What does the Bible say about injustice and inequality?

Answer 1

A:

Some parts of the Old Testament celebrate injustice, as does the Book of Joshua which celebrates the injustice of the Israelite invasion of the land of the Canaanites and the genocide of their people. The Old Testament does speak out against any suffering on the part of the Israelites, but because they were Israelites, not because injustice is inherently evil. The Old Testament authors never thought in terms of equality between their people and other peoples. Even non-Israelite slaves were given fewer rights than Israelite slaves. Kings were seen as having an inalienable right to rule in any manner they thought fit, regardless of the inequity of an absolute monarchy.

Slavery is the greatest possible form of injustice and inequality, although in ancient times it was accepted as entirely normal and defensible. 1 Peter 2:18 is typical of the New Testament attitude to slavery (translating into English with the euphemism 'servants'): "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." Women were expected to be subject to their husbands, and to take a secondary role in religion.

Answer 2

It doesn't say that in The Bible, but what it does say is that God is no respecter of persons. In other words he accepts the person of every man that comes to him believing, regardless of their talents or station in life.

And also, right through the Bible, He expects us to judge our fellow men in the same way, as he states in the Law at the beginning:

"Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it." (Deut.1.17)

Paul said to the philosophers on Mar's Hill, also called the Areopagus, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." We are all related to Noah and back to Adam.

Answer 3

"I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.

"Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered too little did not have too little.'" (II Cor.8:8-15 NIV; see Ex.16:18)

The Bible's measure of "equality" isn't the "socialist's" agenda of taking from those who have to give to those who don't. God requires the voluntary "willingness of His people" to give... and help... and Love others.

Paul quotes Exodus 16:18 in this passage on "equality."

"And when they measured it [the 'manna' that fed the Israelites for 40 years]by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed."

And according to the scripture... this "equality" among the people was achieved because:

"The Israelites did as they were told..." (verse 17).

This world's twisted political idea of "equality" is; everyone having exactly the same amount of everything... not "what they need."

The test of biblical "equality" is measured in a peoples' willingness to "put there faith to work" according to the blessings they've been given:

"What good is it, brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

"Was not our ancestor Abraham considered Righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did... You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." (James 2:14-24 NIV)

True "equality" requires a measure of "faith" in people -- along with their willingness to act on it. The Godly faith of which the Bible speaks is a rare commodity in this world... not to mention the willingness to use it.

Thus... there is pain, suffering, starvation and poverty in the world. And that's why Jesus poses the question to our generation:

"...will not God bring Justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get Justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?" (Luke 18:7-8 NIV)

Will He find "true equality?"

The Bible tells us that "Jesus Christ is bringing equality" to earth with Him when He comes -- and shall administer it... according to all men's "works" [the willingness of which is equality's measure]. He will give each of us exactly what we "deserve."

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." (Rev.22:12 NIV)

"...He will not Judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; but with Righteousness He will Judge the needy, with Justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked." (Isa.11:3-4 NIV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ: who, being in very nature God, did not consider EQUALITY with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.... He humbled Himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Philip.2:5-8 NIV)

The world measures "equality" by a man's possessions ['something to be grasped']. God measures it by a man's faith... and his willingness to act upon it.

Answer 4

In Ephesians 5:22, the Bible talks about the man being the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. Adam also came out b4 Eve.