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A NEW IDENTITY

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28 NKJV

Ethnicity is defined as "large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background." These factors shape our identities as people, our faith, and our beliefs. From a common origin and biological kinship, complex ethnic groups developed over time. The history of Israel proves that no nation or culture is ethnically pure. Abraham was a Hebrew, originally of Semitic origin. Through intermarriage, Abraham's offspring became a mixture of Hebrews, Egyptians, Canaanites, and Moabites—a multi-ethnic group that was to become a mono-cultural nation: Israel. How did it happen? Firstly, by circumcision. Secondly, by covenant. The covenant with YHVH separated Israel from all other nations. Through national idolatry, both Israel and Judah broke their covenant with YHVH and He divorced Himself from them, announcing a new covenant that could not be broken.

Jesus inaugurated the new covenant at the Lord's Supper on Passover. But it was Pentecost that was the beginning of something new called the church, the expression of the new covenant with YHVH but through Jesus, not through Moses. The fledgling church in Jerusalem was a Jewish church consisting of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Jewish Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. They continued observing the Jewish feasts and Law, and worship at the temple. These Jews spoke Aramaic or Greek (Hellenistic Jews) in the church. No Jews at that time could speak their native Hebrew language. Even the Old Testament was translated into either Aramaic or Greek. The first trouble in the church arose because Hellenistic Jewish widows were neglected. It prompted the ordination of the first deacons in the church. These deacons were all Hellenistic Jewish Christians. Among them was Phillip, the first Jewish Christian who planted a church among Gentiles in Samaria. By divine revelation, Jesus revealed to Peter that Gentiles are to be included in the church. Hellenistic Jews carried the gospel with them to Antioch and elsewhere, and the Gentile church grew. The church in Jerusalem remained mainly Jewish. With the addition of Gentiles to the church, new problems arose, which prompted the first church council meeting in Jerusalem (Acts…), laying down the pattern for the church. Gentile Christians were not expected to convert to Judaism, but they were forbidden to eat blood, worship idols, and commit sexual immorality. The central factor binding them all together was faith in Jesus as the Anointed One and growing understanding that the new covenant had usurped and incorporated the old covenant. Jesus' resurrection and the promise of their resurrection were the focal points of the gospel.

If anyone, from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds, becomes a Christian, they undergo an identity transformation. They step over from the old covenant into the new covenant. They are born-again into a new spiritual family. They are redeemed (bought) out of their previous identity, their cultural heritage, and their national identity, and sealed by the Holy Spirit and baptism. They become citizens of a new kingdom. Their first allegiance now is to Jesus Christ as Lord and to their new family who were all redeemed from their previous identities. They are uniquely equipped by the Holy Spirit to rise above nationalism, culture, language, and tribal identity. They are part of a body where there is no distinction between being Jew or Greek or any other nationality, between male and female, slave or free. They are all equal. Through the ages, the church battled to express this oneness. At times, they regressed into Judaism (Hebrews), paganism (syncretism), or even Christian nationalism in various forms expressed first as the Holy Roman Empire. Wars erupted between Christians because of tribal allegiances. The failure to become one has hurt the church in more ways that can be explained. There is a price to be paid to fulfill the prayer of Jesus in John 17. It is not going to be easy. But it is our time to believe that it is possible.

Each day we will focus on the different aspects of becoming one. First becoming one with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Secondly, becoming one with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, the Church. Thirdly, our role as peacemakers in the world around us. Daily prayer points focus first on our own lives (ME), then on the Church (US), and then on the world (THEM).

PRAYER POINTS

ME: Pray that the Holy Spirit will transform you so that you can help others to change the way they think.

US: Ask the Lord to enable and empower us to live together as many different cultures to the honour and glory of His name, to help others change the way they think, and to encourage a new mindset and culture of brotherly love and acceptance for one another.

THEM: Our nations are filled with many different races. Pray that the purpose the Lord has in making our nations this way will be fulfilled. Pray that every person in your nation will see and discover the beauty in other cultures and not cling only to their own culture. Pray that a new generation will arise, untainted by the past, who will want to be united in diversity, and who will value people of other cultures.

If we all give up hope and do nothing, then indeed there is no hope. It will be helped by all of us taking action of some sort. Cumulatively our small decisions, choices and actions, make a very big difference. – Jane Goodall.