I have felt a strong urge over the past few weeks to discuss DEI because, like many Christians, I am also interested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I observe that the issue of fairness is complex, and I worry that Conservatives and most Christians are often portrayed as monsters pushing innocent women and children out of our nation. Unfortunately, this portrayal is misleading and designed to manipulate our emotions, leading good-hearted people—most believers in Christ—to accept arguments that have little to do with God’s truth regarding right and wrong. This has prompted me to reflect deeply and pray earnestly, as I always want God’s perspective, not human emotional manipulations, to guide us.
This inspired me to write an example of the DEI argument as if it were one of Jesus’ parables infused with His perspective. I pray this blesses you as you seek to be a blessing to others, especially when loving others might not look as you think or feel it should.
Let’s call it the ‘Parable of the Master’s Vineyard.’
Once, there was a great vineyard owner, a wise and generous master, who had long cared for his land. His vineyard stretched over rolling hills, with vines heavy with grapes and soil rich from careful tending. Year after year, he hired workers to care for the vines, prune and water them, and bring in the harvest at the designated time.
One morning, the master went to the marketplace to hire laborers. He sought the finest workers—those who were diligent, who loved the craft of tending vines, and who would give their best effort. Some had spent years in the vineyard, knowing exactly how to prune without harming the vine. Others were new and eager to learn, but all were chosen based on their willingness to work and their ability to bear fruit.
A New Overseer Brings Change
One day, the master appointed a new overseer to manage the hiring of laborers. This overseer had a different vision for the vineyard. He no longer sought the most skilled or dedicated workers. Instead, he decided that every group must be equally represented—not by their ability to tend the vines, but by their identity. He even believed there were new identities not previously seen tending vines and to be fair; they should also be included so they could be part of the group of workers.
"We must make the vineyard fair," the overseer declared. "It is not right that some have worked here longer than others. We need to ensure that every group receives an equal share of the harvest, regardless of whether they know how to care for the vines or not."
The next day, the overseer hired workers who had never pruned a vine, harvested grapes, or tended to the land. The experienced laborers warned him, "Master, these workers are good people, but they lack the skills! They will damage the vines and spoil the fruit!"
But the overseer rebuked them, saying, "It’s unfair to deny them a place in the vineyard. Everyone deserves to be treated equally."
The Withering of the Vineyard
Initially, the vineyard seemed unchanged. The new workers were assigned tasks while the experienced ones carried on with their work. However, as time went by, the fruit started to suffer. The unskilled workers pruned too deeply, and the branches no longer bore fruit as they once did. They neglected to water the roots because they didn’t realize when the soil was thirsty. Then, at harvest time, they gathered the fruit carelessly, crushing grapes before they could be taken to the press.
The older laborers attempted to correct their mistakes, but the overseer warned them, "You shouldn’t judge or criticize them! That would be unfair!"
Thus, the experienced workers fell silent. Some were disheartened, while others were angry. Some left the vineyard entirely, realizing that their skills and efforts no longer mattered. Others stayed, but their hands grew idle as their wisdom was no longer welcomed.
The Master Returns
At the end of the season, the master returned to inspect his vineyard. He walked through the fields and noticed that the vines were weak, the fruit was bitter, and a large portion of the harvest had been lost.
The master called the overseer to him and asked, "What have you done?"
The overseer smiled and said, "Master, we have created a diverse and inclusive vineyard! It is now fair. Every group has contributed equally. No one has outperformed anyone else!"
But the master shook his head and said, "You have confused fairness with foolishness. Didn’t I teach you that each worker must be faithful in what he is given? Each must work according to his ability, and the vineyard flourishes when laborers are chosen for their skill and diligence?"
"You have hired workers not for their love of the vineyard but for their social identity in society. You have overlooked wisdom and the five chapters devoted to it in Proverbs in favor of appearances. And now the harvest is ruined."
The overseer protested, "But we wanted justice!"
The master said, "True justice rewards those who labor diligently, working with integrity and excellence. But you have forsaken justice for false equality. And now, there is neither justice nor reward."
With that, the master removed the overseer from his position and entrusted the vineyard back to those who knew how to tend it. However, the vines were weak, and the harvest had been lost. Restoring what had been ruined would require years of careful labor.
The Lesson of the Vineyard
As Jesus might say, "He who has ears, let him hear."
In this, we see the folly of those who reject wisdom for the sake of appearances. In seeking to seem fair in their own eyes, they destroy the very thing they are entrusted to protect: the Master’s vineyard.
A vineyard does not thrive by demanding equal outcomes; it flourishes by rewarding hard work. A society that values skill and diligence will prosper, while one that overlooks merit in favor of enforced fairness will soon see its vineyard wither and its harvest lost.
To be fair, we must create and support opportunities and mentorship programs for everyone who wants to learn. When diversity is lacking, we should encourage outreach programs to teach individuals how to engage with all the resources available for learning and contributing to the vineyard we all share. Everyone values what they have invested in and worked hard to achieve. Most people never appreciate anything simply given to them on a silver platter. Many often lack the necessary respect and admiration for what they receive without putting in any effort.
I found myself applying the logic of DEI to this parable and realized that, regardless of our feelings for others and their struggles in life, we cannot change their skills to accommodate their differences, whatever those may be. Jesus warned us that we would face tribulations in this world, and we certainly do. We all encounter numerous trials and tribulations. Some of these are significantly related to opportunity and the preparation for those opportunities. People are born into various life circumstances, many of which may seem unfair. Some have much, while others have little. Ultimately, how hard we work with what we have is our choice. If you wish to work in a vineyard, learn and prepare to do so, even if the opportunity isn’t immediately available. Then, when you find that opportunity, you will be ready for the job. In a society seeking to judge hearts and force equal outcomes, remember the truth of Zechariah 4:10a : “Do not despise your small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.”
The Lord does not judge by outward appearances. He does look at the fruit we produce. You are capable of bearing fruit if you do the work required. At the end of the day, a worker is worth their hire if they can compete. The journey of competition may not be fair, but your skill set can become equal to that of someone with more experience if you work hard enough. "For whatever one sows, that will he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) Trusting in Godly principles will never fail you as you seek to advance in life without the aid of unfair balances.
To go deeper here, remember 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees, man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”’
We cannot force equity because we do not know the reasons behind inequities in the first place. There is much in this world that only God can see and judge, particularly the condition of your heart or another person’s heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” as the Bible states in Jeremiah 17:9.
The point is that all things should be brought before God in prayer, seeking the truth and understanding of God’s instruction in the Bible and only the Bible. Looking within your own heart will often lead to incorrect methods of feeling better about the human condition. This leaves you confused, misunderstood, and easily manipulated—none of which is a state a Believer should live in.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/SafakOguz
Cynthia Garrett broke barriers when she became the first African American woman in the U.S. to host a network late-night show, NBC’s Later with Cynthia Garrett. She is currently seen on TBN and Salem Media networks, as well as on Fox News and other news outlets, addressing cultural issues and today’s news. The Cynthia Garrett Podcasts premiere weekly on all major podcast platforms.
A highly sought-after speaker, author, TV host, and ordained minister, Garrett is the author of The Naked Truth: Reclaiming Sexual Freedom in a Culture of Lies (2024), I Choose Victory: Moving from Victim to Victor (2020), and Prodigal Daughter: A Journey Home to Identity (2016). For more information, visit www.cynthiagarrett.org
