Equality and choices

2010-01-23 20:10
Equality and choices

As stated in a previous blog there will be a vote on the Equality bill in House of Lords in the UK on Monday 25th January. A major problem with the bill is that it “will not even allow many churches to ensure that key members of their staff are living a lifestyle in accordance with the Bible’s teaching on sexual morality.“

As Christians we support equality but what does it mean and what is not a matter of equality?

The Lawyer’s Christian Fellowship’s gives a Biblical rationale for equality. Excerpts:

“Equality is an easy topic for Christians to talk about. The Bible teaches that every person is created in God’s image and God loves us all.

Against the cultural norms of the day, the nation of Israel was told by God that “the foreigner living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself”, a sentiment echoed in Paul’s words that “there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all”.

And the most demanding of all calls to equality was that made by Jesus when he explained the second half of the greatest commandment was to love your neighbour as yourself.

Christians should thank and support the Government for much of what they have done and are continuing to do to tackle inequality. In doing so they are following the example set by Jesus who was radical in paying no heed to social status, race, sex or disability. He looks at people’s hearts. It was Jesus who broke social taboos by speaking alone with a woman, and indeed a woman from a marginalised racial background.

It was Jesus who spent more time with the socially and economically deprived than the great and the good and Jesus who again and again had compassion on those suffering from physical and mental afflictions who lived on the outskirts of society.

But equality does not apply to all things. In particular, God has made it clear that He does not view as equal all the choices we make about how to live our lives. Some choices are better than others.

The Old Testament law explains that it is wrong to worship anything or anyone other than the Lord God and that sexual immorality such as adultery, incestuous relationships and homosexual practices are also wrong. Jesus confirmed these laws apply to us today.

But as clear as the Bible’s teaching on immorality and false beliefs, is the Bible’s instruction that we should love people who follow false beliefs or practise immorality and welcome them into the Church to help them find the forgiveness and freedom that all Christians know.”