Fairness & Respect
Jesus did not separate Moslems from Christians when He came to die to free humanity from sin. His salvation was for all. It is freely given so that whoever wishes can accept Him to be saved be it a Moslem or Christian. And so Jesus even in his act of salvation, demonstrated fairness. He actually came to earth because of sinners, bible says in Luke 5:32. The rain falls on the just and unjust as a testimony that God is a God of fairness. Jesus love was for all.
In the same vein as followers of Christ, Jesus expects us to be fair to each other. However, what do we see? Christians creating columns within the church organization. There are believers in church but without the mind of Christ. Do you know that inadvertently, we have formed classes in church? We have not made deliberate effort to bridge the gap between the upper class and lower class in church.
There is the general perception that we are all one in Christ but really when we meet, I do not see any of those. Of course singing ‘I love you with the love of the Lord’ as a welcome song and turning to someone to say ‘hi’ may deceive as that we are one in Christ and in church but indeed, the story is not true. It makes sense for a lower class member in church that, if the upper class goes their way, then they must also go their way.
It will take a lot of courage for a lower class member to walk to an upper class member in church except an organization that has consciously built that bond or are committed to practicing what the New Testament church practiced. In this consideration, we’re not being fair or maybe sincere to each other in the presence of God.
Within circular organizations, this kind of culture still exists in some quarters. For instance it may not be written in black ball pen but attitude or actions speaks louder than words. Usually within the lower staff, the highly ranked staffs are comfortable moving with their level. They may take lunch together and discuss matters at their level. Except a supervisor who has a personal policy to bridge the gap or an organization that promotes fairness as one of their company values in entirety.
Usually good organizations in general do not promote disparity. Everyone once in the organization whether rich or poor has something to offer and that’s why they are there. Management understands this and promotes fairness in every situation. When the organization make profits, the bonus is shared among all staffs. It doesn’t matter how much but everyone within the organization gets a share and that is a sign of their principle of fairness.
If these occasions are not handled properly, it can breed lack of proper recognition for each other both in the church and circular organization. In church because of the disciplines of Christ which includes long suffering, members can suffer ignorantly. Due to the unbridged gap which makes it difficult for the needy to approach the well-to-do, the poor suffer their needs in secret and out of pain and frustration, can bare grudges in their hearts against the affluent and thereby, show signs or acts of disrespect.
In the circular organization, lack of opportunities for growth where lower staffs can be at the lower ranks for a long time, it frustrates and the pain of staying at the lower ranks and seeing the upper class progress with better standards of living can bring hatred and disrespect in the long run.
If God was fair by paying the same death price for humanity, then He expects men to have the same attitude of fairness in dealing with their fellow men. He shared the best part of the bread to all and so when we are sharing today and decide to prefer someone over the other, it can hurt the almighty God and that attitude of not seeing everyone the same in our eyes to give the same attention to can remove the love of God around a brethren. When love is absent, there is hate which is evil and because God doesn’t like evil, He leaves the believer and the hedge of protection is tampered with. Disregarding instruction, divine counsel, or authority leads to destruction- Bible says in Proverbs 13:13. Disrespect therefore destroys the believer and his hedge.
