Liberty in Christ

"Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom," commented Alexis de Tocqueville when the United States was just a fledgling nation. 

In Christianity all are equal in Christ. Freedom is found in our relationship with Jesus. It does not matter our status, our economic situation, or our ethnic background. In Christ there is no male or female, no Jew or Gentile, and no slave or freeman (Gal. 3:28), for all have the freedom to approach the throne of grace. But in Christ, we have different job descriptions to fulfill and different gifts to employ for the enhancement of God's kingdom. Some of us may be wealthier than others; but all of us are rich in Christ. The wealthy have a responsibility to care for the less fortunate, for to whom has been given much, much will be required of him (Luke 12:48).

In the world, equality is all about rights and redistribution of wealth so that no one is inferior or superior to another. This is the view of communism, not Christianity. It eventually leads to an impoverished nation because the heart of man is evil continually (Gen. 6:5) and will seek to do best for him to the disregard and disrespect of others. Why put in full effort when the pay is equal? The Pilgrims learned this lesson quickly. At first, everyone was to work the community garden and share everything. Soon, the slackers were discovered who put in minimal effort. When each family was given their own plot of ground to cultivate their own produce, then the colony flourished. "A slack hand causes poverty, " says Scripture (Prov. 10:4). To have others remunerate the sluggard for his lack of effort is not equality; it is foolishness.

De Tocqueville also wrote, "Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." May the Lord change the hearts of men, for without Christ they will remain in slavery to their fleshly appetites, which lead to destruction. Hope is in the One who freed us from the bondage of sin and released us to live in grace for the betterment of mankind.