Equality for Some is Not Equality. So what? What does it matter?
If you use the Bible as your guide for living, you may be interested in how many times and how many ways the Bible says that God shows no favouritism or partiality and calls followers to do likewise.
Yes, setting different limitations for women than are imposed on men is showing favouritism. Equality means equal status, respect, freedoms, and responsibilities. It is not about being the same, but having the same rights and responsibilities. Equal but with different freedoms, roles, or responsibilities defined for you denies your equality. Different is inherently different. The Bible tells both women and men to rule over creation (Genesis 1:28). Many passages tell women to proclaim God's word.
As I began my writing journey, I wanted to shine the light on women in the Bible and show how God empowered, equipped, and enabled women to speak and act. Mary prophesies that Jesus will bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly. Numerous Bible stories also show how God equips and empowers women for a variety of tasks including speaking and leading. In fact, the Bible shows how God holds women responsible for fulfilling their call to speak or lead. My studies showed that women are not the only inequality the Bible addresses and overturns. Jesus reaches out to heal people of various ethnicities. He reveals to the Samaritan woman at the well that he is the Messiah and sends her to tell her neighbours. Peole of mixed-race are found in Jesus's lineage. The book of Acts shows the early church baptizing a eunuch as well as Romans, Samaritans, and others.
That's why my novels show characters overcoming the trauma of sexism and grappling with the effects of racism. The Bible is why my novels show women empowered as speakers and leaders in the early church, wives and husbands as equal partners, and eunuchs and gay couples as equal members of the church.
Does the Bible Endorse Equality?
Equality in Salvation:
God does not show favouritism but accepts everyone who worships him and does what is right - Acts 10:34-35
Righteousness is given to all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile - Romans 3:22
“Whoever believes in God’s Son shall not perish but have eternal life”
John 3:16
“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thurst; it will become in them a spring of water welling up
to eternal life.”
John 4:14
We were all given one Spirit to drink, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
Equality in Call and Responsibilities
The Lord doesn’t look at your height or physical appearance, but at the heart
-1 Samuel 16:7
You are not blessed for your womb and breasts but for hearing the word of God and obeying it
- Luke 11:27-28
The Spirit made women and men adopted with the legal rights of sons, co-heirs with Christ - Romans 8:15-17
In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male and female... all believers are co-heirs with Jesus -Galatians 3:28 - all believers have the same rights and freedoms.
Since Christ is in all, it doesn’t matter if you are Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, foreigner or barbarian, slave or citizen -Colossians 3:11
Women and men are all priests, God’s people - 1 Peter 2:9-10
In the Lord, a woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman;
everything comes from God - 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
Believers are no longer immigrants but citizens of God’s realm - Ephesians 2:19
Equal in Responsibility to Live Morally
Orientation is not a choice; Sin is about wrong choices. Believers are called to be faithful to their partner, regardless of their orientation.
God created you and formed you; God does not condemn you for the way God made you.
-Psalm 139:13-14
To the eunuchs who choose what pleases God, God will honour them within the Temple, better than sons and daughters - Isaiah 56:4-5
We are conquerors through Christ who loved us... nothing can separate us from the love of God - Romans 8:37-38
God does not show favouritism for those who are held in high esteem -Galatians 2:6, Luke 14:7-11. Being in the majority does not make you better.
God shows no partiality and accepts no bribes - Deuteronomy 10:17 - You cannot manipulate God to give you blessings or power.
God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous - Matthew 5:45
How does it Impact Followers of Jesus that God is unbiased and shows no favouritism?
There will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good: Jew or Gentile, for God does not show favoritism - Romans 2:10-11
Stop judging by outward appearances
- John 7:24
Believers in Jesus must not show favouritism
- James 2:1
If you keep the law, “love your neighbour as yourself”, you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you are a lawbreaker - James 2:8-9
Summary
God shows no favouritism or partiality. God does not have a bias that one gender or race would have privileges or freedoms not extended to another gender or race. Throughout the Bible we see God calling to the vulnerable, lifting the lowly, and reaching out to adopt all people as equal heirs in God's family. What he asks of us is to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves. He calls us to reach out and adopt all people into God's family.
Enjoy my original poem about freedom and equality:
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1
The Sword A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience
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