Diving Deep into the Core of Equality

by: Keren May B. Busaing

"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." - Galatians 3:28 (NASB)

Whenever we discuss equality, we initially perceive it as a corporate or community value system. In some ways, this is true, but the essence of equality is individualized and needs to be firmly established within oneself before it can be applied to the community. Many organizational movements are anchored in pursuing equality, thinking it's out there and must be dug up like a hidden treasure.

Merriam-Webster defines equality as the quality or state of being equal, Which describes a state or condition observed within a group, not individually. Advocating equality is a noble cause, especially for those who were organized to do so intentionally. But when discussing equality as an ethical value or when we want to categorize ourselves as proponents of equality, where do we start?​
Equality as a condition across a group or organization is only observed when a community of individuals is anchored on the core components of equality. With such depth, we can demonstrate equality not only when we are together, defined by our cause, but we can consistently demonstrate impartiality even if we're alone or regardless of who we're with.

We work out equality deep within us according to the pattern of the Almighty God from whose image and likeness we were created. In Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he reminded them that God himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two. Similarly, we are admonished to do and have the capacity to do the same. We don't need to look very far; we only need to see whose nature is embedded deeply within us.

Manifesting equality is a culmination of all other virtues. While we cannot enumerate every single one, let us challenge ourselves to reflect on it and be amazed at how we discover how every other virtue we possess contributes to fairness. For instance, humility and selflessness eliminate all sorts of self-entitlement, which often hinders the manifestation of equality. Understanding that respect and honor define boundaries and clarify unspoken rules in interacting with others, naturally resulting in inequality in our perspectives. Love and our pursuit of peace are also very influential in our demonstration of equality. Moreover, reverence and fear of God are enough inspirations to keep us going, unconsciously enabling us to exhibit equality in our relationships and interactions.

It is a wonderful discovery to realize that the value of equality is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical one. It's a sum of all sorts of virtues that result in a condition where impartiality is evident in our personal lives, families, and communities. The next time the subject of equality is brought up, people around us can now refer to us and say that they see it manifesting in and through us. We have now become the definition and evidence of equality—our mere presence, words, and actions exude so much goodness that others will vouch for us, validating and testifying that equality is personal, practical, and doable because they see it in us. We reclaim our power and refuse to rely on others or the system to demonstrate equality.

Ultimately, this is possible not by our might or strength but by the power of God, who guides us in our journey towards equality.

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