole was ignorant to God’s way.  Thus God, knowing our blindness and limitations, comes near to us in Jesus Christ.  He makes himself known to not just one race, but to all.  Thus the Gospel through men like Paul goes out to the groping nations.  All nations need to repent of their ignorant ways and customs and turn to God in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

In fact, all nations will be judged by Christ at an appointed future time.  God has assured us of this by raising Jesus from the dead.

Let me close with these thoughts.  Modern technology has not only made the world smaller but it has made culture go global.  Kids from all over the world are beginning to have the same music interests, movie interests, and fashion styles.  How ought we as biblical believers live out this statement that “all men are equal?”

First, we should drop any sense of racial or cultural superiority.  All of our cultures have ungodly things within them.  Let us learn the lesson from Israel that pride and superiority always leads to a fall.  This does not mean that we should blindly accept all aspects of other cultures as worthy of respect.  But neither should we be blind to the aspects of our own culture that are not honorable.

Second, we should recognize the need of all people to know God.  God is not the white man’s god.  Nor is there a black god, red god, etc…  There is one God over all nations, no matter how far their culture may have gone away from him.

Third, refuse to be baited into ethnic rivalries through bigotry or politics.

Lastly, do not focus on non-moral differences between cultures.  They are irrelevant.  Grace and Peace in the name of Jesus Christ.

All Men Created Equal Audio

Hope for Your Job

Most people will spend about a third of their life getting ready for, going to, and doing work.  It clearly is a huge part of our life.  Yet many people do not think about what the message of the cross might have to say to them about their profession.  How can the cross relate to building houses or cleaning them?  How can the cross relate to serving hamburgers or making computer programs?  It seems too vast to stretch across such a distance.

Today we will look at a passage in Ephesians 6:5-9.  In it Paul is giving instruction to both slaves and their masters.  You may think, "well, I'm not a slave so this doesn't impact me."  However, in this passage Paul gives us principles that go beyond being a slave.  In fact, it would be best if we take a bit of time to discuss what it means to be a slave and why slavery ever came into existence.  First of all, the essence of slavery is not being the property of another.  This is definitely a part of the history of slavery.  So I don't mean to diminish its reality.  However, the real concept behind being the slave of another had to do with the "master's" claim upon the work of another.  How that claim comes about can be varied.  But no matter what, every economic system and every people group has had to deal with the reality that some people do not do well and end up owing others.  When you owe somebody they have a claim upon your production.  How we go about satisfying that claim has as many possible ways as there are people to dream them up.  If we were to creat a continuum that has on the one side a picture of deeply, depraved slavery, such as that pictured in Alex Haley's mini series "Roots," and on the other side a system like we have today where people are physically free but are still in debt to others, then we can recognize that there exists between them a multitude of "systems" that could be devised.  One side values the freedom of the owing individual over the claims of the other.  Whereas the other expression values the claim of the owed individual over the freedom of the individual.  Not everyone ended up as a slave due to owing someone something.  Some were attacked by other nations or tribes and forced into slavery.  This is a clear wrong.  However, how many of us do not recognize we are somewhat "slaves" to our debts?  Some have stated that the Bible is clearly flawed because it does not emphatically denounce slavery.  The Bible denounces dehumanizing slavery, but let it never be forgotten that it was the teaches of Christ that fueled the energy of the anti-slavery movement.  We can fight our whole life against a system of slavery and finally win only to find out that another system of slavery comes in to take its places.  Those who think we can even yet again tear down the current system and build a better one are deluding themselves concerning the heart of men.  Man will create nothing but systems that enslave.  It is only men who fear the Lord who will restrain themselves from this bent in our nature.  So God speaks not to the hopeless fight of destroying slavery, but to the hopeless heart of the slave.  God has something better for them that goes beyond this life and God has something better for you that goes beyond this life.

No matter what, if you need a paycheck from an employer than you are in an indebted situation.  You are providing a service for someone or some company who has become your "master."    Let us look at this passage today in that light.

Jesus Is Our Boss

 Paul in verse 5, 6, and 7 hammers home that we should work as if Jesus were our boss.  It is not in those terms, but that is the intent.  Many of you are scratching your head thinking, "my boss is nothing like Jesus."  But this is nevery mentioned.  The simple principle is work as if you were doing it for Jesus.  Think about that principle alone for a moment.  If you worked like that, I don't think there is a single employer who wouldn't want you on the job unless you were just not talented for it.  This is a revolutionary concept.  In verse 5 it calls them "masters according to the flesh."  The word master is the same word used of Christ which is always translated "Lord."  Now Paul goes on to give some practical instructions for followers of Jesus.  If you were working, as if Jesus were your boss, you would work like this.

Show Respect for Authority.  To obey with fear and trembling is a picture of a healthy respect for the authority and position of the one who is over me.  Would I talk back to my boss if he were Jesus?  Would I ridicule him behind his back if he were Jesus?   Would I work to try and get him fired?  To respect the position and authority of the person over us is impossible if we do not first respect the position and authority of God over our lives.  How might this kind of attitude improve your relationship with your boss?

Be Sincere.  This is to have a single heart and devotion towards the job.  That means you give your whole heart to the job instead of working half-heartedly.  Need I ask? 

Don't work only when supervised.  In verse 6 it it is called eyeservice.  It is pretty obvious that when we know we are being watched we work much harder.  Paul challenges them that this is the path of those who are man-pleasers.  This isn't intended to be a good thing.  We ought to work in order to please God not men.  Those who work to please men only worry about when they are watching.  It is insincere and false.  Am I trying to manipulate my boss instead of working hard for him?  God can always see us.  So If I am a God-pleaser, I know there is no time when I can "do whatever I want."

Be willing and "good-minded."  To have a good mind and heart about the job is easier said than done.  But it starts with remembering that Jesus is our real boss.  How we serve our earthly bosses says volumes about where our heart is before God himself.

God Always Has the Final Say

In verse 8 Paul begins to pivot by reminding the slave that both the slave and the free man will stand before God one day.  If I serve well in this life than God will reward me with good.  In fact, Scripture even teaches that to the degree we do good in life is the degree that God will reward us back.  That might change your motivation.  Salvation may be by grace but reward and punishment will be based upon our deeds.

Paul then gives a caution or warning to the masters / lords / bosses.  Bosses have bosses.  But ultimately all bosses have to answer to the big Boss in heaven.  He tells them in verse 9 that they should follow the same advice he had just given to their slaves.  This a verse that many a slave owner in the south neglected to ponder.  God does not play favorites.  Literally God is not enamored with your face and all it represents.  You might be the greatest "master" in all the world.  But God will judge you in the same way as the lowliest slave.

In our society we generally picture justice as blindfolded.  It is intended to demonstrate that it is blind to the individuals involved and only gives the truth.  However, justice is never blind to the facts of the situation.  For justice to be truly done then it must see not just the surface but even the intents of the hearts of those involved.  God himself is the ultimate justice.

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a dream speech," he talked about judgment and justice.

"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  What most miss is that Dr. King most certainly wanted his children judged.  However he longed for a judgement that was based upon truth and not the lies of men.  Lies that say worth can be seen by the color of someone's skin, or even the ability of their mind and body.

Do I approach my job as if it were a calling from God?  Even if you work for yourself, do you recognize that you still work for God?  When your job becomes a ministry to Jesus it will bless your employer, the customers and yourself.

Perhaps you are reading this today and you are thinking, "I wish I had a job."  Let this time be a time of reflection.  Perhaps you took previous jobs for granted.  Perhaps the Lord is teaching you to trust in him.  In the end if you will choose to be an employee like is mentioned in Ephesians 6 then you will find a job and God will bless you in it.

Sermon Audio