Jerry Richardson is the owner of the Panthers. We don’t talk about him very much. Dave Gettleman is the General Manager. I didn’t even know his name. I had to look it up. There is a Director of College Scouting and a
Director of Pro Scouting on the Panthers staff.
There’s an Equipment Manager and a Head Athletic Trainer. I don’t know their names either.
While I have an affection for the players, and it is
incumbent on them to win games, the
Panthers’ organization would be lost without the owner, the GM, they guys who
find the talent, the ones who make sure the equipment is properly cared for,
the ones who plan for and supervise the training of the players. Every one of them has a different role. And, depending on who you ask, it might seem
like one is more valuable than the others.
But the truth is, in large part the team could not function effectively
if one of those people was absent for any length of time.
Equal in value.
NOT THE SAME.
The translation of “equal means same” has crept into our
theology from our culture. The influence
of such thinking has had a dramatic effect on our understanding of God’s
extraordinary plan for gender. At the time of creation, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He
created him, male and female He created them…” They were, men and women, created equal in the image of God. Equal in importance. Equal in personhood. Equal in worth.[1]
BUT “EQUAL” DOES NOT
MEAN “SAME”. The American Heritage
dictionary defines “equal” as “having the same quantity, measure, or value as
another. Being the same or identical in value.
Having the same privileges, status, or rights.” Even as a child, the “equal does not mean
same” principle proves true when we learn that four quarters are equal to one
dollar…but they are not the same. The
quarters are round, and silver, and made of metal. The dollar is green. It is made of paper. They are equal.
But not the same.
One cup of water is equal in measure to one cup of flour.
But
they are not the same.
One
small spoonful of peanut butter is equal in calories to a whole plate of
broccoli.
But
they are not the same. (Obviously.)
To presume sameness
in the name of equality doesn’t make
sense, even from a purely practical perspective. Because our nation, and our churches, have a history of dismissing whole populations
of people --- image bearers of the Creator --- we have a sense of desperate
responsibility to overcorrect the
errors of our forefathers. Because
women, for centuries, have endured the disdain and dismissal of men, we are
passionate to affirm our equality. And
that is understandable.
But promoting sameness, becoming “gender blind” is not
the answer. It’s actually not even
possible. At least in some measure, what’s
happening in our families, and our churches and our neighborhoods is the
acceptance of a “new normal” that is distinctly unbiblical. According to Genesis 1, we are not free to
determine our own identity. We are
created equally in the image of God. We
bear His image equally. We are equal in
personhood. Equal in value. But “equal” is not in opposition to “different”.
Ask our quarterback, Cam Newton. He may be “Superman”, but where would he be
without Ted Ginn, Jr who last week caught a 55-yard touchdown pass…before
leaping the white picket fence that surrounds the practice field…
Equal in importance.
Equal in personhood.
Equal in talent.
BUT NOT THE SAME.
Thankfully.
Maybe it's worth
asking: what would happen to our team if we promoted
"sameness" in the interest of "equality"? What will
happen in our homes...our churches...our community...our nation? What
will we lose??
NOTE: This is the 5th installment in a series
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