菲莉斯．惠特利（Phillis Wheatley）是第一位出版詩集的美國非裔詩人，她用聖經的真理勸說基督徒廢除奴隸制度。惠特利大約在1753年出生於西非，七歲時就被賣給奴隸販子。後來，她很快就展現卓越的學習能力，並於1773年獲得自由。惠特利在所寫的詩歌和書信中，敦促讀者接受聖經所強調的人人平等的觀點。她寫道：「上帝在每個人的內心深植一個理念，我們稱之為『熱愛自由』。這種理念令人無法忍受壓迫，渴望獲得釋放，……這樣的理念也存在我們心中。」

保羅強調在上帝面前人人平等，他寫道：「從此不再分猶太人和希臘人，自由人和奴隸，男人和女人，因為你們都在基督耶穌裡合而為一了」（加拉太書3章28節，當代譯本修訂版）。由於我們都是藉著相信基督耶穌而成為上帝的兒女（26節），所以教會不可因為不同的種族、族群、性別或社會地位而有分歧。

縱然我們都平等領受了上帝的愛，卻難以實踐人人平等的理念。但聖經教導我們，不同的群體因相信基督而彼此聯合，這反映了上帝的心意，也是祂對人類永恆生命的計劃。這真理能幫助我們在信仰群體中，欣賞彼此的不同之處。

Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, used biblical themes to persuade believers in Jesus to abolish slavery. Born around 1753 in western Africa, Wheatley was sold to a slave trader at only seven years of age. Quicky distinguishing herself as a remarkable student, she finally secured her emancipation in 1773. In her poems and correspondence, Wheatley pressed her readers to embrace the scriptural affirmation of the equality of all people. She wrote, “In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; It is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance; and . . . the same Principle lives in us.”

Equality before God is a truth emphasized by Paul when he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Because we’re “all children of God through faith” (v. 26), differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, or social status shouldn’t lead to discrimination in the church.

Even as equal recipients of God’s love, we still struggle to live out this principle. But Scripture teaches that diverse peoples united through faith in Christ best reflect God’s heart and is His plan for life in eternity. That reality can help us to celebrate the diversity in our communities of faith now.