“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.”
- Ephesians 2:16
Two thousand years ago the church was divided between Jew and Gentile, which is essentially everyone who was not a Jew. It was divided on a matter of race, culture, and religious practice. Technically, there were Biblical reasons for this. In the Old Covenant with the Jews, they were meant to be purely God’s chosen people with the mark of circumcision to distinguish them. It was so that they could bless other nations, but they quickly became self-righteous as being God’s chosen people.
Hints of that remained in the Early Church, as Jewish converts felt that to truly follow God meant following the Law, and tried to get the Gentiles to be circumcised and follow the Law at the complete neglect of Gentile customs and heritage. Something needed done to make sense of how the Church under Christ is to socialize with one another.
Enter in Saint Paul and his writings like the verse above. The Gospel changed everything for how we should interact with other human beings. No longer is there Jew or Gentile, or other ways of distinguishing social placement. Christ flipped the script.
The “Social” Gospel:
I get it, some may be weary to hear about the Social Gospel. Do not think of it like that, instead think of this like living into the Gospel and all its Social implications. Though I do believe much can be learned from the active practice of faith that exist in Social Gospel rooted churches.
The church of today is divided in many ways. From geographical to cultural, from age old theological disputes to the ever-present social issues of today. There tend to be many “biblical” stances taken by many good-hearted Christians on both Right and Left sides of the political spectrum. Oh, and we let worldly politics that will one day come to an end and mean nothing divide us too.
It has been said that the most segregated day of the week is Sunday. When you factor in race, economy, culture, and politics it should come as no surprise. We love to be at churches that tend to represent the faith and life we have, and it becomes a comfort place.
We need to crucify ourselves here. When we allow these things to divide us to the point, we no longer even respectfully hear out a fellow Christian because they have a different viewpoint, we are no longer following Christ, but our own selfish and prideful ambitions in life. We need to crucify ourselves (metaphorically obviously) because Christ crucified Himself so that one day, we would not have these divisions but rather be completely and entirely united under Him. Every hostility that can and does exist was taken away under Christ and yet we behave so hostile to each other.
The cross brings social change and calls us to continue the redeeming process by continuing social change. While at the core we as a Church believe the same truths about Christ, the fruit we bear say we are disunited. Can we let Christ continue to reconcile us and end our hostilities to each other?
Now one second, you may think to yourself that you have an entirely Christian worldview and it is fully in line with others around you may say or believe. But hear me out. If you have made a post or had a thought that could be considered hostile toward a Liberal, a Conservative, a Black person or a White person, then you have not successfully lived reconciled to others.
I have failed too, and that is why we must repent, and turn to our God, our King who died on the Cross and believe that He really has reconciled us all.
The book of Revelation contains a vivid picture for us of what this unity is to look like.
“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they shouted with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’”
- Revelation 7:9-10
One day, I will stand in Heaven, near by will be a Black man and an Arabic woman. In earshot will be someone speaking Spanish and another speaking Japanese having conversation and understanding each other. Then suddenly we will see Jesus on the throne and give praise to the God who loved us all so much that He wanted us to live as one.
I know I fail; I am human and fall short of how God would wish for me to treat a Black man and woman. I must repent of this human condition, we all share it, and it even holds the Church back from true Social Reconciliation like Revelation depicts.
Final Blessing:
Will you repent with me? Will you reach out to someone whom you would not usually because of some worldly reason? The Kingdom of Heaven is now, repent and believe, pursue sharing the Gospel of reconciliation in these weird times.
Lord, I am fallen, and the enemy has taken hold of my ankle. I am sorry for holding hostile standpoints even as I am to represent You. God, You are not hostile like man, and I am sorry I have falsely portrayed who You are. Lord I believe You are what can truly unite humanity. I believe You are the redeemer, reconciler, and restorer for what is truly good and right. Help me be more like You and less like me.
May the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you always in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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