President Trump recently made comments degrading people based on national origin and then followed up with statements about valuing people according to their professional usefulness. In light of these remarks, we thought it was appropriate to spend some time discussing how we as believers should value ourselves and others.
In our society people are often valued based on external characteristics. For example, we’ll consider someone important because of their money, family background, education, gender, race, ethnicity, or job. I know that I am often tempted to define myself based on my level of education, marital status, and my job. But just as I am often tempted to think well of myself in areas where I’ve excelled, I’m also tempted to look down on others based on their lack of status. Sometimes our categories can overlap to create multiple levels of disadvantage – for example, someone who is poor, black, and never graduated high school. We also value or devalue people based on their perceived “goodness.” For example, philanthropists and those whose lives are spent serving the poor are held in high regard while we look down on criminals.
The good news is that God does not value any of us based on anything external or internal. He doesn’t judge based on level of education, race, gender, or any other category you could come up with. Instead, the Bible says that our identity is grounded in the fact that we are made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) As image bearers, we all have equal standing. God does not consider any of us to be more important than another; He receives and redeems all equally.
Jesus exemplified God’s care for all people in His ministry. He regularly hung out with those considered to be at the bottom of society in His day – prostitutes, tax collectors, and “sinners.” He even stopped to talk with a woman from an ethnic minority group which would have been surprising to His contemporaries. In His parables He often upended cultural norms. For example, Samaritans were an ethnic minority who were looked down upon by Jews. But Jesus told a story about a “good Samaritan” who took better care of his neighbor than a priest or a Levite- both categories of people who were well respected by His Jewish audience.
What does this mean for us as Christian women? It means that we should stop valuing ourselves or others based on our job, the amount of money we make, our level of education, or country of origin. I’m not any less valuable as a stay at home mom than I would be if I were a high-powered professor or attorney.
Although our society often encourages preferential treatment based on race or country of origin, we should value each person equally and treat all with dignity because we are all bearers of God’s image. For those of us who have accepted Christ’s death on the cross as punishment for our sins, we are called to specific behavior. “Therefore as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12) This is how we are to treat all people – not with degrading, inflammatory speech that insults the humanity of others but with hearts full of mercy, kindness, gentleness and treating others as more important than ourselves.
Furthermore, we should seek to be like Jesus and build friendships with those whom our society might deem unworthy. “Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble” (Romans 12:16). When the Bible says to “associate with the humble” (in some translations – lowly) that doesn’t simply mean volunteering at the local homeless shelter (although that is a very good thing!). It also means that we should build real relationships where we interact as equals with those our society considers to be “lowly.” In doing so we will not only be better representatives of Christ but we will find our lives enriched by friends from unexpected places and walks of life. We’ll also be reminded of our common humanity and have a better perspective on ourselves. Remember, our God shows no partiality. If we are truly becoming more like Him then we should seek to do the same.