Equality of Outcome Is Intuitively Unfair

[leftrightleftrightleft]

If you were to set up a 500 meter race whereby both participants started at the same point and time and then awarded both participants gold regardless of their time, their training or their effort during the race, would this be fair? If one of the participants trained really hard and ran a fantastic race in a fantastic time while the other barely trained and walked the whole way, would giving both participants the gold be fair?

What I have described above is the idea of "equality of outcome". It is the basis of communism and is the reason why communism doesn't work. It seems unfair to give someone the equal outcome as another person when one person has done a better job or put in a greater effort or produced greater fruits.

I find the same intuitive unfairness can be applied to Christianity. One Christian can work hard at his relationship with God, put in daily effort to read the Bible and learn and increase his knowledge and constantly be out in the community helping people and preaching the Word of God and being endlessly loving and compassionate, and this Christian can be given eternal life. Another Christian can do very little in the way of his relationship with God, put little effort into being biblically moral, live a sheltered life with little interaction with his community and be harsh and rude to those around him and this Christian can be given eternal life.

This is unfair. Equality of outcome is intuitively unfair. Grace implies equality of outcome. If you accept Jesus, then your actions have no long-term consequences. Your effort has no long-term consequences. No matter how hard you run the race, the lazy slob beside you receives the gold medal just like you.

Effort must be rewarded. A good job must be rewarded. This is the foundation of our economic system. Its the foundation of our educational systems. It is the foundation of any job. Its the reason communism doesn't work. Its the source of innovation and social progress.

As such, grace makes no sense. Its totally un-intuitive and gives no direct incentive to better the world.

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort. It seems like a really bad measuring stick to sort us into residents of heaven versus residents of hell.

 

[Hakan101]

If you were to set up a 500 meter race whereby both participants started at the same point and time and then awarded both participants gold regardless of their time, their training or their effort during the race, would this be fair? If one of the participants trained really hard and ran a fantastic race in a fantastic time while the other barely trained and walked the whole way, would giving both participants the gold be fair?

What I have described above is the idea of "equality of outcome". It is the basis of communism and is the reason why communism doesn't work. It seems unfair to give someone the equal outcome as another person when one person has done a better job or put in a greater effort or produced greater fruits.

I find the same intuitive unfairness can be applied to Christianity. One Christian can work hard at his relationship with God, put in daily effort to read the Bible and learn and increase his knowledge and constantly be out in the community helping people and preaching the Word of God and being endlessly loving and compassionate, and this Christian can be given eternal life. Another Christian can do very little in the way of his relationship with God, put little effort into being biblically moral, live a sheltered life with little interaction with his community and be harsh and rude to those around him and this Christian can be given eternal life.

This is unfair. Equality of outcome is intuitively unfair. Grace implies equality of outcome. If you accept Jesus, then your actions have no long-term consequences. Your effort has no long-term consequences. No matter how hard you run the race, the lazy slob beside you receives the gold medal just like you.

Effort must be rewarded. A good job must be rewarded. This is the foundation of our economic system. Its the foundation of our educational systems. It is the foundation of any job. Its the reason communism doesn't work. Its the source of innovation and social progress.

As such, grace makes no sense. Its totally un-intuitive and gives no direct incentive to better the world.

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort. It seems like a really bad measuring stick to sort us into residents of heaven versus residents of hell.

Have you read the parable of the Prodigal Son? I think you should, it totally applies to what you're saying. In that story, the older brother would be the "Christian who works hard at his relationship with God", and the younger brother would be the one who "does very little in his relationship with God." And their father is God.

Read this to see how the brothers react to the father's reward. And see what the father says about it.

 

[razeontherock]

Grace implies equality of outcome.

No, it doesn't. The answer to this dilemma, is a fuller understanding. Ask yourself, why do some get white robes, others white raiment, and still others white linen, clean and pure? Why will some have their tears wiped away?

As such, grace makes no sense. Its totally un-intuitive and gives no direct incentive to better the world.

While this may be your sincere understanding at this moment, that can grow. I suggest pouring your heart out before the Lord, on this very thing.

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort.

So in this context, "discernable" becomes a very big little word ...

"earnestly contend for the Faith"

"you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin"

 

[ViaCrucis]

I'm reminded of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where all of the laborers receive the same wage regardless of the time they spent working in the vineyard.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ebia]

I'm reminded of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where all of the laborers receive the same wage regardless of the time they spent working in the vineyard.

-CryptoLutheran

Me too.

 

[drich0150]

If you were to set up a 500 meter race whereby both participants started at the same point and time and then awarded both participants gold regardless of their time, their training or their effort during the race, would this be fair? If one of the participants trained really hard and ran a fantastic race in a fantastic time while the other barely trained and walked the whole way, would giving both participants the gold be fair?

What I have described above is the idea of "equality of outcome". It is the basis of communism and is the reason why communism doesn't work. It seems unfair to give someone the equal outcome as another person when one person has done a better job or put in a greater effort or produced greater fruits.

I find the same intuitive unfairness can be applied to Christianity. One Christian can work hard at his relationship with God, put in daily effort to read the Bible and learn and increase his knowledge and constantly be out in the community helping people and preaching the Word of God and being endlessly loving and compassionate, and this Christian can be given eternal life. Another Christian can do very little in the way of his relationship with God, put little effort into being biblically moral, live a sheltered life with little interaction with his community and be harsh and rude to those around him and this Christian can be given eternal life.

This is unfair. Equality of outcome is intuitively unfair. Grace implies equality of outcome. If you accept Jesus, then your actions have no long-term consequences. Your effort has no long-term consequences. No matter how hard you run the race, the lazy slob beside you receives the gold medal just like you.

Effort must be rewarded. A good job must be rewarded. This is the foundation of our economic system. Its the foundation of our educational systems. It is the foundation of any job. Its the reason communism doesn't work. Its the source of innovation and social progress.

As such, grace makes no sense. Its totally un-intuitive and gives no direct incentive to better the world.

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort. It seems like a really bad measuring stick to sort us into residents of heaven versus residents of hell.

There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life. The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful. Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 best defines for us how these crowns are awarded.

1) The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (NKJV). All things on this earth are subject to decay and will perish. Jesus urges us to not store our treasures on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). This is analogous to what Paul was saying about that wreath of leaves that was soon to turn brittle and fall apart. But not so the heavenly crown; faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

2) The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord” for all the bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else. Luke tells us there is rejoicing even now in heaven (Luke 15:7). The crown of rejoicing will be our reward where “God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

3) The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, and without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed in a righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring the discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity (Philippians 3:20). This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord.

4) The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4) “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” Though Peter is addressing the elders, we must also remember that the crown will be awarded to all those who long for or love His appearing. This word “glory” is an interesting word referring to the very nature of God and His actions. It entails His great splendor and brightness. Recall Stephen who, while being stoned to death, was able to look into the heavens and see the glory of God (Acts 7:55-56). This word also means that the praise and honor we bestow to God alone is due Him because of who He is (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11; Galatians 1:5). It also recognizes that believers are incredibly blessed to enter into the kingdom, into the very likeness of Christ Himself. For as Paul so eloquently put it, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NKJV).

5) The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This crown is for all believers, but is especially dear to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death. In Scripture the word “life” is often used to show a relationship that is right with God. It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Just as things such as air, food, and water are vital for our physical lives, Jesus provides us what is required for our spiritual lives. He is the One who provides “living water.” He is the “bread of life” (John 4:10, 6:35). We know that our earthly lives will end. But we have the amazing promise that comes only to those who come to God through Jesus: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

James tells us that this crown of life is for all those who love God (James 1:12). The question then is how do we demonstrate our love for God? The apostle John answers this for us: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). As His children we must keep His commandments, obeying Him, always remaining faithful. So, as we endure the inevitable trials, pains, heartaches, and tribulations—as long as we live—may we ever move forward, always “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and receive the crown of life that awaits us.
http://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-crowns.html

I like to add that the last bit that is referenced from 1john points a diligence in and the quality of faith and not to how long one is working in diligence. If our work is truly done in God's name then what does it matter what we "get?"

 

[Faulty]

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort. It seems like a really bad measuring stick to sort us into residents of heaven versus residents of hell.

The analogy is off. Instead of a 500m race, let's make it a sprint to Japan with a 15-minute time limit.

You start the race and you work and struggle all you are able, running as fast as you can and jumping as High as you can, until what little time you have is just simply used up. Then you end up tired and sweaty, and more than a little frustrated because you look towards the finish line and realize it's impossible for you to get there on your own, through your own efforts.

As you do this, you turn to chat with your opponent, to vent your frustrations concerning the unfairness of it all, you realize he isn't there. Confused, you go back to the starting line to search for him but he's nowhere to be seen. You ask one of the judges where he's gone to, and they simply reply, "Japan. The race has been over for quite some time now".

Flabbergasted, you adamantly insist on being told how he got to Japan, a place to where even if one wished to sprint to it, it wouldn't be possible, even without the time limit. You explain all the effort you put into running and jumping to get there, and no one ever passed you on the way, and they say, "You refused to follow the rules of the race, fifty meters into the race is a little building on the side of the track. Inside that building is the teleporter to Japan. It was clearly laid out in the rulebook, which you obviously didn't pay any attention to, and now it's too late, the race is over."

The problem is that you way it takes no discernible effort to "believe in Jesus", but reality is that it is exceedingly difficult, very much so. No, this requires the belief that "I can't do it. I can't make myself perfect in God's sight. I can't crawl into my mother's womb, be reborn, and keep His Laws perfectly in every way, from cradle to grave", but this is indeed the standard by which we all will be judged.

It's impossible, you can't run to Japan. We face a God, who is holy, but we are not, and if we come before Him in our sin, He will cast us away, not only for our sin, but also of our rejection of His redemption, which He provided. He says through scripture, "There is only one way for you to come to me. I came in the flesh as a man. I lived perfectly according to my Law. I provided my own sacrifice for your sins. I gave this to you as a gift. You sinned and rebelled, and rejected my gift. You called my Son a liar, as He declared Himself the only way to the father, but here you stand asking me to look upon your works instead, when I've already told you they are not enough."

It's an awful risk, knowing beforehand that you will fail, but doing it any way. You wouldn't jump from the top of a 30-story building to fly like Superman, because you know you'd fail and a few moments later, you'd smack into the pavement below and die because you are not capable of overcoming the law of gravity on your own. Likewise, you are not capable of fulfilling the Law of God on your own. It's impossible, no matter how much you flap your arms, and strive to fly on the way down, the end will be the same as one who does no flappng whatsoever.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

The analogy is off. Instead of a 500m race, let's make it a sprint to Japan with a 15-minute time limit.

You start the race and you work and struggle all you are able, running as fast as you can and jumping as High as you can, until what little time you have is just simply used up. Then you end up tired and sweaty, and more than a little frustrated because you look towards the finish line and realize it's impossible for you to get there on your own, through your own efforts.

Why would anyone design a race this way? What's the point of the race if no one can finish?

Translation: Why would God set up morality this way whereby "better people" by God's definition of morality aren't rewarded in any way? What's the point of having good deeds if they don't mean anything?

Flabbergasted, you adamantly insist on being told how he got to Japan, a place to where even if one wished to sprint to it, it wouldn't be possible, even without the time limit. You explain all the effort you put into running and jumping to get there, and no one ever passed you on the way, and they say, "You refused to follow the rules of the race, fifty meters into the race is a little building on the side of the track. Inside that building is the teleporter to Japan. It was clearly laid out in the rulebook, which you obviously didn't pay any attention to, and now it's too late, the race is over."

Why set up the race if the whole point is to jump in a teleporter anyway? What's the incentive to run? How is it fair that the effort we put in has no bearing on the outcome?

Translation: Why would God set up this whole good deeds and morality business if the whole point is to just take off with Jesus anyway? What's the incentive to do good deeds if you can just skip the line and get to heaven with Jesus? How is it fair that our good deeds and effort and service and love have no bearing on the outcome of our souls?

The problem is that you way it takes no discernible effort to "believe in Jesus", but reality is that it is exceedingly difficult, very much so. No, this requires the belief that "I can't do it. I can't make myself perfect in God's sight. I can't crawl into my mother's womb, be reborn, and keep His Laws perfectly in every way, from cradle to grave", but this is indeed the standard by which we all will be judged.

Why all the negative "can't this" and "can't that"? I am much more inclined to a positive philosophy which encourages me to act rather than discourages my action. If I can't do anything, then what's the point in trying?

It's impossible, you can't run to Japan. We face a God, who is holy, but we are not, and if we come before Him in our sin, He will cast us away, not only for our sin, but also of our rejection of His redemption, which He provided. He says through scripture, "There is only one way for you to come to me. I came in the flesh as a man. I lived perfectly according to my Law. I provided my own sacrifice for your sins. I gave this to you as a gift. You sinned and rebelled, and rejected my gift. You called my Son a liar, as He declared Himself the only way to the father, but here you stand asking me to look upon your works instead, when I've already told you they are not enough."

Where does God say that my works are not good enough?

I have never called Jesus a liar. He may have said what he said. Or he may have been misrepresented by the authors.

From this description, God does not love us unconditionally. If we don't believe in Jesus, then he rejects us. That's is a straight-up condition. Rejection is about as far as you can get from Love. A loving parent would never reject their own child, no matter how badly they screw up. My mother can attest to this, because I've screwed up and lied to her and have failed to appreciate her and even yelled at her a few times over my 20-odd years as her son. And she still loves me, no more and no less than when I was born.

If God is a source of infinite love then rejection should not be part of his repertoire.

It's an awful risk, knowing beforehand that you will fail, but doing it any way. You wouldn't jump from the top of a 30-story building to fly like Superman, because you know you'd fail and a few moments later, you'd smack into the pavement below and die because you are not capable of overcoming the law of gravity on your own. Likewise, you are not capable of fulfilling the Law of God on your own. It's impossible, no matter how much you flap your arms, and strive to fly on the way down, the end will be the same as one who does no flappng whatsoever.

I still don't see how its fair that Jesus gives you wings purely by an act of belief. The amount you flap your arms is not taken into account at all. So what's the incentive for someone with the wings of Jesus to try flapping at all?

 

[elopez]

If you were to set up a 500 meter race whereby both participants started at the same point and time and then awarded both participants gold regardless of their time, their training or their effort during the race, would this be fair? If one of the participants trained really hard and ran a fantastic race in a fantastic time while the other barely trained and walked the whole way, would giving both participants the gold be fair?

No, I don't think it would be fair to do so.

What I have described above is the idea of "equality of outcome". It is the basis of communism and is the reason why communism doesn't work. It seems unfair to give someone the equal outcome as another person when one person has done a better job or put in a greater effort or produced greater fruits.

Agreed.

I find the same intuitive unfairness can be applied to Christianity. One Christian can work hard at his relationship with God, put in daily effort to read the Bible and learn and increase his knowledge and constantly be out in the community helping people and preaching the Word of God and being endlessly loving and compassionate, and this Christian can be given eternal life. Another Christian can do very little in the way of his relationship with God, put little effort into being biblically moral, live a sheltered life with little interaction with his community and be harsh and rude to those around him and this Christian can be given eternal life.

Why would you assume the latter Christian would inherit eternal life then?

This is unfair. Equality of outcome is intuitively unfair. Grace implies equality of outcome. If you accept Jesus, then your actions have no long-term consequences. Your effort has no long-term consequences. No matter how hard you run the race, the lazy slob beside you receives the gold medal just like you.

It would be unfair if it was actually the case. I see no reason to think so.

Effort must be rewarded. A good job must be rewarded. This is the foundation of our economic system. Its the foundation of our educational systems. It is the foundation of any job. Its the reason communism doesn't work. Its the source of innovation and social progress.

Okay but you cannot compare the economic system to salvation even if effort is to be rewarded. In regards to salvation effort is only considered insofar as God granting man grace to have faith in order to put forth righteous effort. That is the only way we can do a good job as good truly comes from God alone.

As such, grace makes no sense. Its totally un-intuitive and gives no direct incentive to better the world.

Grace makes sense to me as explained above. Grace makes it possible that we could perform things to better the world. It shouldn't be because we want to inherit grace that we want to do things like that but because God would want them done exactly because they better the world.

What makes it worse is that Christianity requires one action: belief in Jesus. But this action is intangible and requires no discernible effort. It seems like a really bad measuring stick to sort us into residents of heaven versus residents of hell.

It would be the belief in Jesus that comes from grace and in that sense is tangible. And a bad measuring stick as compared to what?

 

[Hakan101]

Why would God set up morality this way whereby "better people" by God's definition of morality aren't rewarded in any way? What's the point of having good deeds if they don't mean anything?

This sounds like you think the motivation of doing good deeds is to earn a reward, or bring yourself glory as a "better" person. But God says that's not the kind of heart he's looking for.

Why set up the race if the whole point is to jump in a teleporter anyway? What's the incentive to run? How is it fair that the effort we put in has no bearing on the outcome?

Ever been to Japan? It's pretty darn awesome

Translation: Why would God set up this whole good deeds and morality business if the whole point is to just take off with Jesus anyway? What's the incentive to do good deeds if you can just skip the line and get to heaven with Jesus? How is it fair that our good deeds and effort and service and love have no bearing on the outcome of our souls?

Because good deeds have impact and have purpose. The problem is doing it for your own glory instead of God's. Who is your life centered around, yourself or God? If it's yourself, guess who you're doing good deeds for?

Why all the negative "can't this" and "can't that"? I am much more inclined to a positive philosophy which encourages me to act rather than discourages my action. If I can't do anything, then what's the point in trying?

Oh God encourages us to act alright. He calls us to do the impossible, and says, "With me it is possible." How's that for positive philosophy?

Where does God say that my works are not good enough?

I have never called Jesus a liar. He may have said what he said. Or he may have been misrepresented by the authors.

"When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags."

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

There are more verses, but this is pretty clear. The whole reason Jesus came and died for us is because we can't save ourselves with our works. We needed him to save us.

From this description, God does not love us unconditionally. If we don't believe in Jesus, then he rejects us. That's is a straight-up condition. Rejection is about as far as you can get from Love. A loving parent would never reject their own child, no matter how badly they screw up. My mother can attest to this, because I've screwed up and lied to her and have failed to appreciate her and even yelled at her a few times over my 20-odd years as her son. And she still loves me, no more and no less than when I was born.

If God is a source of infinite love then rejection should not be part of his repertoire.

God does love us unconditionally. If his love was conditional, there would be conditions we need to meet before he loves us. This is not true, there are no conditions, he already loves us all.

But God's love doesn't justify our sins. Really think about this. The evil that we've done doesn't go away just because "God loves us!" They must be dealt with, a just and holy God cannot let evil stand. So God gave us a savior out of forgiveness, out of unconditional love. Jesus paid the price so we wouldn't have to. There is no condition we have to meet to receive it. You just receive it.

The question is, do you hold conditions against God to meet before you'll accept salvation?

I still don't see how its fair that Jesus gives you wings purely by an act of belief. The amount you flap your arms is not taken into account at all.

Where's the sense in this? How would trying really hard to flap your arms and fly mean you would actually be able to do it? The reality is you can't, you're going to fall to your death no matter how hard you flap. You need wings, and Jesus says his are the only ones that can do the job.

So what's the incentive for someone with the wings of Jesus to try flapping at all?

The wonders of flight.