Equality

God has given us the perfect way for having the attitude of equality; an equality that would also eliminate bigotry or racism. He does it by telling us to submit to one another, which requires having a highly respectful view of every believer.

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. ^{Ephesians 5:21}

…Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ^{I Peter 5:5}

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ^{James 3:17}

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ^{Galatians 3:28}

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. ^{Colossians 3:10-11}

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. ^{I Timothy 5:21}

Preeminent ones will not submit to you but rather expect you to submit to him or her. The Bible clearly tells us they are wrong and that we are to be subject to one another (in equality and without partiality).

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: ^{Galatians 2:4-6}

Here we see those in preeminence trying to put others into bondage, trying to make others subject to them. There is no equality in their thoughts. Instead, they think of themselves as “somewhat”, or above others. To put others into a place of subjection the preeminent will sometimes even resort to sending out their spies.

Equality destroys the system of preeminence. Allowing or submitting to others as preeminent over you feeds the system of preeminence. So too does any thought that you are better than another and deserve a position of preeminence. Whenever and wherever the preeminent system is in place, it destroys the liberty and equality there is in Christ Jesus, the one and only true Shepherd of his sheep.

Ralph Wendt