Our society in America today possesses a strange dynamic these days. On one had there is this call for equality. Everyone needs to be treated the same, earn the same income, and be afforded the same rights. Then on the other hand if there is anything that may offend anyone that thing, whether it be someone’s comment, a book, a movie, a statue, or whatever, needs to be removed, or as it is best known today as “cancelled.” The Cancel Culture was a rampage during President Trump’s administration and continues on to this day. However, many are lashing back.
Not that long ago Dave Cappelle was attacked by the transgender community for his comments about transgender ideology in one of his shows. This past month Joe Rogan was being attacked for his views on his pod cast, The Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify. Neil Young went so far as to make an ultimatum with Spotify that either they remove Joe’s show or Neil will remove his catalog. Well Neil’s attempt to intimidate and threaten Spotify didn’t work. The result was a few more artist, of which I cannot name because I don’t know them and frankly don’t care, removed their catalogs as well. Joe was offered $100 million to move his show over to another venue, of which Joe declined due to Spotify staying committed to Joe’s show.
The world attempts to judge the church calling out our hypocrisy because we are not demanding equality. Here is the problem with that, equality and unity are not the same thing. We are to be unified in the love of Christ as one mind and one body by one Scripture. The Word of God is our standard of living. Yet, nowhere in Scripture is there any instruction that we are to be equal. On the contrary, Scripture gives us a picture that people are not equal.
For example in the parable of the Master and the three servants (Matthew 25: 14-30). In the story a man was going on a trip, a journey and he called three of his servants and entrusted them with his property. To one servant he gave five “talents,” talents was a form of money not skill or ability, to another two talents were given, and the last was given one talent. The Scripture states that each were given according to his ability. I’m not going to go into the rest of the story, I want to focus on this point, given according to his ability. We all do not possess the same ability and we are all not called to do the same thing in life. There are people who are called to do great things in life. As I think back on history I can point out individuals who stood out among the rest to do things that none other could do or wanted to do. Cultures and Societies needed leaders who get the people united for a common purpose.
Then think about this, among the ranks not everyone was the leader. Some may have possessed qualities that stood out from the common people, yet, they were not the leader. They were generally followers but may have lead a smaller group of people. Or some played a role that wasn’t as significant as others but they had their part.
Then there are those behind the scenes. They do the common work, they provide the support needed for others to get the job done. This doesn’t mean that their role is not important or insignificant. They are doing according to their ability.
When we watch a sporting event there are usually one or two players that carries the team. Commentators speak about these individuals more than any of the others. After the game they are the one’s people want to speak to.
Let’s take NASCAR for example, it is my favorite sport, all of the attention is on the driver, however, the driver does not do everything. There is the pit crew who change tires, fuel the care and do minor adjustments to make the car perform better while on the track. This includes the crew chief who sits on top of the box communicating with the driver on the performance of the car and if there are any changes needed to make the car run better. Then there is the spotter. This individual sits up high above the track watching out for the driver of any cars around them and if it is safe to move in front of someone or if there is a wreck on the track. The spotter also may look at the condition of the car to give news to the crew on problems no one else can see. Then there are those who build the car. Now they don’t build all the cars the same way. There are cars manufactured to run short tracks, tracks that are less than one mile. They build cars for Supper Speedways, tracks that are over two miles but do not have any unusual turns that require the driver to slow down into the turns. They build cars for road courses and cars for all other tracks. They build the car specifically for any given track. Finally, there are those who work behind the scenes. They work in the office making deals with sponsors, making appointments for the driver to do commercials, human resources, legal, people who order parts, logistics, and so on. There are so many hands in the operation of a race team but not everyone is the driver or the crew chief.
Children are told that when they grow up they can be anything they want. Let’s face the truth, that simply is not true. We all do not possess the same skills and abilities. There are people who are good at math, others are good at science, and some possess strong critical thinking skills. There are people who work will with their hands building and creating amazing things from metal work to baking a cake. There are others who are good at managing money and running a business. And, unfortunately, there are those who are blessed to make the day work for them. Not everyone can be the President of the United States. That is impossible. What can be done is everyone can give their best at what they do.
When the man returns from his trip he takes account of what his servants have done with his property. The outcome was good for the first two. They invested what they were given and returns more than what they were given. The man responded to their efforts, “Well done my good and faithful servants.” Then he rewarded them with more.
Notice something else here, the man didn’t say to the servants, “Well done my good and successful servant” or anything that boosted their ego. We are not called to be successful or wealthy or popular. The man gave them according to their abilities and then blessed them when they invested what they were given. We need to do the same, find our ability, our skills and talents and invest in them. When we do, we will be given more. Luke says, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more.” (Luke 12: 48b) We need to be ready for the return of the Master to give an account of what we have been given.
Our society works against this idea. With they advancement of technology teens and young adults are more focus on becoming popular through social media now days rather than being productive. If they don't receive a level of acknowledgement by receiving "likes" on their videos they feel no value in life. Being famous and popular is more important than being productive and self sufficient.
The existential question means, "What is the meaning or purpose of life?" Rather than search within themselves to find their skills and abilities people are allowing society dictate what they should be. We are all not equal, we do not have the same calling on our life, we do not possess the same abilities and even if we do we vary in those abilities. I enjoy art and playing my guitar yet I know there are people are far better skilled than I am but I do not measure my value on level of abilities. I am to more focused on being faithful with what I have.
Not that long ago Dave Cappelle was attacked by the transgender community for his comments about transgender ideology in one of his shows. This past month Joe Rogan was being attacked for his views on his pod cast, The Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify. Neil Young went so far as to make an ultimatum with Spotify that either they remove Joe’s show or Neil will remove his catalog. Well Neil’s attempt to intimidate and threaten Spotify didn’t work. The result was a few more artist, of which I cannot name because I don’t know them and frankly don’t care, removed their catalogs as well. Joe was offered $100 million to move his show over to another venue, of which Joe declined due to Spotify staying committed to Joe’s show.
The world attempts to judge the church calling out our hypocrisy because we are not demanding equality. Here is the problem with that, equality and unity are not the same thing. We are to be unified in the love of Christ as one mind and one body by one Scripture. The Word of God is our standard of living. Yet, nowhere in Scripture is there any instruction that we are to be equal. On the contrary, Scripture gives us a picture that people are not equal.
For example in the parable of the Master and the three servants (Matthew 25: 14-30). In the story a man was going on a trip, a journey and he called three of his servants and entrusted them with his property. To one servant he gave five “talents,” talents was a form of money not skill or ability, to another two talents were given, and the last was given one talent. The Scripture states that each were given according to his ability. I’m not going to go into the rest of the story, I want to focus on this point, given according to his ability. We all do not possess the same ability and we are all not called to do the same thing in life. There are people who are called to do great things in life. As I think back on history I can point out individuals who stood out among the rest to do things that none other could do or wanted to do. Cultures and Societies needed leaders who get the people united for a common purpose.
Then think about this, among the ranks not everyone was the leader. Some may have possessed qualities that stood out from the common people, yet, they were not the leader. They were generally followers but may have lead a smaller group of people. Or some played a role that wasn’t as significant as others but they had their part.
Then there are those behind the scenes. They do the common work, they provide the support needed for others to get the job done. This doesn’t mean that their role is not important or insignificant. They are doing according to their ability.
When we watch a sporting event there are usually one or two players that carries the team. Commentators speak about these individuals more than any of the others. After the game they are the one’s people want to speak to.
Let’s take NASCAR for example, it is my favorite sport, all of the attention is on the driver, however, the driver does not do everything. There is the pit crew who change tires, fuel the care and do minor adjustments to make the car perform better while on the track. This includes the crew chief who sits on top of the box communicating with the driver on the performance of the car and if there are any changes needed to make the car run better. Then there is the spotter. This individual sits up high above the track watching out for the driver of any cars around them and if it is safe to move in front of someone or if there is a wreck on the track. The spotter also may look at the condition of the car to give news to the crew on problems no one else can see. Then there are those who build the car. Now they don’t build all the cars the same way. There are cars manufactured to run short tracks, tracks that are less than one mile. They build cars for Supper Speedways, tracks that are over two miles but do not have any unusual turns that require the driver to slow down into the turns. They build cars for road courses and cars for all other tracks. They build the car specifically for any given track. Finally, there are those who work behind the scenes. They work in the office making deals with sponsors, making appointments for the driver to do commercials, human resources, legal, people who order parts, logistics, and so on. There are so many hands in the operation of a race team but not everyone is the driver or the crew chief.
Children are told that when they grow up they can be anything they want. Let’s face the truth, that simply is not true. We all do not possess the same skills and abilities. There are people who are good at math, others are good at science, and some possess strong critical thinking skills. There are people who work will with their hands building and creating amazing things from metal work to baking a cake. There are others who are good at managing money and running a business. And, unfortunately, there are those who are blessed to make the day work for them. Not everyone can be the President of the United States. That is impossible. What can be done is everyone can give their best at what they do.
When the man returns from his trip he takes account of what his servants have done with his property. The outcome was good for the first two. They invested what they were given and returns more than what they were given. The man responded to their efforts, “Well done my good and faithful servants.” Then he rewarded them with more.
Notice something else here, the man didn’t say to the servants, “Well done my good and successful servant” or anything that boosted their ego. We are not called to be successful or wealthy or popular. The man gave them according to their abilities and then blessed them when they invested what they were given. We need to do the same, find our ability, our skills and talents and invest in them. When we do, we will be given more. Luke says, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more.” (Luke 12: 48b) We need to be ready for the return of the Master to give an account of what we have been given.
Our society works against this idea. With they advancement of technology teens and young adults are more focus on becoming popular through social media now days rather than being productive. If they don't receive a level of acknowledgement by receiving "likes" on their videos they feel no value in life. Being famous and popular is more important than being productive and self sufficient.
The existential question means, "What is the meaning or purpose of life?" Rather than search within themselves to find their skills and abilities people are allowing society dictate what they should be. We are all not equal, we do not have the same calling on our life, we do not possess the same abilities and even if we do we vary in those abilities. I enjoy art and playing my guitar yet I know there are people are far better skilled than I am but I do not measure my value on level of abilities. I am to more focused on being faithful with what I have.
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