What Does It Mean to Be Fair?
Fairness—the ever-elusive ideal we strive for. It means acting without favoritism or discrimination, which sounds straightforward until you realize it’s not the same as “equality.” While equality is about giving everyone the same treatment, fairness takes individual needs into account.
When it comes to piety or religion, fairness can feel complicated. Deciding between good and bad, weighing moral choices without bias, is no small task. And let’s not forget the politics involved! Are we truly equipped to sift through the web of lies and hypocrisy surrounding what’s good, right, or bad, especially when it divides families and communities?
So, if we believe we’re diligent in settling our own issues, will we ever have all the facts to do so? And once we gather those facts, can we arrange them in a way that serves the common good? The likelihood of achieving that is slim. So how should we respond?
Answer and Atonement
In Ezekiel, chapter 45 of the Bible, princes were expected to make atonement for the house of Israel. They didn’t have access to a complete list of the tribe’s shortcomings or sins against God, yet they still had this responsibility.
So, what is atonement? It’s essentially making reparations for a wrong or injury, and the root of the word means “to unite.” If we were to create a comprehensive list of all the wrongs, rights, and mistakes tied to our homes, churches, and communities that we are a part of, what would that list look like?
As representatives of our homes, communities, and countries (and as influences on the next generation), we must consider our roles carefully.
When we contemplate all of this, we would face an extensive list of significant issues that barely scratches the surface of what atonement entails. It’s just the beginning of understanding what it means to approach fairness.
In a world where we often view fairness as an attempt to balance things out, true fairness lies in recognizing that it is a concept held in Hands much larger than ours. As we navigate these challenges, let’s remember that true fairness is not ours to attain.
