Preaching on Equality and Brotherhood

by Bill Bagents

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1).

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Prov 25:11).

I can’t remember how many decades ago I was introduced to the journalistic practice of “Afghanistanism.” It was when, for most of us, that country existed only on a map. The practice was simple. When there’s a white-hot issue in your community, write your editorial about Afghanistan or somewhere equally distant. Don’t risk angering people and losing subscribers by speaking to the pressing issue of the day. It was bad journalistic practice; it’s even worse for preachers.

Preach the Word

We love Paul’s famous statement recorded in Acts 20:26–27, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shirk from delivering to you the whole counsel of God.” This statement didn’t apply just to Paul’s teaching in Ephesus. Everywhere he preached, Paul sought to speak God’s truth fully, clearly, sincerely, and lovingly. Every preacher should do the same. We must because:

• Scripture describes us as members of “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).
• Scripture commands us to “follow the pattern of sound words…in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 1:13).
• Scripture links being “strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” with entrusting what we have learned “to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:1–2).
• Scripture urges us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
• Scripture charges us, “Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim 4:1–2).

In the complex and multiple crises that are currently rocking the world, we are called to give maximum emphasis to preaching on the worth, value, equality, and brotherhood of all people. As battles rage on countless fronts, our world so needs that message of love, truth, and solidarity! As Bible-believing, Scripture-preaching servants, we stand in a unique position to offer hope—and encourage justice, respect and civility—through unmistakably fierce preaching on our common humanity and God’s love for each of us.

By Way of Reminder

You may not need the following reminders. These truths are so well-known. But in the spirit of 2 Peter 1:13, may I “stir you up by way of reminder”?

• “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male, and female He created them” (Gen 1:27).
• The Lord whose glory is “above the heavens” made mankind [all humans, each person] “a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psa 8:1, 5).
• “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)!
• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
• “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him” (Acts 10:34–35).
• “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of the same nature as you’” (Acts 14:14–15).
• A key part of “the whole counsel of God” affirms, “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth . . . For we are indeed His offspring” (Acts 17:26, 28).
• “But God shows His love for us [every one of us, each of us, all of us] in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us [every one of us, each of us, all of us]” (Rom 5:8).

Every human is made in God’s image. Every human is endowed with worth and honor by God. Jesus loved each of us enough to forsake the prerogatives of Deity, take on flesh, and die for us (Phil 2:5–11). Jesus loves every individual who will ever live more than He loved His own life. We dare not miss, neglect, ignore, minimize, or fail to teach the fundamental equality and brotherhood of every precious person. And we dare not fail to live what we teach (Mic 6:8, Matt 7:21–23, Jas 1:21–25; 2:17–20, 1 John 4:20–21).