Jesus didn’t ignore issues; but He hated when issues caused division in His people.
Jesus came to make one humanity out of two opposing groups at the time; Jews and Gentiles. One overly religious group and the other the spiritual and societal mutt. (Eph. 2:14)
At the time, there was an actual wall in the temple that was set up between Jews and Gentiles. Paul wrote this letter from prison because he was falsely accused, by a Jew, of taking a Gentile past this wall to the Jewish side (p.s. don’t be a Christian who so fiercely defends your turf) Paul made it clear that this wall no longer had a place in society.
After all, Jesus’ death made it obsolete.
Friends, there are currently two groups and a massive political wall. There is no difference here.
Jesus’ goal was peace and reconciliation. So, on the cross, He put hostility and hate in the grave. (Eph. 2: 15)
Jesus came to destroy division, so why do we keep picking it back up? (Eph. 2:17)
What we believe does matter, but how that changes the way we see + treat people matters more.
Christians, we need to wipe away anything that may have blurred our vision over time; division is not ours to hold onto. There is not a gap in time that gives us the ability to embrace a side instead of embracing people on all sides. We serve a God who Paul says, “For He Himself is our peace Who has made the two groups one” (Eph.2:14)
This is peace for when we are being opposed, peace when our beliefs are threatened, peace when we are being attacked, peace when we lose, peace for every moment.
Who we defend matters more than what we defend. Jesus made two groups into ONE. Any issues that divide are not from Him.
Every issue and every belief is redeemable with God. Do we believe that? If we do, then let’s fight for the heart of people, not for the winning argument. Let’s be people of wide-open spaces, free of dividing walls. When you walk with Jesus, you're given the sight to see people beyond their stance on issues.
Let's walk without walls. Let's see people today.
With Love,
Em
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