Editorial Note: I no longer hold to the religious beliefs I did at the time of writing this, but I think there is value in this article remaining published. Especially in the haze of Christian nationalism we find ourselves in during the year of 2025.
We are all the same people
With sinning hearts that make us equal.
These are some of the closing lines to Emery’s song entitled “Listening to Freddie Mercury” that was released as part of their album The Question in 2005. This song has always stuck with me from when I first heard it as a young teenager. Society has changed a lot in just 15 years, but at the time it seemed Christendom had a very, let’s just say unbiblical view towards people with same sex attraction. And many still do, one of shunning and malice, even hate in some cases. So the very song title is a clever rebuke towards those individuals. Especially coming from a Christian background these lyrics, among other things always aided my belief that Christ’s and the apostle’s teachings could in no way be used as justification for such mistreatment of other human beings. In fact quite the opposite. The song also seems to go farther though, condemning holding disdain for others in general. As right before the declaration of equality there is a list of sins that the religious world would find much fault with,
Gary’s getting drunk to forget Sarah
Sarah’s stealing money from her parents
Aaron’s lying straight to John
About Megan and the things that went on
Jessica’s a gossip, Laura’s a slut
Derrick hits Bridget and Ben deals drugs
Seth spends all his money gambling
But then we are left with these lines,
Joey stopped praying
It’s all the same
The equalization of a Christian’s failure to fulfill their duty of prayer with that of abuse, dishonesty, and deceit.
It rings a bell with Martin Luther’s 95 Theses after seeing the church prop themselves above the people and hold that they could forgive sins in return for money (among other wrongs). Somehow they were of greater purity than the ‘common folk’. Luther could not read though Paul’s sweeping declaration “For all of sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV). And before that his elegant legal argument and conclusion, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9 KJV). While coming to any other conclusion than the equality of every person. The pope is equal to the peasant because they have the same heart. There was and is no religious leader, pastor, priest, or person that could forgive sins, because every human is equal.
One of the most stunning Biblical contrasts in my opinion is seen when comparing John chapter 3 and 4. In chapter 3 Nicodemus, a religious leader comes to Jesus at night because he did not want to draw attention from the other leaders that despised and rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Nicodemus would have been one regarded highly and esteemed by the Jewish people. Someone seen to be in great standing with God. In chapter 4 Jesus comes to a well where a woman draws water alone (something that would have been done in groups normally), a complete outcast. Outcast by the Jews because she was a Samaritan and outcast by her community because of her life choices.
Jesus saw into both individual’s hearts, all their sins, failures, accomplishments, and motives. Yet he treated them both with the same care and respect. Addressing them still as distinct individuals that were very different but of equal value. Nicodemus needed to realize he was in the same standing and value as the Samaritan woman. He must have been shocked when Jesus told him he must be born again (John 3:3). And the woman already knew her failures. She must of thought of herself in such low esteem. So Christ elevates her, because she needed to see she had the same standing and value as Nicodemus. He invites her to enjoy living water and to become a true worshiper (John 4:13-24). Worship was not limited to those attending stunning temples or those with great wealth to tithe. Rather the grandest and most precious worship to God would be from the lips of true worshipers, such as this woman.
Also in these chapters not only is observed one of the greatest contrasts, but one of the most beautiful statements in the gospels. Toward the beginning of chapter 4, John remarks that Jesus “had to pass through Samaria” (John 4:4 ESV) when traveling from Judea to Galilee. Now Samaria was in between Judea and Galilee, so obviously he’s going to travel through Samaria. Well it wasn’t so obvious, the Jews wanted nothing to do with the Samaritans. In fact they shunned them to the point that they would rather travel around Samaria, taking much longer. All this just to avoid them. So this remark holds much greater significance. As a Jew himself it would have been a shock that Christ would travel through Samaria. But not only that, he must travel through Samaria for one woman that everyone else despised. Not only was she despised by the Jews, but she was despised by the Samaritans, her own community. Even Jesus’ own disciples marveled that he would even speak to a woman (John 4:27). It can be easy to forget how little power and respect women had at this time in history because of how far we have come, but this was the awful situation. All of this though did not stop Christ from talking to her. She was an outcast to everyone but Jesus, who would go through Samaria just for her. This woman would not be an outcast to him.
It has never set well with me even before I had a logical argument against it when professing followers of Christ would make a habit of mistreating, derailing, or even speaking very rudely in private of individuals or groups for their sin. Clearly there’s not only no moral basis for it, but as laid out there is also no logical basis for it either. That is not to say wrongs should go without criticism or even rebuke. The heart that allowed that person to commit such a sin that apparently required such a reaction is same heart that is in the one pointing out the sin. So what should be repulsing is not that individual, but rather the awful potential of the human heart and condition to commit such acts. Acts that would apparently offend that person so much that they would have such ill will toward another human being. I am as well guilty of speaking ill of others and being quick to pass judgement. So do not feel as this is just an attack on others, but an examination of my own heart as well. It is wrong. And it becomes a very serious problem when those occasions become a habit and that habit when festered in groups will have nation wide effects. We have seen it firsthand.
So let us extend beyond the religious world and look at the nation. It is very disheartening to see a country where individuals and groups can hold such malice against their fellow countrymen. You’ve seen the political discussions where it starts reasonable but then one person assumes the other is in the vocal minority camp of a hate group, hate America, hate a certain group of people, and so on. Everyone, including myself seem so quick to pass judgement. Understanding the completely different worldviews and circumstances each individual comes from that makes them see the world the way they do seems like something very distant.
And of course everything that is happening does not need to be repeated, it is known. No matter where one stands politically it is evident the amount of division and disdain for one another is wrong. It is not a good feeling to be part of it or to observe it. This lack of compassion and inability for rational discussion is not sustainable in a nation that desires liberty and equality. The government can be blamed, Trump can be blamed, the far sides of the political spectra can be blamed, Covid-19 can be blamed, along with much more. But what good does blame do when we — ourselves have fed into the division that has been created? The plan of those that despise liberty and equality has already been completed. It is up to us if that completed plan will be allowed to stay intact and destroy the house divided against itself.
Let us not just repeat empty words of equality. Rather let us be guided by it. Don’t allow the pain and suffering of those in the past that fought for the declaration “all men are created equal” be insulted. For it was their desire that every hateful heart in the nation would be turned to hold this truth as self-evident. Self-evident not only in words, but also in deed. No matter what our worldview, religion (if any), political views, and past circumstances don’t let those that have sewn division succeed. Let us rather cling together to the truth of equality, laying aside malice.
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address
The Lambent 