BJ Jenkin “Equity is not Equality” May 6, 2021

My Brothers and Sisters,

Equity is not equality. Though these two words look the same, these two very different words are almost being used interchangeably in political discussion today, causing both great confusion in the common dialogue and great strides for demonic doctrine infecting the Church.

Equity comes from the French translation of a Latin word used in legal situations for the treatment of individuals as even or fair in the eyes of the law. Equality also comes from the French of a Latin, mathematic
term referring to a measurement being identical in weight, volume, substance, etc. Due to its similar appearance to the word “equality,” and the growing practice of adopting common speech and definitions into
accepted use (as we have seen recently with words like irregardless with regardless, nauseous with nauseated and acceptance with tolerance), semantic arguments become archaic, and the new definition is
just assumed.

Here’s the problem. Though God DOES value all of us EQUALLY, we are NOT created EQUITABLY. That’s right. It’s true. Some are born blind, Gerber-fed from a silver spoon, disproportionately abled, musically gifted, into homes with both parents, homes wrecked by adultery, homes of cardboard, affluence and so much more. And that’s just at birth! Paul was made the sole Apostle to the Gentiles! Why just him? Is that favoritism? James led the judgment in Acts 15. Was he God’s favorite or something? Just look at the inequity in the Church. Why are some gifted to teach while others aren’t? Why are there rich and poor? Why are there persecuted missionaries and congregants in one country while other Christians are in seeming
comfort in another? Why do some preach while some sing and some can’t do either? It’s like having two kids and making sure that both get the same amount of presents, costing the same amount of money and most
importantly bringing the same amount of happiness. Isn’t that what it’s all about, God treating us equally?

It is so sad that we can often have such a small picture of our God! All humankind is created equally in the image of our God. That should not cause us to look at those who seem better and happier off than us only to
demand better and happier for ourselves. What right did the wicked and lazy servant have to be angry that the other two had so much more than he had? (Matthew 25:14-30) It wasn’t his to seek equity, but to understand that he was equally responsible for his one bag of gold as the servants with the two and the five! That’s equality in the Church! We all have the same job to do with different talents, tools and areas of influence. Prison ministry gets done on both sides of the bars. That’s not equity, but they have the equal responsibility to God’s call! It takes a team for one person to preach a sermon at the morning service. They are not equitably gifted, but they are equally called to that ministry.

Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 12:18-26, “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many
parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the
parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one
part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

Brothers and Sisters, God has created us as individuals with is proportionate yet perfectly planned gifts, talents, personalities and passions for His designs for the salvation of all mankind. Instead of focusing on
ourselves, let’s build each other up and redirect each other to the task at hand. The master will be back any day, and we have been given the task of investing the love and salvation that was entrusted to us! Let’s not be distracted. Let’s get to work!

In His Grip,
BJ