The Goal is Equality

Lamentations 3
2 Corinthians 8

At this time of year we are often concerned with how hot the weather is and what picnics we will be attending. Our minds are on our vacations and our holidays. This is supposed to be the best time of our year when we can relax a little and let the weekends roll by in warm sunshine and laughter.

No one wants to hear about wildfires that have been brought on by this massive heat wave. No one wants to hear about the storms that have hit the East Coast and caused many to lose power for several days and even killed some people. No one wants to hear about an arsonist who might be a young teenager and has burned four homes, killing one person and ruining precious memories.

But these things still exist whether it is our time for summer vacation or not. These realities do not go away just because it is time for us to kick back and relax after a hard year of working. More than ever, the church needs to be vigilant in its work to make sure people like this are taken care of throughout the year, and not just when we have time for them.

That is what Paul is trying to tell the people in Corinth. Corinth could be considered Paul’s problem child. He founded the church and for the last year he has been trying to raise money to send to the church in Jerusalem that desperately needed it. There was a lot of persecution and suffering going on in that church, not unlike today.

At first, the Corinthian church was the first to give money, but then something happened. They lost interest with a church that was so far away from them and instead became more concerned with what was going on around them. Paul is writing this letter in the hopes of inspiring the people to remember that their commitment to God is not just about the things they can see, but the things they cannot.

Faith is about that. Jesus promises us that because we have not seen and yet we believe, our reward and help will be much more than what the disciples received because our faith will be richer. It takes a lot of faith and a lot of strength to continue to support a cause when we cannot see anything good coming from it.

It’s probably why we are so willing to give generously to help out things like Vacation Bible School, but sometimes find ourselves unwilling to give as generously to a mission that does not directly affect our lives and our children’s lives. But both Paul and Jesus are quite clear that God is asking something of us that requires more than a superficial faith.

God has asked us to feed his sheep. Jesus does not say which ones when he speaks to Peter. Jesus does not tell us anything about who the sheep are except to say that we are to love everyone and to treat everyone equally. Paul says the same thing when he tells the church in Corinth that the goal is equality. Some will reap a little and others will reap a lot. But those that reap a little will have just enough as will those that reap more.

Equality is a word that has special importance to Americans, especially on holidays like the one that is coming up this week. Independence Day, where we declare our freedom from tyranny and abuse. The day where we declare all men and women equal in the eyes of the government and in the eyes of the people. This is the day where we celebrate, remember, and recognize the gifted people that set up our democratic government and those that gave their lives not just to create it, but to keep it safe for the last 250 years.

However, there is a problem that has developed in last hundred years as we seek for more and more equality for everyone. People have become so enamored with equality for all, that they have forgot about the collective. Nowhere in the Bible does God talk about the people as individuals. God is always speaking of “My People” or “My sheep”. In the United States, we say we are one people, but the divisions are many and growing.

We are divided in our ideas on politics to such a degree that the two major parties have refused to work together to benefit the good of everyone. We are divided in our finances to such a degree that there is resentment between those who have a lot and those who have a little even when the money has been earned honestly and with hard work. We are divided in our religious ideals to such a degree that new denominations and churches pop up all over the place because no one can agree on things that should not matter as much as we have made them matter.

With such divides, it seems impossible that we can create equality among the masses. How do we breach such chasms? How do we go from being separated to being united after all that has passed to cause these divisions?

Paul tells us that we must take stock of what we have done and what we are still able to do. The church in Corinth began to do great things and then they got caught up in their individuality. Paul reminds them that churches that have a whole lot less than they have given much more to the cause in Jerusalem. He says this to them, not to cause resentment or envy, but to remind them that those who give, will surely receive God’s blessing and thanks.

It’s okay to be different from the rest of the world. It’s okay to have your own agenda and ideas. Differences help to bring out the best. That is why America has always been so proud to be called a Melting Pot – we proposed that our differences did not stop us from creating a great country and it did not stop us from working together.

Until recently. In the last quarter century we have seen the divides widen and we have seen differences that used to be celebrated become scorned. We see the same things happening in our churches and in our families. Why have our hearts become so hardened to others and their thoughts, ideas, and needs? What has created this painful break that is starting to feel inevitable and unstoppable?

Jesus reminds us that we are to love one another without restrictions. Jesus wanted equality for all of us. Paul reminds us that even in our financial dealings we should give without restriction because it will create equality. Throughout the Bible we are reminded that we are to open our hearts and our homes and our churches to everyone without restriction because it will create equality.

I think the day we stopped doing these things is the day the chasm began to grow deeper. When we stopped thinking as an US and started thinking as I. It is not just the government that does this, but the church does it as well. It happened two thousand years ago and it happens today. The only way to stop it is to go back to what Jesus and Paul tell us to do. We are to love others, to give generously and to accept others so that there might be equality among us. So that there might be unity and faith and joy for all people.

I pray it is not too late for this country or for God’s church to reconcile. Instead of celebrating our differences this Independence day, let us celebrate how so many different people could create one beautiful and successful country. Instead of being concerned with what happens only in this church or our denomination, let us celebrate how the many churches lift up their voices on Sunday to sing praises to God, to love the one that loved us first by giving His life for our own. Jesus is the one that made us all equal before God, it is up to us to create equality among all people.

Amen.