If Jesus’ death on the cross was truly intended to bring reconciliation vertically (our relationship with God) and horizontally with all people, shouldn’t our churches be the most diverse communities on the planet? We were all aliens who “have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). This passage doesn’t just refer to soccer moms or athletes or engineers. It doesn’t just refer to Americans coming together with Americans. We were all aliens. Every race, tribe, and tongue needed to be reconciled to one another. That’s the picture John gave us in Revelation:
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Revelation 7:9-10).
Before we shift the blame to others, let’s check our own hearts for signs of favoritism. We all gravitate toward people we find comfortable. For some of us, it’s a money matter. Whether or not you say it, you view the poor with disdain. Or you view the rich with disdain. Or the skinny. Or the overweight. Others of us gravitate toward a certain people group. Or away from those who don’t look like us.
Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.
"Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:8-13).
This passage gives us great insight into the danger of showing partiality. It also gives us the remedy.
The moment we show favoritism to someone because of the color of their skin, the money in their pocket, or the shoes on their feet is the moment we break “the royal law” (v. 8).
You might be tempted to throw up your hands in the air and say, “Our church is so far from being diverse, there’s nothing I can do!” It’s actually quite simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Look at what Scripture says.
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace" (1 Peter 4:8-10).
There’s an implied statement in the phrase “without grumbling” (v. 9). The implication is that you probably have good reason to grumble. After all, when you show hospitality, people eat your food, drink your drinks, and make a mess of your house. Showing hospitality to others is expensive, costing you precious resources, finances, time, and emotion.
You can’t possibly change everything in the world. But when you’re hospitable toward others, especially others who are different from you, you show the world that you serve a God who loves all people.
Don’t let hospitality stop at the threshold of your house. Invite people from different ethnic backgrounds to your church’s worship service. Advocate for disenfranchised people groups. Care for orphans from other people groups. The more we do these things, the more we bring the kingdom of God to earth, and the more we prepare our hearts for heaven.
Ultimately, we have one Father. We’re brothers and sisters in Christ, “members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). The church is one big, beautiful, diverse family.
In the middle of his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul seemed to become overwhelmed by this incredible reality. He paused to praise God for a love that transforms us from the inside out and to pray for the strength to live as a holy community of faith in this world.
Excerpted from Ephesians Bible Study by Tony Merida. © 2016 Lifeway Press. Used by permission.
Ephesians: Your Identity in Christby Tony Merida
In this epistle, Paul conveys his pastoral heart for the Ephesian believers by focusing upon who they are in Christ as it relates to their struggles, their new life, community, pursuits of unity and holiness, and how to engage life’s challenges.