What Christians Should Be Known For
Building a multi-cultural church isn’t exactly the easiest task. It’s only natural for all of us to want to be with “our kind of people.” But when I think of all the boundaries that Jesus crossed, I realize that to follow our Lord means to love, accept, and learn from people who are often vastly different from us.
Let me ask you a question: what do you want to be known for as a Christian? Having the right answers? Living a moral life? Voting for the “right” candidates? May I suggest that none of these things ultimately reflect our calling as followers of Jesus.
Before his arrest in the Garden, Jesus prayed for all those who, throughout the centuries, would place their faith in him. Here’s what he said -
I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21, ERV)
It shouldn’t surprise us that one of the earliest struggles in the church revolved around non-Jewish Christians adopting Jewish culture and Jewish ways, even to the point of all adult males submitting to circumcision, the Jewish covenant mark that signified belonging to God’s people. But I love the fact that God chose a “Hebrew of Hebrews” to confront this exclusivist thinking and point the way to the true sign of God’s people.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul spells this out, saying; You were not born as Jews. You are the people the Jews call “uncircumcised.” (2:11, ERV) Behind the apostle’s words are the same prejudice, animosity, and pride that separates people groups from one another today.
This is why he continues, We were separated by a wall of hate that stood between us, but Christ broke down that wall . . . His purpose was to make the two groups become one in him . . . So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family. (2:14,15,19, ERV)
As I continue to serve here in North Carolina’s international city of High Point, I am passionate about building a multi-cultural church whose message is about the peace and unity that faith in Jesus brings into our communities and world. It’s a message that people in our world today are desperate to hear. And as the song I sang in youth group says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”*
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are on in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
In Christ,
Dan
*Copyright:
Words: 1966 FEI Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin. by Lorenz Corporation), Music: 1966 FEI Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin by Lorenz Corporation)
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You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.