Judaism, the religion of the Jews, have different categories to classify the Gentiles (non-Jews) even today. There are those who are "righteous" Gentiles - ethical monotheists, no matter what religion they practice. They are bound by Noah's seven commandments, but these Gentiles are not part of the Jewish "society." Then there are those "righteous" Gentiles who desire to join the Jewish society. These Gentiles go to their court and promise to live by the Jewish Law (613 commandments). The last category is comprised of those Gentiles who are idolaters. They don't care about entering Jewish society and don't care about becoming ethical monotheists. Jews stay away from them and avoid mixing with them.
In Jesus' day, when the Temple was functional, Gentiles were not allowed to worship together with Jews. They had to gather in a different courtyard altogether. There were different areas of worship and the further away from the ark of the covenant (holy of holies), the less important. The first area was designated for the priests. The second area was for Israel. The third courtyard was for women. And the last and furthest one surrounding all others, was for the Gentiles to worship. The Gentiles were treated like second class citizens even if they converted to Judaism.
Peter's message to Cornelius and his family is that God shows no partiality! That's the message of the Gospel. He explains that the Jesus the Jews killed was the one God sent to preach the good news of the Gospel and God raised him from the dead calling them to continue to preach the good news. This Jesus is the one that the prophets proclaimed. And without exception, everyone who believes in his name is granted forgiveness of sins. And to seal the truth of Peter's preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers in Cornelius' home causing them to speak in tongues and praise God. The fact that Gentiles enjoyed the same gifts from God was evidence enough to understand that God shows no partiality. Jew and Gentile are to be treated with equality.
In a world filled with prejudice and racism, we make distinctions by ethnicity, skin color, nose size, height, education, socio-economic status, political views, theological views, etc, etc, etc. This is contrary to the Gospel! God is calling people from all nations to come to him and worship him as one, bringing down the barriers that divide us. The Church should strive to be a place of integration for believers coming from all kinds of different backgrounds. There is no room for partiality in the kingdom! The Gospel calls us to renounce prejudice and racism. In the kingdom of God there is no white, black, yellow or brown church. There is only one Church!
I must learn to love my brothers and sisters from all countries around the world as well as my brothers and sisters from around Chicagoland. I should not judge them for their looks or for their past life. Ex-gangsters, ex-addicts, ex-prostitutes as well as the homeless and the poor, no matter their country of origin, should be viewed as brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Father, teach me to love all people. Break down the barriers in my heart that hold me back from loving as you love. Fill me with your Spirit and pour your love in my heart free from prejudice and racism. Amen.
Showing posts with label unity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unity. Show all posts
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is evidence that the early disciples were not living under a communist-like arrangement, but they were required to live in community. Remember, unity is God-given defining purpose. A common purpose brings people together to work towards a common goal, fellowship. And community takes place when people share their life and possessions while they fellowship. Genuine community happens in an environment filled with honesty and free from pretensions.
When community begins to take place, the enemy will not waste time to try to spoil it. The enemy filled Ananias heart to lie about the sale of his property. He sold it for a certain amount from which he kept back some for himself. The sin is not that he kept back some money from the price because as Peter points out, it was his property to begin with and he had the right to do whatever he wanted with it. Even the selling of the property was a voluntary act. But he lied about the full price of the property to make it seem that both him and his wife were offering the full price of the property to the community. It seems that a certain Christian status was achieved if one gave "everything." And Ananias and Sapphira desired that status to the point of lying for it.
Unfortunately, both husband and wife plotted together to pretend that they were giving the full amount of the sale to the community. They both paid with their lives. It was important for the early Christian community to realize that distrust brings disunity. Community cannot survive it. It is for this reason that God acts with discipline against his displeasure. He makes this couple an example of how important it is to live in obedience to him and honestly with one another, without pretensions, without tainted motives. Community requires integrity from its members and God is displeased beyond measure when it is jeopardized.
I want to live the fullness of the Christian life. This fullness is only possible in community. God grants me a unity that gives me purpose. I come together with my brothers and sisters and fellowship as I work towards the common goal of worldwide evangelization. And community is developed as I share my life and my possessions with others openly and honestly without deceptions or pretensions. Christian Community is that important to my God that he was willing to execute his judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira to make them examples of the consequences of messing with its integrity. I must realize that anything that stands in the way of true community is ultimately, the work of the enemy among God's people.
Father, teach me to live in community. Help me become more transparent and honest. Help me grow in my giving and caring. May I learn to share openly who I am and what I have for your honor and glory. Amen.
When community begins to take place, the enemy will not waste time to try to spoil it. The enemy filled Ananias heart to lie about the sale of his property. He sold it for a certain amount from which he kept back some for himself. The sin is not that he kept back some money from the price because as Peter points out, it was his property to begin with and he had the right to do whatever he wanted with it. Even the selling of the property was a voluntary act. But he lied about the full price of the property to make it seem that both him and his wife were offering the full price of the property to the community. It seems that a certain Christian status was achieved if one gave "everything." And Ananias and Sapphira desired that status to the point of lying for it.
Unfortunately, both husband and wife plotted together to pretend that they were giving the full amount of the sale to the community. They both paid with their lives. It was important for the early Christian community to realize that distrust brings disunity. Community cannot survive it. It is for this reason that God acts with discipline against his displeasure. He makes this couple an example of how important it is to live in obedience to him and honestly with one another, without pretensions, without tainted motives. Community requires integrity from its members and God is displeased beyond measure when it is jeopardized.
I want to live the fullness of the Christian life. This fullness is only possible in community. God grants me a unity that gives me purpose. I come together with my brothers and sisters and fellowship as I work towards the common goal of worldwide evangelization. And community is developed as I share my life and my possessions with others openly and honestly without deceptions or pretensions. Christian Community is that important to my God that he was willing to execute his judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira to make them examples of the consequences of messing with its integrity. I must realize that anything that stands in the way of true community is ultimately, the work of the enemy among God's people.
Father, teach me to live in community. Help me become more transparent and honest. Help me grow in my giving and caring. May I learn to share openly who I am and what I have for your honor and glory. Amen.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Acts 4:32-37 They Had Everything in Common
Community requires unity. The Ancient Church was of "one heart and soul." Today, Christianity suffers greatly of disunity and strife. Even a quick perusal of a Denominational Handbook will tell the inexperienced with Christianity that it has many divides. Some divisions are caused by Theology: Calvinist or Armenian? Covenantal or Dispensationalist? Premillennial, Post-millennial, or Amillennial? Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib? Pentecostal, Charismatic or Non-charismatic? Others are caused by practices: Infant baptism or Anabaptism? Eucharist - transubstantiation or remembrance? Yet others are as shallow as style: Traditional or Contemporary? Drums or no drums? Raising hands or not? Applaud or not? Etc., etc., etc...
Unfortunately, the list is not complete without the issues that a local congregation struggles with due to the division and strife among its members. Power plays, family feuds, miscommunication, misunderstandings, complaints, sour relationships, etc. are just a few on the list of reasons for a church not to be of one heart and soul. Paul, writing to the Ephesians says that we ought to be "eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:3). This statement teaches me that unity is a gift of God. It is not something I manufacture, but something I have been given by grace. It also teaches me that my responsibility with the gift of unity is to keep it. God grants me unity but he expects me to keep it with eagerness. In other words, I must do everything possible to maintain this unity God has given me. God grants unity, but he expects community.
How does community take place? The sharing of common attitudes, interests, and goals (unity) brings me in fellowship with other brothers and sisters. Fellowship is not the sharing of a meal, but the meeting together with the purpose of pursuing our common goals. This the reason for the warning "not neglecting to meet together" (Heb.10:25). If I stop meeting with my brothers and sisters, encouragement for personal growth cannot take place and worse, the planning, coordination, and execution to extend God's kingdom upon the earth comes to a halt! Community is the living together in fellowship. Unity brings fellowship and fellowship breeds community. The sharing of my life as I work to achieve my (really our) God-given goals is what community is all about.
Sharing all of life together includes not only the moments of victory and success, but also the moments of difficulty and challenge. Those who had need were covered by those who had abundance. This is not an example of Communism since everything was voluntary. As an example, Joseph or Barnabas, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution among those who are needy. He was not obligated to do so, he desired to do so. Unity breeds fellowship and begets community for the good times and the bad times, for all of life.
If I want community to take place, I must start protecting the unity God has given with eagerness. I should not allow petty issues to stand in the way and divide. I should not take offense too easily and allow strife to set in. The next thing I can do is to come together to meet with my brothers and sisters and work to achieve the common goals we have. If nothing else, I must think of the Great Commission to make disciples wherever I go. This will bring me into fellowship. Then, I must open my life to others as we work together as to share who I am and what I have, especially with those who are in need.
Father, thanks for the unity you have given to your people. Teach me to keep it with eagerness. Move me to come into fellowship with my brothers and sisters in obedience to the Great Commission and never neglect the meeting together. Open my heart to share my life with them as we work together in your kingdom.
Unfortunately, the list is not complete without the issues that a local congregation struggles with due to the division and strife among its members. Power plays, family feuds, miscommunication, misunderstandings, complaints, sour relationships, etc. are just a few on the list of reasons for a church not to be of one heart and soul. Paul, writing to the Ephesians says that we ought to be "eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:3). This statement teaches me that unity is a gift of God. It is not something I manufacture, but something I have been given by grace. It also teaches me that my responsibility with the gift of unity is to keep it. God grants me unity but he expects me to keep it with eagerness. In other words, I must do everything possible to maintain this unity God has given me. God grants unity, but he expects community.
How does community take place? The sharing of common attitudes, interests, and goals (unity) brings me in fellowship with other brothers and sisters. Fellowship is not the sharing of a meal, but the meeting together with the purpose of pursuing our common goals. This the reason for the warning "not neglecting to meet together" (Heb.10:25). If I stop meeting with my brothers and sisters, encouragement for personal growth cannot take place and worse, the planning, coordination, and execution to extend God's kingdom upon the earth comes to a halt! Community is the living together in fellowship. Unity brings fellowship and fellowship breeds community. The sharing of my life as I work to achieve my (really our) God-given goals is what community is all about.
Sharing all of life together includes not only the moments of victory and success, but also the moments of difficulty and challenge. Those who had need were covered by those who had abundance. This is not an example of Communism since everything was voluntary. As an example, Joseph or Barnabas, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution among those who are needy. He was not obligated to do so, he desired to do so. Unity breeds fellowship and begets community for the good times and the bad times, for all of life.
If I want community to take place, I must start protecting the unity God has given with eagerness. I should not allow petty issues to stand in the way and divide. I should not take offense too easily and allow strife to set in. The next thing I can do is to come together to meet with my brothers and sisters and work to achieve the common goals we have. If nothing else, I must think of the Great Commission to make disciples wherever I go. This will bring me into fellowship. Then, I must open my life to others as we work together as to share who I am and what I have, especially with those who are in need.
Father, thanks for the unity you have given to your people. Teach me to keep it with eagerness. Move me to come into fellowship with my brothers and sisters in obedience to the Great Commission and never neglect the meeting together. Open my heart to share my life with them as we work together in your kingdom.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Joshua 3:1-17 Israel Crosses the Jordan
The promises of God are true. But they are not always unconditional. In order to enjoy the blessings of God it is necessary for us to listen to God and follow his guidance. The people were called to prepare in consecration and then follow the ark of the covenant as it was carried by the priests. They were not to make a move on their own without God and the appointed leadership.
Consecration is not a word you use every day. It means to dedicate to a purpose. The conquest of the promised land requires total dedication. It is not a mere hobby or a sideline job. It is a full-time commitment. It is a lifestyle. All of my life must be devoted to this one cause: the kingdom of God and its establishment upon the earth! I cannot serve two masters. I must consecrate myself to my God and his purposes for my life.
Total dedication to God's kingdom and its establishment upon the earth is demonstrated in obedience. The ark of the covenant is the place where the Israelites enjoyed the manifest presence of God. God led his people through the ark and the appointed leaders. They were called to follow his lead and obey his instructions. The establishment of God's kingdom requires me to unite with the brethren and follow in obedience God's commandments.
It is very obvious that the establishment of God's kingdom is not something I can pull off on my own. It is not a "lone ranger" type of rescue. It is the corporate consecration and obedience of God's people in the pursuit of his purposes. I must see myself as part of a whole: the body of Christ. My contribution is only a piece of the puzzle. The body becomes ineffective, even paralyzed, if I try to do my own thing.
Lord, I consecrate my life to you and the establishment of your kingdom upon earth. Help me be faithful to your purposes and obedient to your commands. May I seek unity and teamwork within the body of Christ for your glory and honor forever. Amen
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