Everyday JusticeНамуна

Universal equality

Suffragettes. Civil rights demonstrators. Disability rights activists. They all possess a fundamental belief: ‘We deserve to be treated with equal dignity, according to the same standards as everyone else.’ This form of equality is essential to justice.

These contemporary activists share this conviction with New Testament authors. Think of Paul’s metaphor of the body in 1 Corinthians 12, through which he rebukes a church divided along economic lines. Or his reprimand of Peter in Galatians 2 for treating Gentiles differently. Or James lamenting favouritism in James 2.

What can we learn from these letters? Firstly, God’s own treatment of us in Christ provides a model for us to follow in our dealings with others. Secondly, His people constantly need reminding to do that.

Of course, there are plenty of references across Scripture to the special place in God’s heart for the poor. This safeguards equality in the face of what is often the societal norm – that the vulnerable are marginalised whilst the powerful are given greater respect.

God’s vision for local churches, expressed through the epistles and still true today, is that they would be places where all are regarded equally, reflecting the radical implications of the gospel, through which we’re made one in Christ. In Him, as Paul makes clear – ethnic, social, and gender barriers which prioritise one group over another are gone – God’s covenant love and mercy is extended to all.

And yet, we fall short. We read James’ warning to avoid discrimination, but still gravitate towards higher status individuals who boost our reputation and make us look good.

Instead, what if we lived out the implications of the gospel, rejected our pride, and were ‘willing to associate with people of low position’? A practice that might help us here is hospitality.

Rather than simply welcoming those who look like us, except a bit cooler, what if we combatted favouritism and reached out to the margins? Who in our daily life might God highlight? As life opens up, which slightly awkward colleague might we invite for a drink, which new neighbour could we have for dinner, which lonely outsider could we invite in?

As we do this, we reflect our radically just Saviour, who loved us even when we were strangers. And through our acts of everyday justice, may the church in the here-and-now be a foretaste of the coming kingdom, where diverse multitudes – every nation, tribe, people, and language – have equal access to the throne of grace.

Action

How might you practice hospitality in your daily life this week?