Faithful on Fridays Blog

Whenever people form something new there’s bound to be some bumps in the road. Think of blending a new family or forming a new business, there are always growing pains. When Jesus said the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail over His new group, the Church, there was some mystery there; what’s a church? 

Reading through the book of Acts gives you a bird’s eye view of ethnic conflict right from the start. The gospel was spreading and people from different nations were being saved, which was God’s plan from the beginning, but there were some obstacles to clear away. 

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1 

These were both Jewish groups but with different ethnic identities: one spoke Greek and the other Hebrew. Here’s where we find ethnic identity bringing ethnic conflict. The question was, “How can a movement called the church be so different and yet the same in God’s eyes?” Later Paul gave us the answer,

For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups. Ephesians 2:14-15 

People can now be comfortable with very different cultures, skin colors, or languages because Jesus has given us a new and higher identity in Christ. 

The Holy Spirit gave Philip a mission to go as a foreigner himself to a city of half-breeds, Samaria, to announce salvation (Acts 8:5), if that wasn’t enough, His mission included an African, an Ethiopian man. Talk about being out of your comfort zone; this was a foreshadow, like coming attractions, of the mystery of the nations becoming one in Christ. God was spreading the gospel everywhere, regardless of color or culture, through His Church; we’re a part of that mission. 

Finally, the Spirit moved on Peter,

You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. Acts 10:28 

Talk about breakthrough! This new, mysterious movement called the church would be a new family of many ethnic identities, however, operating in unity: the same yet different. God doesn’t see foreigners anymore; He sees His image bearers. 

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.” Acts 10:34 

There’s no half-breed or unclean people group that need to be purged, catheterized, in His eyes because Jesus died for all, everyone, and our perspective cannot be that of superiority but of humility.