Christians Are All The Same - Aren't They?

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." - Galatians 3:27-29

One of the criticisms of the Christian faith has been that we persist in drawing lines between people groups. In Galatians, and other letters to the churches, it seems that Paul was bent on erasing those lines. For the sake of being one within the confines of our ethnicity or cultural traditions, we limit just how "one" we will be with Christians who don't look or talk, or act like us. Justifying why we cling to our cultural traditions so as not to lose our ethnic or cultural identity. We all readily embrace John 3:16, understanding that the world that God loves is, in fact, the whole planet and not just our little piece of it. "He's got the whole world in His hands" - right?

Cerebrally we can embrace that, but practically - when faced with it - well - we stumble.  The fact is that we would prefer that everyone just stay within their lines.  Oh, this is not just a "white" or "black" or "brown" thing. It's a human - flesh thing. And that is the problem. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever thought about what those "old things" might be? I think the root of the problem is that we see other Christians of other ethnicities and cultures through the lens of our old fallen nature and not our new risen one. The Spiritual one. We are OK with the idea that if they are to change but they should change to be like us - fit into our culture. But what if we have all missed the mark. That instead of expecting other to be like us we should all expect all of us to be like Jesus. Need I remind you that Jesus was born of a virgin through the line of David, a Jew. He was not an Anglo born in the USA! There is no white, black or brown Jesus. Just the Son of God - Jesus.

Jesus prayed that we all would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17). That is a spiritual oneness - supernatural - a unity apart from the race of Adam. Made possible by the blood of Jesus and not the imaginings of man. When I preached in a Haitian church I always started with the phrase, "mwen pa blan mwen se frè nou" - "I am not white, I am your Brother" From the looks on the people's faces I was certain my declaration was often met with skepticism. But it was no less true. It was and is and will always be a spiritual truth. 

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:20

Hard words. Do you want to seek justification for your attitude and actions? You say, "I don't really hate Christians who are not like me. I just prefer to not be around them." My one-word response would be, "Really?!"

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed [by the vain traditions of] your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." - 1 Peter 1:18-21

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone