United in Christ
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
We live in a world of separation. Humans too often build walls to keep out anyone who is different in almost any way. We separate based on skin tone, politics, nation or region, gender, sexual orientation, education, and almost any other lifestyle descriptor.
The church isn’t immune to this separatism. I’ve often heard this quote: “Sunday morning at 11 AM is the most segregated hour in America.” I don’t know if that is true or not, and I’m not sure what it means even if it is true. I understand that there are different worship styles, and it’s fine with me if people prefer one church or worship style over another. But when anyone is unwelcome in any church, there is a problem.
And this isn’t news. From the beginning of the church, there have been racial problems in the church. In Ephesians 2.11-22, Paul takes the church in Ephesus to task for their racial division:
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. (New Living Translation of the Bible)
The message of the Bible is that those who were excluded are now included. Those who were foreigners are now full citizens. There is no longer a wall of separation in the church. All Christians are members of God’s holy family, and together we are a holy temple where God’s spirit lives.
Sound good? Have you felt like an “outsider” and want to be an “insider”? God’s house is open to you. Come see us on Sunday.
Peace,
Matt