But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
In his Letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul described a new assembly of the faithful which would be similar to the congregation of the Jews, but different. It would comprise people who believe in Jesus regardless of their nationality, status, or gender. It mattered not who their parents were, or if they had parents. By their belief in the Lord, which was both effected and signified by Baptism, they became descendants of Abraham.
This membership is apparently irrevocable, a gift of God and the congregation to its members. Paul and his colleagues did not hesitate to baptize entire households, including slaves and children.
But the implications of that standing which is given to every member remained to be worked out. Although he travelled with women and slaves -- and as the author of the Letter to Philemon, supposed that slaves should be given extraordinary privileges -- Paul did not legislate or define the status women, slaves, and foreigners should have in his congregations. We don't even know how Philemon responded to Paul's letter, or if he welcomed the runaway slave Onesimus back home.
The Enlightened authors of the American Constitution were clearly influenced by the idea of equality but also failed to describe it precisely. In the closing days of the eighteenth century, they granted that precious commodity only to landowning men. (At least some of them saw trouble ahead.)
Likewise the Catholic Church has struggled to recognize the principle of equality. (A word, by the way, which appears only once in Paul's writings.) Missionaries have often been reluctant to ordain members of their African or American congregations. It took five hundred years for South American churches to stop relying on missionaries, to ordain their own people, and to send missionaries abroad. Until the closing days of the twentieth century there were few ordinations in Africa. "White" Catholic bishops in the US hesitated to ordain "black" men, and still tremble when they send them to "white" parishes. Need I mention the ordination of women, which is seriously opposed by African bishops?
History seems to regard Saint Paul's principle as an unrealistic ideal. Beautiful, but impracticable. To the question, "Why not...?" they reply, "Because...!"
The European Enlightenment raised the ideal of equality to a promise founded on the Gospel, even as Europeans furiously resisted the same principle. Enlightened philosophers didn't even notice its basis in the doctrine of the Trinity. If there is equality between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; an equality which is not legislated two against one and one against two; then human beings should also live as equals. Christians first, and then others.
It's something to think about. Or perhaps I should say, "If not now, when?"
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.