Getting along

Ephesians 2:11-22

Paul reminds us, "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Eph 2:12)

Gentiles (non-Jews) were excluded from the community of God's people. They were not allowed to enter the Jerusalem Temple's inner court on the pain of death. They could worship from afar, in a special area called the Court of Gentiles, but their presence in the Temple would render it unclean.

Jesus, however, reached out to those who were excluded. Paul says we are “brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13.) He reached out to the Samaritans and included them in the Gospel. The Pharisees called him a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Luke 7:34.) He preached to rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, insiders and outsiders.

Even those outside Jesus’ own group were included. His disciples once brought a report that one not of their group casting out demons in Jesus’ name. “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-40)

Jesus’ purpose was to create in himself one new humanity. Through the miracle of new birth Jesus makes it possible for diverse peoples to be reconciled “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...” (2 Cor 5:17)

Paul writes, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners & aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people & members of God’s household." (Eph 2:19)

Jesus broke down the barriers and removed the hostility. Our differences should no longer divide us. Through the blood of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit the church has a ministry of reconciliation between Jew and Gentile. Between Black and White. Between Anglo and Hispanic. Between Democrat and Republican.

Because we have made peace with God, we can begin to live at peace with one another as brothers & sisters in the family of God.

Healing our children

The Gospel of Luke tells us of a father who brought his son to Jesus' followers, seeking healing for his son's seizures. The disciples had failed and a mocking crowd had gathered when Jesus enters the scene. The father called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” (Luke 9:38-40, NIV)

The Apostle Paul wrote that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12,NIV)

This boy and his father were battling forces beyond their control. People, often, find themselves in terrible plight due to the powers that make decisions that impact all of our lives.

These decisions include deed restrictions that insured some neighborhoods would remain “white.” Unrestricted neighborhoods would have smaller lots, poorly built homes, inferior roads, sewage and other municipal services. These deed restrictions were struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1948 (Shelley v. Kraemer) but the damage was done. When you realize that the majority of most American's wealth is invested in their homes, you can see the long-lasting implications of this policy.

Another such decision occurred when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was created in 1934 to encourage home ownership during the Great Depression by guaranteeing bank loans. They green lined (approved) mortgages for new construction in the suburbs and red lined (declined) mortgages in inner-city areas with high crime rates, poor housing stock, and poor infrastructure. Those who could, moved out. Only the poorest remained. A lower tax base impacted the quality of schools trapping families into generational poverty.

In 2012, Pew Research named San Antonio the most economically segregated city in America. The south side has high unemployment, low high school graduation, few job opportunities, lack of nearby fresh food markets and healthcare, large numbers of people receiving government assistance. DiversityDataKids.org has declared the south side a low opportunity area for children, increasing vulnerability to human trafficking and drug addiction. A child born and raised in 78210 has a life expectancy 20 years shorter than one born & raised in the north side.

Like Jesus' disciples, non-profits, government agencies and churches want to help but seem to fall short. Donor contributions and tax dollars fund programs that show promise but generational poverty continues.

It is possible to overcome these unseen forces. Two Baptist Temple youth, who grew up on the south side and graduated from south side high schools, each received full scholarships to private universities in San Antonio. The resources to succeed are available on the south side. The key is to encourage more kids to take advantage of them.

Jesus succeeded where the disciples failed. Later, he would tell them that “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:29, NIV)

Spiritual weapons are required to fight spiritual battles. Jesus did three things in this passage:

1. He REBUKED the spirit. We need to speak out against injustices that bring harm to vulnerable people.
2. He HEALED the boy. We need to bring healing to the people of our communities through mentoring relationships that minister to physical and spiritual needs.
3. He RETURNED the boy to his father. We need to restore families, not replace them.

The crowd that had gathered to mock the disciples for their failure, now were amazed at God's greatness. The church is at its best when it brings healing to our fallen world.

We Can Have Peace in Our Relationships

Colossians 3:15

Jesus Christ can us move us from division to community.

People find it hard to live in harmony & peace with one another. We fight and we bicker. We criticize and tear each other down. Our courts are filled with people who can't get along. We encounter strife at work, at home and, even, at church. We compete for position, for attention, and for material gain. It was not long before Adam and Eve turned on each other. Jealousy drove Cain to kill his brother and drove Joseph's brothers to sell him into slavery. Lust drove David to take the wife of one of his mighty men. And so it goes.

In the New Testament we read repeatedly of enmity between the Jews and non-Jews. Ethnic and racial strife is as old as the Tower of Babel and is as fresh as the morning news.

There is good news. God has sent us the Prince of Peace. “Jesus himself is our peace, who has made the two one [Jews and non-Jews] and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

The Bible teaches, “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).

In a world filled with strife the church must be an oasis of peace. We should both examples and agents of reconciliation. After all, we are carrying out His ministry of reconciliation as His ambassadors.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:15

see also: 

We Can Have Peace with God 

We Can Have Peace on Earth

 

Why We Can't All Just Get Along

Martin Luther King, Jr. lamented, “the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning.”

This remains true nearly 50 years later. One reason for the racial divide in America is due to self-segregation. An article in The Atlantic reported that 75% of white Americans have entirely white social networks. On the other hand, 65% of black Americans have entirely black social networks. In our era of desegregation, equal opportunity and a dark-skinned President, we still choose to separate ourselves by race.

The church, to whom God has entrusted the ministry of reconciliation, may be the chief offender in this area. Self-segregation is actually taught in church growth seminars. The father of the church growth movement, Donald McGavran, called it “the homogenous church growth principle.” He taught that people are most comfortable in a church where they don't have to cross racial, linguistic or class barriers. This has led to rapid growth of first generation churches but has failed to address the racial divide that is hurting our nation.

The Multiracial Congregations Project found that 92% of American churches are predominantly mono-cultural (with 80% or more of its members representing one race). The usual explanation for self-segregation in the church has to do with worship style but that is a thin excuse. The Project found that Catholic churches, which are more likely to be multiracial than Protestants, had little socialization and interaction between ethnic groups.

This racial divide causes blacks and whites to view the causes and cures for racial inequality differently. It fosters distrust and denial and stifles meaningful dialog.

The church is God’s answer to racial and ethnic strife. It is to be an agent of healing and a witness to the world. The church was born in the multicultural milieu of Jerusalem where God-fearing Jews of many nations heard Peter’s message, each in his own native language. (Acts 2)

Christian radio preacher, Tony Evans, says, “It is especially critical during these days of tension and uncertainty that we in the body of Christ intentionally seek to bridge that gap.”

He admonishes us to work together so that greater manifestations of God's Kingdom will be experienced in our churches and our nation. “Pray that the differences endowed upon us by our Creator will not divide us, but rather in embracing them, they will highlight Almighty God’s ability to use diversity for His glory and our good,” said Evans.

It is time to for Americans who are followers of Jesus Christ to reach out to one another past personal preferences, past hidden racial bias, past fear, past anger, and past whatever excuse fits the moment. A nation where racial inequality exists (for whatever reason) cannot be one nation under God.

The underlying problem is sin and the ultimate solution is Jesus. Racial bias and all types of inequality demonstrates an absence of love. It is an issue that Christians of all ethnicities from the entire social-economic spectrum must address together.

First, we must fellowship; we must share meals; we must work together on projects of mutual interest. Then, we talk about deeper issues as friends, as true brothers and sisters in Christ.