The problem with our concept of "equality" is that people have forgotten that the phrase "created equal" is just as much about the word "CREATED" as it is "EQUAL," which is to say "GOD, the ALMIGHTY CREATOR, has purposed that every single Man Born is HIS, and is VITAL to his Grand Designs, and has a Divinely Appointed Purpose, and is therefore just as valuable TO HIS CREATOR as YOU are."
It is not a statement of the glory of humanity. It is not a statement of purpose to create equality on earth. It is not some standard of living.
It means, quite simply "Hey, Asshole! You with the Gold and the Jewels! God looks at you and sees ZERO INHERENT DIFFERENCE between you and the slave shivering in the pile of rags. The only thing He notices is that you're ignoring your fellow man while he's suffering, and he's been listening to that slave's prayers for mercy for a LONG time."
"All Men are Created Equal" is a statement not that we need to force the elevation of others, but rather that we must ALL walk humbly, giving proper thanks for what we have, and when one is before us with genuine need, not because he spent all his money on alcohol and drugs, but because of some unforeseen circumstance, we are to help get him back to the point where he can stand on his own.
And by the same circumstance, I must remind everyone, this means that when you are NOT standing on your own, but are demanding that others lift you up, YOU are failing to stand into your OWN inherent equality, preferring the comfortable squalor to the hard work.
Just as true does God look down on the man sitting on the street corner in the dirty coat, laughing and talking with his friends as they smoke, and drink, and His wrath is kindled as they act the victim and take money from the man walking home from work, after a long hard day in the sun listing heavy weight and swinging tools for hours, as he does what is right to provide for those he loves.
So are all men "Created Equal?" Yes, yes of course. God creates every single man as a blank slate, and says "Make me Proud, my child." And then we all fuck it up in exciting ways from our first thoughts onward. We are all Equal in our potential to disappoint our Creator.
And, ironically enough, the more we try to enforce equality, the more we create situations where we disappoint. And yet, when we create systems of Freedom, which expose inherent physical inequality, do we also create situations to allow us to ignore the physical inequality and instead focus on our inner equality, knowing that though I may have less than you, I am no less human, and you knowing the same allows us to be brothers and "equals" though there is such a gap between us.
I have a Christian Brother at church. He's a multi millionaire. Owns literal "Many Mansions." Me? I work at Walmart. I do some side jobs here or there, and have a couple independent projects to bring in money when I want some new toys, but I live a small, quiet life. He and I are equals. I feel no envy towards him, he feels neither pity nor scorn for me. Though we couldn't be more inequal, we are equal.
This is what our Founders meant. This is what we need to get back to.
Well, both are true, crazily enough. It's like how "All who cometh unto me will I in no wise turn aside," and also "None cometh unless the Father draw them."
Chicken and Egg discussions of predestination and free will aside, I prefer to emphasize the Unlimited Power of Christ's Atonement, that if all of Mankind would come to him, he'd have not even a whiff of a problem covering every single sin ever committed, rather than focusing on the Limited Scope of his Atonement, which is to say that although he CAN cover all of Mankind's sins, not everyone will indeed avail of that grace, and many, countless many, will be lost in their own rebellion.
I'm fully aware that "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated," and that's just a sad reality of the situation. But generally (not always) that doesn't help people who aren't already seeking the love of The Redeemer.
The problem with our concept of "equality" is that people have forgotten that the phrase "created equal" is just as much about the word "CREATED" as it is "EQUAL," which is to say "GOD, the ALMIGHTY CREATOR, has purposed that every single Man Born is HIS, and is VITAL to his Grand Designs, and has a Divinely Appointed Purpose, and is therefore just as valuable TO HIS CREATOR as YOU are."
It is not a statement of the glory of humanity. It is not a statement of purpose to create equality on earth. It is not some standard of living.
It means, quite simply "Hey, Asshole! You with the Gold and the Jewels! God looks at you and sees ZERO INHERENT DIFFERENCE between you and the slave shivering in the pile of rags. The only thing He notices is that you're ignoring your fellow man while he's suffering, and he's been listening to that slave's prayers for mercy for a LONG time."
"All Men are Created Equal" is a statement not that we need to force the elevation of others, but rather that we must ALL walk humbly, giving proper thanks for what we have, and when one is before us with genuine need, not because he spent all his money on alcohol and drugs, but because of some unforeseen circumstance, we are to help get him back to the point where he can stand on his own.
And by the same circumstance, I must remind everyone, this means that when you are NOT standing on your own, but are demanding that others lift you up, YOU are failing to stand into your OWN inherent equality, preferring the comfortable squalor to the hard work.
Just as true does God look down on the man sitting on the street corner in the dirty coat, laughing and talking with his friends as they smoke, and drink, and His wrath is kindled as they act the victim and take money from the man walking home from work, after a long hard day in the sun listing heavy weight and swinging tools for hours, as he does what is right to provide for those he loves.
So are all men "Created Equal?" Yes, yes of course. God creates every single man as a blank slate, and says "Make me Proud, my child." And then we all fuck it up in exciting ways from our first thoughts onward. We are all Equal in our potential to disappoint our Creator.
And, ironically enough, the more we try to enforce equality, the more we create situations where we disappoint. And yet, when we create systems of Freedom, which expose inherent physical inequality, do we also create situations to allow us to ignore the physical inequality and instead focus on our inner equality, knowing that though I may have less than you, I am no less human, and you knowing the same allows us to be brothers and "equals" though there is such a gap between us.
I have a Christian Brother at church. He's a multi millionaire. Owns literal "Many Mansions." Me? I work at Walmart. I do some side jobs here or there, and have a couple independent projects to bring in money when I want some new toys, but I live a small, quiet life. He and I are equals. I feel no envy towards him, he feels neither pity nor scorn for me. Though we couldn't be more inequal, we are equal.
This is what our Founders meant. This is what we need to get back to.
Truth is, we arent created equal either. God loves us all, but He likes some more than others.
Well, both are true, crazily enough. It's like how "All who cometh unto me will I in no wise turn aside," and also "None cometh unless the Father draw them."
Chicken and Egg discussions of predestination and free will aside, I prefer to emphasize the Unlimited Power of Christ's Atonement, that if all of Mankind would come to him, he'd have not even a whiff of a problem covering every single sin ever committed, rather than focusing on the Limited Scope of his Atonement, which is to say that although he CAN cover all of Mankind's sins, not everyone will indeed avail of that grace, and many, countless many, will be lost in their own rebellion.
I'm fully aware that "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated," and that's just a sad reality of the situation. But generally (not always) that doesn't help people who aren't already seeking the love of The Redeemer.