Called to Be Inclusive

August 27, 2017 Background Scripture: Acts 10 Lesson Passage: Acts 10:19 – 33 One of the most difficult challenges of Christians in the early church was the challenge to overcome their own racial bias. To a large extent, this is still one of the greatest challenges of many Christians today. We may all desire to be judged by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin but we are not necessarily willing to judge others the same way. It’s not that we don’t want others to be blessed or to prosper both physically and spiritually. There is a huge trust issue when it comes to racial differences both in this nation and in this world. For many, “Birds of a feather flock together.” is not just a saying but it is the belief that that is the way it ought to be. Everybody should stay with their own kind. But this is often applied in such a narrow way that it seems almost okay. Does anyone think that all left-handed people should associate together and avoid being around right-handed people? That perspective really shows how silly it is to use a narrowly defined physical characteristic to determine the treatment of others. Sometimes feuds can last so long that no one remembers what started it in the first place. Hatfield’s are supposed to hate the McCoy’s. Nobody seems to remember why except that’s the way it’s always been. There are no allowances provided for this type of thinking in the kingdom of God. The Bible declares that God has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth. Somehow we allow this truth to be omitted from the doctrine of our religious faith. Jesus did not allow the infant church to exist for long before he addressed the issue of racial bias. In our lesson today, the Holy Spirit sent Peter to the home of a Gentile to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to him, his kinsmen, and near friends. It is noteworthy that Peter’s first discourse to the group was to remind them that it was against the Jewish law for him to be in their house and in their presence. This was not just what was on Peter’s mind but these are the very words Peter spoke to them. Peter basically said “I am not supposed to be around you but God showed me that I should not call non-Jews unclean.” How’s that for a formal introduction? No reasonable person would dare teach this as a proper way to evangelize people who are of a race different than your own. Peter then asked them why they sent for him. Cornelius’ testimony was that God had answered his prayer and part of the answer was to send for Peter and have him come and speak to them. Peter understood Cornelius’ testimony to be proof that God does establish relationships with non-Jews. After this was understood, then Peter preached Jesus Christ to them. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people not just a select few. It is inclusive of all that would accept the Christ of God by faith. Christianity is the totality of all personal relationships that God establishes and not a private religion for a select few. People may continue to be more comfortable around others who share their physical characteristics but Christianity can never be contained within some private group that excludes others. That is religion and not Christianity. Religion need not be inclusive if the adherents choose not to be but Christianity is inclusive and all who are saved should embrace that because otherwise it would only be a Jewish religion that many of the Jews despised. Robert C. Hudson July 6, 2017