While having dinner with some folks during a gospel meeting some
years ago, we were treated by a near monologue from one of our
fellow dinner guests. He was telling us why he and his wife were
more comfortable in the former congregation they attended more
than in the one they now attended. They presently attended where
our hosts were members and I was preaching in the meeting. The
reason for their enjoying the former group was that most of them
were nearer to their “socioeconomic status,” which he obviously
thought to be quite high. Being the nice cultured fellow that I
am, I bit my tongue and did not say the first thing that came to
my mind, which was, “Why don’t you go back to where you came
from.”
If
there is any place where people can feel like, and be treated on
equal footing, it ought to be in the congregations of God’s
people. Being in Christ is a great equalizer. Both the rich and
the poor should feel both “poor in spirit”
(Mt 5:3)
and
“rich in faith”
(Jas 2:5)
at
the same time. Paul said of those in Christ: “There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither
male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(Gal 3:28 KJV)
This covers ethic, social, and gender differences.
An
informed humble faithful Christian recognizes that all people
are really of one ethic background. All came originally from one
couple and then from four couples.
(Gen 1, 2, 6).
He recognizes that the “bond” (low on the socioeconomic scale)
are “free” in Christ and the “free” man realizes he is under
servitude to Christ and righteousness.
(1 Cor 7:22; Rom 6).
He realizes that, while the roles of males and females differ
because of the creation and fall of man
(1 Tim 2:11-14),
both males and females are “heirs together of the grace of
life.”
(Cf. 1 Pt 3:7).
In
Christ and His local churches, there is no room for any “Big I’s
and little you’s” because we are all one in Christ. If one can’t
live with that, then he, like Peter on one occasion, needs a
serious attitude adjustment.
Other Articles by Edward O.
Bragwell Sr.
How to Raise An Heartache
Is
Unrestricted Loyalty a Virtue?
A New Dogma
How to Raise a Heartache
The Right Baptism
Standing Alone