Equity Destroys Social Justice

About this sermon

Support the channel by visiting https://brianholdsworth.ca Music written and generously provided by Paul Jernberg. Find out more about his work as a composer here: http://pauljernberg.com #Equity means #equality of outcomes. It means that when the measure of everyone’s participation in society is taken, we should all end up with the same benefit, regardless of input, cost, or the value that we contribute. And if anyone ends up with some greater benefit, then an unassailable absolute authority should step in and correct that disparity by force. So, nobody should get more money, better grades, better looking dates, or anything else that might cause envy in their neighbor. ... And if we take a more abstract look at what equity purports to do, we can see that it incoherent. Part of the reason we are so receptive to the concept of equity, is because we think it means equality, and most people agree with some approximation of the phrase, all men and women are equal. Well, if equity is meant to be a manifestation of equality, think about what your admitting the moment you insist that some higher authority has to correct natural inequality. You’re admitting that equality is not natural – that equality between human beings is not naturally occurring and, therefore, we are not actually equal. ... But there’s an ingredient to this conversation that we’ve been neglecting so far and that is the role of mercy and love. Because, while justice may be the foundational virtue of natural ethics, love is the highest of the theological virtues. And love and mercy implore us to forgive the failings of others and to show concern and care for those who struggle to access the goods that many of us take for granted. And this is, of course, throughout the teachings of Jesus. We are called to care for the less fortunate. But love is an act of the will. Love that is coerced cannot be called love. If someone marries you with a gun to their head, can it ever be said that they married for love? What’s the difference between physical intimacy that is freely given compared to intimacy that is forced? Quite a bit, actually. Love, by definition, must be a free gift. Podcast Version: https://brianholdsworth.libsyn.com/

Topics

• Justice & Mercy