Exhortation, July 3

America has always been committed to equality; “all men are created equal” is a cornerstone of our founding documents. The promise of America is not that everyone will turn out the same. America promises instead to minimize “artificial” inequities of birth or privilege, and give everyone a chance to pursue his dream on a more or less level playing field. Government will at least refrain from introducing any imbalance that gives an unfair advantage to one class or the other. Americans expect that if the government will only get out of the way, outcomes will be more or less equal. While we can’t all be Bill Gates, we can all retire as millionaires.

Whatever the legitimacy or coherence of this promise, it is no longer the dominant note of American culture. In place of this modest equality, American culture is now shaped by radical egalitarians hostile to any sort of hierarchy or authority. Feminists attack authority in marriage and the home; journalists are egalitarian in despising whoever happens to hold authority; politicians consider inequalities of wealth to be unjust, and resolve the injustice through redistribution; gay rights activists claim that homosexuals have as much right to marry as hetersexuals. Aaron Wildavsky has calculated that 374% of the American population is part of an oppressed minority.

Egalitarian hostility to authority is no longer the counter-culture, if it ever was. It is our culture, and our politics. Americans no longer accept inequality of any kind, which is to say, Americans no longer know the meaning of honor.

In reaction to egalitarianism, it would be natural to assert authority or grasp for honor. But that would be as pagan as egalitarianism, and equally corrosive. In reaction to egalitarianism, Christians must take the lead in bestowing honor. Christian children must learn to honor their parents, wives to respect and fear their husbands, husbands to honor their wives, Christian citizens to honor both our American forefathers and the rulers that God has placed over us.

Let the apostle Paul have the last word: “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”