sermonette: Fairness and Grace
Misunderstanding
James C. Stoertz
Given 03-Jan-26; Sermon #1853s; 15 minutes
Description: (show)
When we compare human standards of fairness (such as children's complaints, DEI policy, corporate and government regulations in the Western world) with God's standards of fairness we see human standards reveal a drive for schemes towards similar equal outcomes. They often use linguistic manipulation to alter, and pervert established meanings like "equity" which meant something different in the origins of the United States to the modern DEI definition. The Godly linguistic metamorphosis on definitions clarifies existing words and deepens understandings while Satan's world constantly twists and confuses meanings. We see that God creates different people and other entities with varying strengths and weaknesses, all in unequal amounts. Numbers 16 illustrates these twisted concepts with the attempted overthrow of Moses by elders thinking he had been given too much authority or responsibility. Satan's desire to be equal to God caused many attempted overthrows of God's established authority. This is one of the most harshly judged sins. While modern equity is shown in a negative light, God still expects his called-out ones to show impartiality and fairness in judgement when representing Him. God's distinction of fairness and equality needs to be ingrained in all members so they can glorify God.
Uh, I had grandkids over this week, and it has made me reminisce a little. It's not fair. Have your parents ever heard this before? From your kids, or has any one of you ever said it yourself? Grownups say it all the time. I've learned not to say it out loud. It's not Fair has spawned an entire industry called DEI and in the year 2025, DEI was worth more than $15 billion in the US. Who are we to say it's not fair. God's definition of fair is completely different from the world's definition. Let's expand our understanding of this DEI term fair and look at God's perspective. We're flooded with words. And they change over the years. The experts call this linguistic evolution, and you've probably heard it from one of us up here. Uh, I think linguistic metamorphosis might be better. Consider the caterpillar in a butterfly. A word has a meaning, and something occurs, causing it to take wings and fly away from its original meaning. There are many, many examples, but looking throughout the Bible, the term word means that which is spoken or written. But as you know, when we get to John 1, we suddenly see that word, that term word capitalized. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God and the Word was God. And we know that John is referring to he who becomes
Jesus Christ, as he says in verse 14 and confirms in verse 17. Even now, whenever we hear the term word, we can't ignore its new meaning. There are many other terms like this. Adam originally meant soil or clay. Other terms take on new meanings in the Bible like church, agape, soul, beast. All have now taken on larger meaning as a metaphor. So too we see the same linguistic metamorphosis in the modern era naturally taking place. Like literally. When terms are deliberately distorted, it's called linguistic manipulation. This is not a metamorphosis but more like a hatching. An egg hatches and a snake slithers away. This is the deliberate distortion of meanings to gloss over or superimpose noble implications on unpopular goals. The
nations of Israel right now are in an era of fast talking politicians, pundits, and propagandists well versed in linguistic manipulation. We dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. One modern example comes from the Milken Institute of George Washington University equity. His root is equal. This term claims to recognize that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. For this new definition. Directly mirrors the recent efforts by DEI diversity, equity and inclusion, or maybe did not earn it. DEI has been visibly active in the US for the last 20 years, but its proponents say it began in 1865 at the close of the American Civil War. This is an apparent, actually, it seems to be a deliberate change in the historic story, ennobling DEI with an apparent stance against racism. According to James Lindsay, founder and president of New Discourses, DEI is a repackaging of socialism without calling it by that name. This is made palatable through the redefinition of terms. At the founding of the United States of America, this word equity had a specific meaning, but now the same word is used with a new meaning. Which means that you have to add your definition whenever you use these words. Dennis dishonest weights are being used in the scales. In the Bible, is there any such thing as equal? Yes, there is. In fact it is most often seen in a critical light. Describing an attitude of self-righteousness.
Satan planned to be equal to God. Saying I will be like the Most High, that's Isaiah 14:14. Another example, a little more extensive, turn with me if you would to Numbers 16, and I'm going to look specifically at verse 3, but the story is of the story of Corah and his rebellion against
Moses and Aaron. This likely happened within the 1st 2 years of wandering in the desert after God led the Israelites out of Egypt. Corah conspired with Dathan, Eyra, and An and 250 other leaders and representatives of the congregation to question Moses's authority. Numbers 16:3. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them. And the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord? Numbers 16 and 17 show more details of the story. Dissatisfied with God appointed leadership, this group seeks equal representation based on their supposed
holiness. It was a severe mistake by Cora Dathan Bramanon, whose families were swallowed up by the earth and 250 incense bearers were burnt to ashes. In Galatians 3:25, we see a possible understanding of equal and a more positive light. Uh, Galatians, I'll just read it to you. Galatians 3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. However, this phrase all one really has the understanding of in unity rather than the modern and abused term equal. Looking through all the translations of the Bible that I could find, there is only one, the contemporary English version that uses the term equal for all one. All the rest were not willing to tarnish the potential understanding that it means in unity. DEI knows no shame. Even the start in life is deliberately unequal for some. This is completely God's prerogative. In his letter to the Romans, Romans 9:10 to 13, I'll read it to you, Paul says, When Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father
Isaac, for the children not yet being born nor having done any good or evil. Same father that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of Him who calls. It was said to her, to Rebecca, the older shall serve the younger as it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. Pretty strong words. God's plan is not based on merit or even birth, but His will. Consider a coin, and we will use a coin as a metaphor of the rest of this. On one side your wages, and on the other side grace. Both sides are completely God's divine authority. And let's turn to the first one. This is in Matthew 20. And we will see the parable of the workers in the vineyard all receive the same wage. Matthew 20, and I'm going to look at 11 through 15, kind of the tail end of the story. Went so Matthew 20:11, and when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, these last men have worked only 1 hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. The landowner's response, he answered one of them and said, Friend, I'm doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a Danarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. It is, is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things, or is your eye evil? Because I am good. The landowner represents God. The workers represent us. What God gives is completely his will. In fact, it's implied in the land the landowner's last sentence that their attitude, it's not fair, is actually evil. In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul reiterates this point, for we dare not class ourselves, this is II Corinthians 10:12, I'll read it to you, we dare not. For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. Fairness in the biblical context is to be evenhanded and impartial, unassociated with outcome, but associated with judgment. Even in modern English, it's an attribute of justice, well before the redefinition. And justice is a response to action. Justice should be applied fairly, not with regard to the person. God promises to deal with all fairly, but that's completely His prerogative. He demands that we mete out justice when we do with fairness or impartiality. Paul writes, Masters, give your bond servants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Uh, that's Colossians 4:1, by the way. In Luke 6:37, we get further clarification that we are to treat others as we want to be treated, and this is probably good memory scripture. Judge not and you shall not be judged. This is Luke 6:37-38. Judge not and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over and will be put into your bosom. Uh, for with the same measure that you use, it would be measured back to you in that last sentence Jesus says, the measure that you use, remember what God tells us weights and measures must be fair and honest ones are his. It is apparent that justice, fairness, and equality are not about you and your brother getting the same thing at all, but it's a fundamental duty that you need to enact within your character. God requires us to do justly, and one more quote here I'll read to you Micah 6:8, which says, He has shown you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to
love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. OK, the other side of the coin. That's grace. Also, it's completely up to God. Same coin for this, we will look at an event recorded in Luke 7. And if you would turn with me to 7:40. This is another story with a parable buried in it. Luke 7. Verse 40, it's the account of Simon the Pharisee who invites Jesus to eat. And they get an unexpected visitor, the woman in the city who was a sinner. Simon has compared himself to this woman and found her wanting. But Jesus corrects him with a parable in verse 40. Jesus answered and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. So he said, Teacher, say it, we will read down, by the way, through 47. There was a now Jesus tells the parable. There is a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed 500 denari and the other 50, and when they had nothing with which to repay, He freely forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love Him more. Simon answers. I suppose the one whom he forgave more, and he, this Jesus said to him, You have rightly judged. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Judging another based on your purity and their sinfulness is really a stupid vain pursuit with a terrible end. Jesus gave this painful lesson very gently. I guess it was because he was the host, or maybe it's cuz Jesus is just gentle. Jesus turned to the woman and says, Your sins are forgiven. However, those at the table completely missed the point and start murmuring about Jesus forgiving sins. Who does he think he is? There is too much to unpack here. Jesus concludes your
faith has saved you go in
peace. So is it faith or love or forgiveness? We will have to uncover this amazing story another time suffice it to say there is an implication that some of the hearers at the table did not receive grace. One side of the coin shows us the problem with the attitude it's not fair. The other side of the coin is Simon the Pharisee. I'm better than others. I've got nothing to work on. Both of them are self-imposed ideas of equality. Both are presumptuous. Both are placing yourself in the seat of God. For now, do not use the world's definition of equality and fairness. We need to be fair, imitating God in everything we do while not expecting fairness in return. Realizing that we are sinners in need of forgiveness, we should all instead pray for God's grace.
