Color Me Purple

"For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:11-13

In the U.S. Military, each service has a distinctive uniform - down to the color and the buttons. There are certain assignments where all of the services are working in the same organization.  They call that a joint assignment. In fact there are now joint bases where more than one service is based. Another term that is used to describe the military members who work in those places is "purple suits" meaning that for the moment, the service they represent is subordinate to the assignment they share. They all look the same - they all wear purple suits, if you will. (Not really, their wear their service uniforms but work as one unit.)

Paul was saying that as Christians there is no distinction between Jewish and Gentile Christians.  They were different ethnically and culturally, even by language, but they were one. They shared the same faith, the same Spirit, the same hope in Jesus. 

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

" From Now On We Regard No One According To The Flesh" - wow! That is powerful.  I was just talking with a pastor friend about this very thing. There is a misconception that if you are an Evangelical Christian then you are of European decent. If you think that, you would be wrong. Evangelical Christians are much more diverse in ethnicity and culture than you might imagine. 

The beginning of Evangelical Christianity in the United States certainly finds it roots in the European immigration in the 1600 and 1700's. People naturally gravitate to those who look like them, talk like them, dress like them, live like them. There has always been a missionary sense among Christians in this country. A God-inspired desire to spread the Gospel. But what does that look like in a country once known as the "Melting Pot". To that point the focus of evangelism and missions has been tell everyone about Jesus but then encourage them to assemble on Sunday according to color, language and culture - even music genre.  Be One spiritually but be separate physically.  

But that is not the rest of the story. In 1992 Promise Keepers rose to prominence with the message of racial/ethnic reconciliation - One Body of Christ - and it was received as right and good by many churches.  The problem was what to do with that truth. The answer is always the same. It starts with this. Love God and Love Others

"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 22:35-40

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