Inclusive Church?
Opening Prayer
Living Lord Jesus, I thank You for going before me today. You show me the way and watch over me.
Read Acts 15:12-21
[12]
Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We must not allow cultural influences to impinge on this truth.
Think Further
James saves the day. One of the brothers of Jesus and increasingly the foremost leader in the church (12:17), he came later to be known as “James the Just” because of his reputation for godly righteousness. Subsequently in his New Testament letter he taught about the kind of generous gracious wisdom that he exhibited here (Jas. 3:17). The man that the circumcision party had claimed as their champion came out in full agreement with the three apostles. Basing his authority to speak as he did on Scripture and the fulfillment of prophecy (Amos 9:11,12), he reminded his listeners that they “should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God” (19).
His compelling argument resulted in a significant lowering of the barriers that were rapidly being erected around new Gentile Christians. Without his intervention they had been at risk of being treated as second class. James was open to going beyond his cultural prejudices, to seeing beyond familiar and trusted practices generally regarded as integral to personal holiness, to focus on what was really important. He asked himself the root question about what God was doing and saying in this situation, and in so doing he and his colleagues opened the door to full belonging within the church of Christ to countless Gentile Christians down the centuries (Gal. 3:26-28).
James’ priority of ensuring that there were no unnecessary stumbling blocks in the way of Gentiles coming to faith and growing as disciples is a challenge to us in the twenty-first century. Most people in contemporary Western society are non-Jewish, so who are the equivalent of Gentiles today? People from a white working class background, traditional Muslims, or any other group that are not like us? How can we build genuinely inclusive churches?
Apply
What are the hallmarks of an “inclusive church”? Identify a key action you could take to begin to break down barriers and foster relationships with those not like you.
Closing prayer
Father, because I belong to You, other believers are my brothers and sisters in the faith. Help me be an inviting and welcoming person, reaching out to others in love.
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