Sunday Reflections #1
We’re Family
For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:26–29
My pastor just finished up his latest sermon series, and started a new one this past Sunday. I have been wanting to begin this blog series and figured now was a good time to start. This will just be a simple reflection on the sermon and what God spoke to me through it. If you want to watch this sermon, please use the link below. My daughter also does a tremendous job of singing in worship, so enjoy.
The sermon simply stated that we are all one in Christ. We are all part of God’s family, as Christians.
Pastor James pointed out specifically that in the kingdom of God, there are no boundaries that separate us from God, or one another. Paul makes it clear that ethnicity, gender and economic status play no role in ones placement into the family of God.
Now, distinctions do exist. That is obvious, and my pastor was careful to note that. God loves diversity. That is clearly seen in His creation. The kingdom of God does not attempt to wipe away what makes us distinct, but rather celebrates it.
But, there are no boundaries. We are all equal in Christ.
As I was talking about this with my wife and son at lunch yesterday, I noted that the church was one of the first organizations to attempt to take away these boundaries based on ethnicity, gender and economic status. My son pointed out, however, that this isn’t true often times in practice, especially when it comes to gender.
And he is absolutely correct.
The church has failed here many times, and continues to do so.
There is much work to be done.
I told him that it was true that this was not necessarily the reality in the church, but it was the truth of Christianity that it should be so. We fall short, but the standard remains.
So, let us work today to live out this scriptural truth that we are all equal in Christ. That no cultural boundary can separate us from Him, or each other.
Let us love one another, really, love one another. We are family.
