A Pastor’s Perspective

“Equal Opportunity God” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

 Screaming squirrel!  Talking baby!  Horse with a Rocky comeback!  A woman that turns heads…with cashews??!!  Which Super Bowl commercial was the funniest?  I kinda favor the terrified squirrel.  While the commercials and the game proved to be the stuff that spawns “water cooler discussions” at work on Monday, I wonder how many people gave much thought to the special ad leading up to the grand kick-off.  People of all color and age from the NFL recited the Declaration of Independence.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” is the phrase in particular that resonates within my heart.  Images of blacks forced to sit in the back of a bus in the sixties, beatings, and bombings are in stark contrast to what is to be “self-evident.”

 America aggressively sought to align the world view of the work force with the fact that all men [that is, humanity, which includes men and women] are created equal.  How?  One way is through Equal Opportunity.  Selection for employment and promotion in a job is not to be based on race, religious belief, gender, disability, or political view.  Rather, a person is to be evaluated simply whether or not they have the aptitude and ability to fulfill the requirements of the position.  Equal Opportunity is a just law because it plays no favorites.  Everyone is to have an equal opportunity to succeed.

 The Bible presents God as an “equal opportunity God.”  How so?  Everyone has the equal opportunity to have their sins forgiven, to enjoy a fulfilling and fruitful relationship with God on this planet, and to experience a grand entrance into heaven.  God’s invitation is to all humanity…to “whoever.”   God’s Word, the Bible, says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life… Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved…Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (John 3:16; Romans 10:13; Revelation 22:17b).  Whoever is everyone.  Whoever includes you and me. 

 Religions of man have the tendency to limit God, to put Him “in a box.”  They don’t believe He’s an equal opportunity God.  Many religious groups will say, “Well, in order to go to heaven, you need to join our church.”  Certain church organizations believe they somehow have the corner of the market of truth.  “We’re the true church!”  It’s not about belonging to the right group or the “true church”.  The emphasis of the Bible is whether you are a true believer in the true Savior and Lord as revealed through the pages of the Bible.  A person who places their confidence in anything else is missing out on an awesome opportunity to know the true God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Have you taken advantage of this free and equal opportunity?