Message: “Equality” Tyler Collins - August 29, 2021

 

Message: “Equality” Tyler Collins - August 29, 2021

 

Picture little Peggy Sue and Dale are out on a field trip to get some ice cream and they both paid to get a double scoop ice cream cone but Dale winds up getting another scoop for free. Little Peggy Sue storms off upset because they paid the same price and little Dale got an extra scoop. What is this feeling that Peggy Sue is feeling? What does she want out of this situation? Equality!  Equality is defined as the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Little Peggy Sue wanted to have the same amount of ice cream as her friend. She wanted to be treated equal! Equality is important in society and it is needed. Without it, look what has happened throughout history! Countless lives lost or people hurt all because people don’t view others as equal when in fact we actually all are equal. Equal in the sense that we are all living breathing creatures on this earth out here for a reason, to speed God’s love and show everyone that we are equal! We all breathe in God's beautiful world that makes us equal. We all have family and friends that go out and work, some for different wages than others but they are all still equal! God never wanted anyone to not be treated equal! There’s countless examples throughout the Bible. Here’s one in Ephesians 2 chapter 14 it says “14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” I interpret this as God himself is the one that brings us love and tranquility and shows us how to treat others as equal and sets the standards for what equality is! If only people wouldn’t label themselves in a group and just be a single congregation together! It would solve so many problems in today’s world if we would all come together as one! Just think if everyone decided to stop labeling themselves as jocks, geeks, preppy so on and so forth, how much more together the world would be! If only we could all come together as one to show the world that everyone is equal! Another example is in 1 John chapter 2 verse 2 it says “2He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This Bible verse shows that God gave us a reason not to hate and treat everyone equally! He is willing to give up something he loves so much just for us and to show us that we are all mortal and equal people no matter what! To close things up just remember that equality is so important in life! It’s what keeps people together and maybe just maybe if we can work together to treat people equally the world can and will become a better place small steps at a time. Next time you’re in a situation eating ice cream with little Peggy Sue and little Dale just think, is that equal. Thank you!

 Pastor Hines' Reflections: 

1.Very thoughtful words from Tyler

2. He reminds us not to get attached to labels, to get past the world’s labels and see what God sees in one another

3. There a more opportunities than can be counted to connect to one another in the UMC. They are scary opportunities because none of us wants to be in a conversation or workshop or webinar and feel like we come short, we want others to label us and identify us as culturally competent, as not biased.

4. One of the opportunities we’ve had online – a little safer – is the class called “What We Think We Don’t Think.”

5. As Christians we learn many biases – consciously and unconsciously and we spend our lifetime submitting to the work of the Holy Spirit in us so that we will not be conformed to the world. Rather we surrender to the Holy Spirit so that our minds can be renewed.

6. Conversation is critical – conversation is complicated – My friend’s daughter is a 30 ish young black woman - wears stilettos, and after being fed up with so much racial strife, she went downtown to Philadelphia – she was roughed up by a black police officer…conversation is complex.

After George Floyd’s death May 2020 – I have been a part of A United Methodist Asian Caucus – over 50 Asian countries - that has gathered on zoom to talk and share what it is like to be targeted with violence in the Asian American Community. I have participated in similar zoom every month to hear the voices of the Latin Americans.

A few years ago United Methodist women national did a documentary on systematic poverty. Recently, I see they published a great work on the LGBTQ community. Conversation is critical. We learn so much and we are more able to be partners with the Holy Spirit.

7. Complicated dynamics can make our prayers complicated. It is good to pray as Mary Tyson has emphasized from the words of Jesus – Not our will be done but your will be done, God.

8. Pray without ceasing, research shows that prayer goes beyond the mere thoughts that come to our minds, prayer goes through walls, prayer is powerful…and mysterious, not a magic bullet or a cure all or a guarantee, but we do it anyway.