Justice does not require equality. Scripture neither says nor demonstrates such a notion.
The God of Justice will mete differing justices according to each man's deeds for whoever is judged by Him.
Shelli, I wasn't addressing your first post, was I? I was addressing the one I had the most issue with. The one where you smeared the name of justice and misunderstood how it worked, then seemed a little overjoyed at someone's condemnation.
Whenever I have to tell someone this, the mood is much more somber. I cannot condemn to hell someone over believing a different theological issue, but only for rejecting Jesus Christ.
When God created man, here is what happened:
Gen 2
20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
These were the only two humans God created. They were one flesh, though they were two people. Of all creation, she was the only other creature that was comparable to man. Adam needed her as she needed him.
Both were both one. So even though each had their own strengths, they completed each other. In short, though they did different things, they were both equal. They were both one.
As it goes, some are born with more abilities than others. We however are the same because these abilities are not our own, but rather God's. Who made music? Who made the fingers that play the piano? Who gave man his voice? Who gave man muscle? Everything we have we received from our creator, so we cannot boast that what we have is ours.
1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
As a christian, who is our strength when we are weak? Is it not Christ?
When we are stripped of these things (which we will be at the grave) we find we are equals. And God will judge us in the same way. He also loves us the same. He returns love the same, and rewards the same. He will see that all are punished the same. In this, he equally treats us according to our works, or according to his grace if we received it.
Consider the parable about the rich man giving the 3 men different talents. Each man was judged the same, according what he had been given, not by what he made. The second man wasn't thrown out because his money didn't equal the first. They were both accepted because they both did well with their talents.
It is not what we start with that gives us value, but what we do with what we started with. Some become great, some give up the ability to improve. Yet all are measured by the same accord, and are treated as equals, and loved as equals.
Matthew 20:12
saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
Deuteronomy 1:17
You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’
Romans 2:11
For there is no partiality with God.
1 Peter 1:17
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
Why is God so impartial? Because our wealth and abilities are nothing to him. These are not what makes us worth anything to him. If a rich man and a poor man are brought to court, they are not "equals" according to the worldly view of equal. But in the only court that matters, they are. In the end, we are all poor, needing food. All are weak, needing strength.
Pat,
You cannot comdemn anyone to Hell, and God is not entirely impartial.
It is a rhetoric device of church talkers to lay out a longwinded monologue using some Scripture, so that they may then in a supposed conclusion spout their agenda and personal ideology which is most often unrequired by the Scripture they have used.
Let us go beyond preachy sounding church talk, and focus on how God has shown partiality in Scriptural examples. Do the following examples demonstrate partiality or impartiality by God when creating various people?
.........
It is indeed, according to the examples in Scripture cited above, what we start in life with that gives us value. What we do in life also confers value or condemnation. The two means of receiving value are not mutually exclusive. They both are in operation.
Hopefully, today's church preaching on this and many other concepts will mature beyond the third grade level in the hands of church "leaders."
Shelli.
patman said:As it goes, some are born with more abilities than others. We however are the same because these abilities are not our own, but rather God's. Who made music? Who made the fingers that play the piano? Who gave man his voice? Who gave man muscle? Everything we have we received from our creator, so we cannot boast that what we have is ours.
There is no statement in Scripture to establish any so called "prima facie" ideology being of an axiomatic nature to require inherent equality within God's justice. God does what He wills for whatever reason He wants. That is called "sovereignty."
I am pleased you found the inconsistency I placed regarding the felony loss of rights and enhanced legal represention not being birth issues. Perhaps, then, you will be able to see all by yourself the distinction between differing rights at birth by God's Will demonstrated in Scripture and the humanly contrived notions of "equal rights" pandered in America's founding documents which cite no Scripture for their basis.
Jefferson, as articulate and visionary he was, quoted no Scripture in his statements describing American foundations of government. Anybody can insert the name of God with some churchy sounding phraseology into innumerable humanly contrived ideologies. Just read Church history, and read the socio/political/spiritual history of any "Christian" nation.
Perhaps we con continue to discuss the issue of equality/inequality at birth, as this thread originally specified, rather than mix into the discussion the issues of attained and lost rights after birth.
Actually, the issue of human "rights" is not germain to the issue of inequality at creation, so I need not define "rights" as you suppose I should to continue this little chat.
So far, I have seen in here no direct reference from Scripture showing or stating this so called principle that "all men are created equal." I will wait a little longer for that answer, amidst all the other loose comments and cognitive angst proffered as "discussion."
Since you made this issue based thread into a personal exchange by suggesting for me "a good government class,"
You might want to reconsider turning this issue related discussion into a personal exchange by referencing me personally with lame advice. Looking forward to helping any more conceptual or informational needs. Thanks.
would you like me to suggest some "good classes" from which you might benefit your thinking skills and verbal capacities... ? Be glad to. Anything which works to wean people from parroted Unscriptural ideologies is a good thing.
The way you tend to explain it I'd be tempted to call it capricious...not God, just your understanding. Ninevah has given you what you wanted so I'll address a couple of minor points. And by minor points I mean additional mistakes on your part.
I almost admire the way you transform the sacred trust of a free people into a 'contrived' and 'pandering' bit of minutiae...I was born free, as all men are and I know this right by that faculty which God granted men, the ability to reason. As I know God to be just I can reason that the law which man institutes should be patterned after justice in order for it to serve His pleasure. Equality before the law serves justice and so serves God who is the author and seat of justice.
The same argument could have been made against any scripture before it was included in a compilation we call the Bible. Truth is truth and there is only one source for it.
As per your apparent norm, you presume too much. You haven't presented anything like a counter argument to my own and so the matter is hardly settled.
Well, you just couldn't be any more wrong if you made a concerted effort to be so. Having already established that men are born with different heights, talents, etc. the only question becomes is there any measure of equality that exists at birth? One answer is yes, that all men are equal with regard to their God given rights. Those rights are subsequently recognized and protected by just governments but the equality does not find its wellspring in those governments, only protection.
Loose comments? Cognitive angst? You either don't understand the terms you're using or you're a prevaricator. I'm happy you're cracking that thesaurus, but you still need to do more than make derogatory declarations unsupported by reason, example, or analogy.
Another errant statement. Either your memory is poor or, again, you intentionally misstate the matter. In point of fact, you began the personalization with the below:
I didn't actually recall offering advice at that point, lame or otherwise. I have no idea what your next sentence in the above was meant to address.
Thinking skills? Could you mean logic? Had that as an undergrad, long before the law took my reasoning and focused it more diligently. But I appreciate your completely 'non-lame' concern. Verbal capacities? Could you mean language skills? And do you mean to use benefit as a verb? Well, at any rate I thank you, but part of my undergraduate degree contained an English major with a dual concentration in literature and creative writing. Oh, and as an aside, you might want to tighten your attention with regard to spelling if you're intent on taking this particular dismissive tack.
Lastly, would you describe scripture as parroted if used to demonstrate a particular point in opposition to your own?
I think Jefferson is quite beyond your blessing, but I'm sure he would appreciate your sincerity as much as your--let's call it argument...Well, at least you are using a few different words, and slightly longer sentences, to parrot what you have been taught by someone authoritatively patriotic. Bless their wonderful heart.
I find myself similarly encouraged by your improved usage and spelling, though I’m reasonably certain that extra 't' in ability wasn't mine. :squint: And to say I know a thing because it can be reasoned is the antithesis of your restatement. One can be demonstrated the other is a declaration which requires only an utterance.Those English assignments at least helped your confidence. But, your circular reasoning remains unabated. "I know this is right by that faculty which God granted men, the ability to reason." Just rephrase that as, "I know because God grants me to know."
If American justice rests upon equality (before the law) then there should be scripture dealing with it? Are you serious? Show me the scripture that abolishes slavery or demonstrates antiseptics. There are any number of truths not particularly set out in the Bible, but which because they can be reasoned and demonstrated to be true are not lessened by that omission...some are even "self evident."Can you insert into this circular little notion any Scripture which states men are created equal? How about some Scripture regarding the "prima facie" part of equality inherent within justice? ( ... or, is it justice inherent within equality ... ? ... ) If it is so important before God, and if God established America as Godly, and if American justice rests upon equality, then there should be clear statements of it in Scripture. What does your well read mind detect in Scripture on this?
Well, that's about as lucid as any other point you've made. What are you fifteen and taking a break in between diary entries? :think: I almost admire the way you cut and paste so as to avoid any particular point or argument made which is beyond your ability to counter, even if it makes this feel more and more like a Socratic exercise.And, please, continue to say what you are going to say before you say it. That so turns me on! ... , ... You know, smart and chatty men are ... so ... so ... feminine ... ! ... (!) ( ... Shhh...ellllll...i.i.i.i.i ... )
There is no Scripture which says God "created" all men equal.
Rather, there is much Scripture to show how He created inequality amongst mankind. A fine example of this is to compare the creation of King David in Psalm 51:5 and John the Baptiser in Luke 1:5-17.
Another is the comparison between Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis 16. Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25 are another example.
Even in Heaven where humans are in their recreated state of being reflecting their glorified nature, Jesus identifies in Matthew 5:19 a hierarchy of "least" and "greatest."
This notion of created "equality" is merely a human contrivance.
Shelli.
Verse?It is by grace we are saved, but it is by works that we earn our crowns.
Verse?
I think Jefferson is quite beyond your blessing, but I'm sure he would appreciate your sincerity as much as your--let's call it argument...
I find myself similarly encouraged by your improved usage and spelling, though I’m reasonably certain that extra 't' in ability wasn't mine. :squint: And to say I know a thing because it can be reasoned is the antithesis of your restatement. One can be demonstrated the other is a declaration which requires only an utterance.
If American justice rests upon equality (before the law) then there should be scripture dealing with it? Are you serious? Show me the scripture that abolishes slavery or demonstrates antiseptics. There are any number of truths not particularly set out in the Bible, but which because they can be reasoned and demonstrated to be true are not lessened by that omission...some are even "self evident."
You demonstrate yourself to be little more than another form of legalist, and a hypocritical one at that given that you decry parroting on the one hand but insist upon it on the other. Which thought gives you pause, that God is just or that the law which serves justice must then serve His desire? His concern for justice was demonstrated amply enough by Ninevah.
Well, that's about as lucid as any other point you've made. What are you fifteen and taking a break in between diary entries? :think: I almost admire the way you cut and paste so as to avoid any particular point or argument made which is beyond your ability to counter, even if it makes this feel more and more like a Socratic exercise.
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Yes, human mental reasoning from God is created by declaration, your intuitive sense of rightness is merely an utterance, but how you necessarily link them is the strangeness between the two.
Need a little more help on identifying circular reasoning? I am sure you could pick it up quickly if you wanted to submit, kind of like a feckle woman would decide to submit, or course. Your sensitive feelings are just as important as any woman's. (Did you find the missing letter above ... ?)
How are "self evident truths" verified, counselor? Is such reasoning not a favored technique of tyrants, that of "self" justified declarations? Are you gullible for that, or just thinly cognizant about the nature of arbitrary statements dressed up as axioms? (Did you find the extra "r" above?)
Ninevah was an example, or was an exception ... ? I will let you decide for yourself, since women and feminized men are sensitized to feel they must be smartly autonomous. Both take pride in verbal skills. And, both compulsively turn issue based discussions into personal discussions. You were the first to do so in this thread.
Apparently, you are less than busy in your field, being on the web here so much sharing your intuitive skills. And, I can imagine why. People avoid bossy sounding little guys. They are so effete.
There is no Scripture which says God "created" all men equal.
Rather, there is much Scripture to show how He created inequality amongst mankind. A fine example of this is to compare the creation of King David in Psalm 51:5 and John the Baptiser in Luke 1:5-17.
Another is the comparison between Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis 16. Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25 are another example.
Even in Heaven where humans are in their recreated state of being reflecting their glorified nature, Jesus identifies in Matthew 5:19 a hierarchy of "least" and "greatest."
This notion of created "equality" is merely a human contrivance.
Shelli.
There is no Scripture which says God "created" all men equal.
Rather, there is much Scripture to show how He created inequality amongst mankind. A fine example of this is to compare the creation of King David in Psalm 51:5 and John the Baptiser in Luke 1:5-17.
Another is the comparison between Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis 16. Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25 are another example.
Even in Heaven where humans are in their recreated state of being reflecting their glorified nature, Jesus identifies in Matthew 5:19 a hierarchy of "least" and "greatest."
This notion of created "equality" is merely a human contrivance.
Shelli.
Humans are equal in that we all have equal value to God, but we are extremely unequal when it comes to talents, personalities, etc.
Well, at least you are using a few different words, and slightly longer sentences, to parrot what you have been taught by someone authoritatively patriotic. Bless their wonderful heart.
Those English assignments at least helped your confidence. But, your circular reasoning remains unabated. "I know this is right by that faculty which God granted men, the abiltity to reason." Just rephrase that as, "I know because God grants me to know."
Can you insert into this circular little notion any Scripture which states men are created equal? How about some Scripture regarding the "prima facie" part of equality inherent within justice? ( ... or, is it justice inherent within equality ... ? ... ) If it is so important before God, and if God established America as Godly, and if American justice rests upon equality, then there should be clear statements of it in Scripture. What does your well read mind detect in Scripture on this?
And, please, continue to say what you are going to say before you say it. That so turns me on! ... , ... You know, smart and chatty men are ... so ... so ... feminine ... ! ... (!)
( ... Shhh...ellllll...i.i.i.i.i ... )
All men by Nature are created sinners by God, but He created some sinners to have mercy upon for their sins [ vessels of mercy] and He created some sinners for wrath and destruction[vessels of wrath] for their sins.