“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28
Who is the best person you know?
Who is the greatest Christian you’ve met…or heard of?
We tend to compare a lot. We compare our houses, our cars, and our lives. Right now, the United States is seeing some big divisions…or at least the appearance of division. It’s wealthy vs poor, black vs white, Democrat vs Republican, etc. These are all-to-often treated not as descriptions or categories, but seen as moral and immoral.
The wealthy have money because they stole it from the people who really earned it. The poor people are poor because they are lazy and just want a handout. Republicans hate poor people and minorities. Democrats want to take away all our freedoms. So on and so forth.
I’m not here to argue any of these points, but rather to talk about how we sometimes use these as points of comparison to make make ourselves feel morally superior to others. We compare.
“Well, I may have some flaws, but at least I’m not like those people who are xyz.”
The Great Christians
We even do this with our faith. This person spends x number of hours reading the Bible or praying. He is a great Christian. This person is always serving. She is a great Christian. These people are great church leaders. They are great Christians.
Conversely, we categorize sins. We scorn the person who cusses but ignore or indulge the person who gossips. We scorn the homosexual but look the other way when two unmarried people are living together.
The Great Equalizers
The truth is we are all sinners. White, black, poor, rich, Republican, Democrat, church leader, Christmas and Easter Christians, we are all sinners…all in the exact same boat. None are better than anyone else.
The other truth is that we are all beggars, completely reliant on the grace of God for our salvation. White, black, poor, rich…etc., none of us bring even the slightest thing to God’s table for our salvation.
These are the great equalizers, sin and grace.
No Boasting and No Pride
We may divide ourselves, but we are all the same. There is no difference. So, there is no place for boasting or pride in ourselves or whatever group/category we put ourselves in.
This is very important to understand in our relationship and attitude towards God and our understanding of our salvation. We come humbly as a sinner to receive the free gift of forgiveness and salvation.
This is also very important to understand in our relationships with each other. We treat each other with humility and respect. We love each other, forgive each other, and build each other up because we realize that God loves, forgives, and builds them up and that we need to be loved, forgiven, and built up just as much as they do.
There is no greatest Christian.
Whether Paul, Peter, Billy Graham, or you, all are sinners and all have been given the immeasurable grace of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for the times I have seen others as less and treated them as such. I am a sinner like they are whose only hope is Your grace. Please forgive me and help me to humbly love and respect others.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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