We Are All One
Pastor Philip talked this past Sunday about the event recounted by Paul where Peter ate with Gentile believers; but then when Jewish believers showed up, he wouldn't. Paul goes on to speak about how we are all one in Christ. We are all saved by grace through faith in Christ. It is this I want to focus on today.
Most believers in most Christians in most churches today would nod their heads knowingly at this and say, "Yes, praise God we are not bound by the works of the law." However, when it comes to daily practice, most Christians in most churches today do exactly the same thing.
"What do you mean, Josh?"
Well, think about the Church today. Not your local gathering, but the entirety of the people of Christ. Just to make it smaller, let's just look at the US (because that's what I know). There are over 200 individual Christian denominations in the US. It is rare that you find deliberate intermingling among those congregations in any area. Events like Crossover are rare, in my decades of experience all over the country. Instead, we hang out with our "tribe." There are some types of congregations we might hang out with, and others we would never be caught dead in.
We may have given up the "Law" like Paul was discussing, but we've replaced it with new "laws" of our own making. We divide and subdivide the body of Christ. We point fingers and condemn other followers of Jesus. We have become what we hate.
Now I want to be clear that I'm not talking about you (the reader) individually or New Life in particular. Only you know your heart. The question you need to ask yourself is, "Would you join your Roman Catholic brothers and sister at a Mass? Would you gather with yout brothers and sisters who condemn speaking in tongues? Would you gather in a church that allows someone who transitioned from female to male before they followed Christ to lead a Bible study? Would you gather with a congregation where they believe that all non-white immigrants should be deported?" I have known (and do know), people in all these types of congregations.
The truth is, some of this is a struggle. The other truth is, there will only be one heaven. It will not be subdivided along the "laws" and divisions we have created on earth. A third truth is, according to Jesus, there will be many in heaven we don't expect...and many who expect to be there who won't.
The way I practice being Paul and not Peter personally is by listening to people and joining them without judgment. As I said, it's not always easy. Here at Camp Arifjan, I get the privilege of participating in the breadth of the Church. I lead music for the Mass on Sunday at 0900. I am on the preaching rotation and I've led music for the contemporary service at 1100. I am on the preaching rotation and I lead a Bible study for the Gospel service. I have my own theological views about things. I don't personally agree with everything that goes on in every service, but I go and I participate because I want to practice what Paul told us in Galatians 2:16, "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law."
We are saved by our faith in Christ. Not by the Law. Not by our own made-up rules. Not by our theology. Our faith in Christ proven by living out that faith in the world.
Worship is loving the entirety of the body of Christ...not just those who think/look/act like me.
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Still God, Still Good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei8XWHpFDq4
Reckless Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE
Just Because