We live in a world that is riven by the have/have not divide economically, socially, geographically and militarily. It breeds an innate sense of superiority and inferiority - even the terms we use to describe nations reveal this: developed, developing world etc... And it applies in the locality, in jobs, in families, in income, in car ownership etc... Badge appeal is a big factor people think of when buying their car, status symbols are not just for the exceptionally wealthy are they. They make us feel superior, or are a show of superiority.
The gospel is the great leveller or is it? Last night in home groups as a starter question we were thinking about what badges of superiority or inferiority there are as Christians. It was a fascinating question; we know the theology that we are all united in Christ, sinners saved by grace and yet so much worldly thinking infiltrates our way of thinking about church and relationships. Here are some of the things we came up with that make us or others feel either superior or inferior and often both at the same time: marriage, singleness, bible knowledge, training, area in which you serve in the church, job (christian work v secular, hierarchy within secular work that views medicine or teaching as better than office work etc...), youth, old age, bible translation preference, literacy level and so on.
It was so helpful to be reminded of all the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ lavished on us from God our Father, and to be challenged in our unbiblical thinking.
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