WORDS vs ACTIONS

 

WORDS vs ACTION

James 2:14-26

11/25

I want to talk about a subject that has occupied my thoughts for many years and that is equality and equity. I know I have discussed this before but I continue to get a word from God which gives me better understanding and wisdom as time goes on.

However, first I want to relay the abbreviated theme of a conversation I had with a person of influence and authority here in my area. We were discussing a chapter in a book I wrote in 2013. It involved my opinion about a proposed solution to our nations homeless/addiction issues in one of the chapters. I suggested we could use our closed military bases, prisons and mental hospitals to house these disadvantaged people. It wouldn’t be a prison environment but a secured safe place where people could strive to retrain, reeducate and reenter society and assume sober and clean productive lifestyle. These institutions would have an environment as close to the outside world as possible, meaning all essential services would be available. Of course there is much more to this idea but it would require many more pages to explain. This is just the basic outline. The person of authority I mentioned didn’t think this was such a great idea and criticized much of my proposal. Maybe this was just their way of testing the feasibility of my idea. I will give them the benefit of the doubt about it. Bottom line, if we look into the future of this country, something must be done to insure the healthy longevity of the USA. Sometimes we have to make uncomfortable decisions to promote what is the most beneficial for the vast majority of the people and our country. All of it without infringing on the integrity and self-esteem of anyone, but instead building them up so that their personal perception of self-worth and value is at least equivalent to anyone else. I will be happy to discuss this in more detail with any interested party.

I also want to discuss something that has happened within the local church, and is probably prevalent throughout the much of the Christian church. However, I can only comment on what I have witnessed here at home. An individual I know very well was relaying the proposed idea of a friend to an authority figure in the church and this person in authority negatively criticized it and the friend, stating this friend was not properly trained and had hygiene issues. This idea involved meeting with selected individuals that had experienced a particular type of trauma and just offering fellowship. This friends idea was based on their personal experience and felt they could offer a personal level of comfort to individuals based on that personal experience. I agree. I have found through my own experience that when an individual has personal experience in anything it is always so much easier to relate and comfort someone that experienced that same trauma. This isn’t counseling per se just offering an understanding shoulder. This is where we have to be careful about what we say, how we say it, and remember not to judge and leave room for what we don’t completely understand. I believe there is also an issue of arrogance this authority figure has to confront. Matthew 7:1-5 & Romans 14. This person in authority in the church had never personally experienced what our friend had. This, as in most cases, points to the fact that we are not perfect or have all knowledge and understanding and should always remember to watch our words. Romans 12:3-8. This friend I mentioned here is going ahead with their proposal and I know it will be beneficial to many people. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

I believe it is important for the authority positions of Pastor, Elder, and Deacon to remember what the Bible says in regard to there respective responsibilities are in the church. First and foremost are the scriptures Matthew 22:37-40 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

Now that those concerns are out of the forefront of my mind I would like to discuss equality and equity again. I have to say here that I would love to give a public teaching on what my thoughts are regarding the God inspired true meaning of these two words. I believe the public understanding and perception is often wrong, or at least misunderstood. Not necessarily anyone's fault for lack of knowledge but mostly due to ignorance because most of us rely on the worlds definition instead of Gods.

I think we can relate part if not all of what I discussed earlier to the worlds perception of equality. This can change if we really want change. If we live, as we say we do, by the words written in Matthew 22:37-40 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 we should have no problem in adjusting our attitude and perspective. EQUALITY means exactly that. Equality in all things pertaining to life and opportunity on this planet for everyone. In health, education, welfare, nutrition, security or anything else I may have left out. This equality of life should be made available to everyone to voluntarily accept or reject. It shouldn’t matter what the circumstances or situations were that any of us were born into, or race, color, nationality, etc. God says that we are all equal in His eyes and He does not have favorites. He also gave us free will and this is where our responsibility lies. If we all have the same exact opportunity to do whatever we are gifted or talented in, we have to make the decision to take the opportunity, accept and receive it so we may be in a position to enjoy this life to the fullest we are capable of. We should have no reason or excuse to look into the past and complain about our past, present or future life. Our life, and the life of our family should be a model of satisfaction and contentment. Of course I am not so naive that I can believe there will not be a few who will not take advantage of the opportunities available to them. All I can say here is that we have to be understanding, compassionate and forgiving realizing there is no perfection in our world. God gives us many opportunities for repentance when we fall and we should do the same for our brothers and sisters.

Now for EQUITY. Many in our society regard equity as a socialist or communist agenda or idea. That is not my definition. When we look at equality and when it is followed exactly as I have stated earlier then all of us should have achieved our own personal definition of satisfaction and contentment with the life we have co-labored with God to achieve. Monetary or material remuneration should be of no concern. We will still all enjoy the same opportunity to receive all things pertaining to a healthy and well balanced life. Naturally, as has always been the case, if we were called or gifted to be a trades-person vs someone called to be a doctor or other profession there will be a difference in compensation. The difference here is that we are satisfied and content with what we chose to be doing and enjoy. There will always be different levels of necessary training or education for a variety of fields and this we cannot change. We can’t possibly be doing all the same types of work or be compensated monetarily the same, but we can and should be happy where we are and doing what we like to do. Equity is being where God created us to be and serving in the body where He gifted us and knowing all people are equal and are being treated equally.

Bottom line, in reality there has never been equality in this country or any other that I know. There have been attempts to legislate equality over the years but they have only been what I call band-aid solutions. We just patch it up for a while, never seriously enforce it, make a few promises that we never entirely keep, through some money in it’s direction to pacify and what the politicians call kick the can down the road. Let the next person handle it. We move on to what we consider to be more important knowing in the back of our minds that the most important thing in bringing stability, contentment and longevity to a society is to bring equality. If we have equality and the opportunity and time to infuse it into society’s very being equity will naturally flow from it. In relationship with our creator God we have nothing to fear. The seven deadly sins of greed, pride, gluttony, lust, sloth, wrath and envy will not exist. We are all called to be ministers of reconciliation, to forgive unconditionally, and most important to love God and one another. Love conquers all.

Love and Peace, Amen

Pastor Walter C. Scott