Tag Archives: Gala3:28

Equality – Thu – 23-01-19

Daily Spark

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For centuries, women were second class citizens, valued less than men. In ancient Israel, inheritance rights flowed through male descendants with only a couple of exceptions. In the Roman world, infants, usually daughters, were often abandoned on the city garbage heap to die. However, women’s status was not always inferior. Women in ancient Egypt had the same rights as men. A woman’s rights varied based on her social class, but not on her gender.

In self-governing countries, women did not receive the right to vote as early as men. New Zealand was the first self-governing country to recognize a woman’s right to vote in 1893. Although several different states in the United States recognized women’s voting rights earlier, the U.S. Constitution was not amended until 1920.* However, women have still experienced discrimination of different kinds since then.

The equality of women has been a teaching in Christianity from the first century, though not always practiced. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) Paul asserted that  gender and other distinctions do not change our access to God. All who believe in Jesus share in his blessings and promises. All form one body in Him.

Today, thank God for creating people as male and female. We are all precious in his sight and share equally in salvation.

*”Timeline of women’s suffrage,” Wikipedia, last updated December 28, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_women’s_suffrage

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Unity In Diversity

Random Thoughts, , ,

Imagine a young boy who dreams of flying like a bird. He runs, jumps and flaps his arms furiously. He gets creative and uses cardboard to fashion wings for his arms. Again and again he flaps and jumps — never reaching his dream to soar on the wind. His lack of capability leads to frustration.

Western culture prizes diversity and desperately desires unity. The acceptance of differences between people into a social unity is the dream of many. However, their attempts to foster this diversity and unity are frustrated. The frustration results in anger. Like the boy dreaming to fly, they keep flapping their arms and devising new props, never realizing they don’t have what’s needed to achieve the dream.

Unity in diversity is possible, but not through the efforts in vogue in western culture. Unity is not found by simply tolerating the differences between people. It needs a core, a center, a gravity that pulls us together in spite of our differences. That gravity must transform the hearts and beliefs of people to overcome the differences.

There is only one force that can attract and transform — Jesus. We are drawn to God as children through Jesus’ work. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (NIV) “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.” Ephesians 2:14-15  (NIV)