On Sept. 6, 2005, our family drove to the local immigration office for my citizenship ceremony. After almost six years of extensive paperwork and considerable costs, I finally held the green certificate that attested that I was an American citizen.
I remember the excitement of pledging allegiance to the American flag as a citizen for the first time. I would not need a “green card” or an “alien card” to be accepted for employment, to leave the country and — best of all, I would finally be able to have a voice in politics.
For the second time in my life, I received rights and privileges that were not originally mine by birth. The first time, it happened when I became a Christian and was, according to Scriptures, adopted into Abraham’s bloodline by faith.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Apostle Paul of Tarsus in his letter to the Ephesian church)
It is the central part of Christianity and known to every gentile since the first century, when, after Christ’s historical resurrection, his teachings were widely promulgated starting in Jerusalem and throughout the Roman empire. The apostle Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Ephesian church, located in modern-day Turkey, reminding the new believers in Ephesus that, according to the New Covenant, they had the same rights and privileges as the Jews.
For the Jewish reader of the day, the fact that the gentiles were put in the same position as the Jews was a huge heresy. No wonder most of the apostles died terrible deaths! Between Rome and the Pharisees, the gospel of peace that proclaimed unity between the Jews and gentiles and proclaimed Jesus as the one and only Lord, was blasphemy. To many, it still is today.
But Jesus made it very clear: He came to all. By faith, Abraham’s righteousness, which was originally Jewish inheritance, was passed on to all believers at the cross. The only requirement became faith in Jesus Christ — his death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. Regardless of whom they were before Christ, in him the church became one body, heirs of heaven … and called by God to perform his work on earth. In unity.
Paul reminded the Ephesians that Christ came to break the barriers between Jewish and gentile. As he continued in his epistle: “For he himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.”
All races. All nations. All people groups. Paul reminded the first-century believers that unity should be the heartbeat of the church, because Christ had died for people of all nations, tribes and tongues.
It’s a good reminder for the church today.
But we know better. Unfortunately, division among believers was not a first-century issue. It continues until today. And I am not referring only to differing doctrines. No questions such disagreements create separation. But it is when the division within the church is influenced by external elements such as race, political views, nationality or economic status, that the church reaches its weakest and less effective state.
We must not forget that there will be no race, political preference or handicaps in heaven. We will be the unified church of Christ, redeemed by his sacrifice and free from the entire physical realm that challenges our unity here on earth.
In the meantime, while society revels in political discord, may we be challenged to stay unified, lest we lose sight of the reason why Christ came in the first place: because God so loved the world. Not whites. Not blacks. Not Americans or Hispanics. He loves the entire, colorful building. May we be challenged to look upon Jesus as the unifier, and Scriptures as the guide by which we make our decisions … and take our stand.
And finally, may we be challenged to extend the same compassion, patience and loving-kindnesses that God renews in our lives every morning to those whom we disagree with every day.
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