Equal
There is one band I have listened to for a long time – over forty years. Remarkably the original lineup is still together today. That band is U2.
They formed in 1976 as teenagers, after the drummer, Larry Mullen Jr, pinned an ad to the notice board at Dublin's Temple Mount School: ‘Drummer seeks musicians to form band’.
From humble beginnings, of rehearsing in the Mullen’s kitchen, U2 went on to become one of the biggest, successful and influential bands of all time.
In 2023, after years of recording and touring, Larry Mullen Jr had to step back from the band for some neck surgery.
However, last week the band were all back together again in London and were inducted into ‘Fellowship’ at ‘The Ivors’, the world's most prestigious celebration of songwriters! Well-deserved in my opinion.
What is it that has kept the singer/frontman Bono, guitarist The Edge, bass player Adam and Larry together for nearly 50 years? They do seem to have a deep bond of friendship and love.
Another thing, which they have talked openly about, is equality financially. In other words, they split the songwriting royalties four ways, with each member getting 25%. They put the band before individuals.
This reminded me of something in the Bible where there is also equality. When writing his letter to the Christians in Rome, about the foundation of faith, Paul said…
“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Every single person who is alive today, as well as all who have gone before, are equal in this – we all fall short of God’s standards.
Some say they are good people or even better than others, they view life with their own ‘class system’. Others think that if they do certain things then God will accept them.
However, that is not how the Bible sees things. Humans are all fallen and are in the same boat! There is good news, as the verse goes on to say.
We can all be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift through Jesus. In other words, it’s not dependent on anything we can do. This is offered equally and freely to everyone.
Let me encourage you to take a moment to ponder this: we are all equal in God’s eyes.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader