What Does the Bible Say About Equal Rights?

What Does the Bible Say About Equal Rights?

What the Bible Says About Equality

In this day and age, it seems like there is more a divide than ever when it comes to what people think equality should look like. In Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” The Founding Fathers, although they were imperfect like every human, saw that equality should play an important role in how a country is governed.

So, what does the Bible say about equal rights? While there are many verses throughout the Bible that discuss the topic of equality, a few that perfectly sum up what God’s Word says about it is Romans 2:11, God is no respecter of persons, and Genesis 1:27, every man is created in the image of God.

Not only does the Bible discuss how we are to view each other, but also how we should treat each other, no matter how different we are. In this article, I will share more about what the Bible says about equality.

What is the Definition of Equality?

Before you can truly understand what the Bible says about equality, you must first understand what equality actually means. Many people confuse justice as equality or think that to be equal, others must put themselves down to be the same as the majority. This is not equality.

Equality is the state or status of being equal. If equality is a status, it means everyone is viewed as the same status. This means that everyone will be treated and judged the same no matter their race, gender, age, or where they are from.

The thing about the Bible is that you can’t just read it and go out and do what it says. It requires the Spirit of God in you in order to operate at the level mentioned in the Bible. When Jesus talks about “love each other as I have loved you,” Jesus understood that you couldn’t truly love yourself, or others, without first understanding how God loves you. This means that in order to truly see equality in America, society must have a revelation on how God loves them.

Bible Verses About Equality

God has a lot to say about equality and how it applies to many different types of people. Here are some Bible verses that reveal what God thinks about equality:

God is no Respecter of Persons

Romans 2:11

For there is no respect of persons with God.

Acts 10:34

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

This is a recurring phrase found throughout the Bible…that means it must be important! What does it mean? It means that God shows no favoritism; He doesn’t favor one person over another.

This can sometimes be difficult to believe when you think someone is prettier than you or when someone was born into a better situation than you, but the truth is that God created every man, woman, and child equally. While we may not be able to see that due to our focus on the outward circumstance or situation, God made sure it. He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. In God’s eyes, every task, person, and plan He has called us to is important.

Everyone Has Been Offered the Same Salvation

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Many people may wonder why some people get saved and come to know Jesus while others don’t. The truth of the matter is that Jesus has offered salvation to everyone, it’s just up to the person to accept it. The words “whoever,” and “whosoever,” prove that anyone can accept the gift of salvation.

What the Bible Says About Equality for Women

1 Corinthians 11:12

For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

Oftentimes, you may hear the argument that God made men better than women because He made Adam first and Eve came from Adam. The above Bible verse proves this theory completely untrue. You can see that God has created an intricate plan of equality throughout creation.

Ephesians 5:28

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

How can man be better or think of himself better than a woman when he is told to love his wife as himself? Jesus said to “love one another as I have loved you.” How can you think yourself better than someone else when you are loving them as Jesus loved you?

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

God does not judge you on whether you are a male or a female; He judges you based on whether or not you believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible talks about how all believers are one body in Christ. When we get to Heaven, we won’t be concerned with whether we are male or female; instead, we’ll just be focused on operating as the Body of Christ.

What the Bible Says About Racial Equality

Acts 10:34

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

Peter made this statement after having a revelation that God gave salvation to not only the Jews but also the Gentiles. Until this point, Israel had tried to stay isolated when it came to welcoming others into the Faith. They thought that salvation was just for them. God gave Peter a vision in which He explained that outsiders and Gentiles can come to know Jesus too.

You see, the Israelites thought of themselves as God’s chosen people. I’m sure this went to many of their heads and made them look down on others of different backgrounds and races. In this moment, Peter was able to realized that God looks at man equally.

Colossians 3:11

where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

This Bible verse is talking about the Body of Christ. It’s talking about who can make up the Body of Christ; Greeks, Jews, the circumcised, the uncircumcised, the barbarian, the Scythian, a slave, and a freeman can all be in the Body of Christ. God doesn’t care about you social or racial status; He cared about your spiritual status!

Why Doesn’t Jesus Address Slavery?

With slavery and racial oppression being a big topic in today’s society, many question why Jesus or the Epistles never addresses the institution of slavery. There are Bible verses when the Epistles addresses both slave and master, but never one where they discuss the morality of slavery itself.

1 Timothy 6:1

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Colossians 4:1

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

As you can see in these verses, the Bible addresses both slaves and masters and tells them both to respect one another as proof of God inside of them. But what does God actually think about slavery?

I’ll say this; God isn’t in to temporary fixes. How can you make an everlasting change? How can slavery be eradicated forever? The only answer is through Jesus and understanding love for one another. God knew that in order for people to experience physical freedom, they first need to know spiritual freedom. Look at these Bible verses:

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Slavery is the result of the Fall of Man and of sin. Slavery exists because people can’t see how God loves and cares for everyone. The good news is that God has called us to share the Good News! By showing people how God loves them, we can continue to make a difference in our circles and communities.

 

Do you know your basic human rights? the Bible lists many of the human rights you are entitled to. To learn more, check out the article What Does the Bible Say About Human Rights?

 

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