Blog: Max Dawson
December 26, 2016
I would expect that most folks who read this post were in worship this past Sunday–not because it was Christmas, but because that is what they do every Lord’s Day. New Testament Christians come together on the first day of the week as part of their lives and spiritual service unto God (). They come together with folks who are very much the same–and yet, are very different from one another.
While we are bound together by our common faith and love for Jesus, have you ever thought about how different we are from one another? And it is by God’s design that people from every possible background are welcomed into “a fellowship of differents” (Scot McKnight).
How are we different? Let me count the ways: (1) socially, (2) educationally, (3) racially, (4) economically, (5) ethnically (6) personality-wise, (7) male and female (8) young and old, (9) nationality, (10) with respect to personal tastes. There are probably more differences than these ten, but you get the idea.
It was God’s design that people from every station and status in life come together in Christ to comprise a special kind of community. The
welcome mat in that community is open to everyone who is willing to come into Christ. In Christ we are one! Here is how Paul expressed it in .
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As we gather for worship, we look around and seek people of different ages and different skin colors; we see folks with PhD’s and some like me who struggled just to get through high school. Yet, it is intended by God that we be the same. Not the same with respect to color, education or nationality. But the same in Christ.
We need to make every effort to keep that welcome mat out to every one who is willing to submit to the Lord Jesus. We are not looking for people who look just like ourselves; I do not seek those who dress exactly as I dress; you don’t pursue only those from your part of town.
You get the idea. The church is open to everyone who denies self and submits in humble obedience to the Lord Jesus. That’s by God’s design.
THE FINAL WORD
When we think of differences, there were probably no more different people in the New Testament period than the Jews and Gentiles. The differences dated back almost 2,000 years. There was a lot of bad feeling between them. There was typically hatred and disgust toward each other.
But, in Christ, they were made one. It is one of the most remarkable truths of the gospel. It is the theme of Paul’s writing in .
“…that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel…” ().
So, in the end, it is not our differences that are so special, but the fact that God has taken folks who are so different and made us one in Jesus. That is truly special!
Blessings to you, my fellow partakers,
–Max