And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
Make no distinction! Those words have much power. This passage was spoken by Peter after God had showed him that salvation was to be offered to both Jew AND Gentile. Up to this point, those saved and called Christians, actually did make a “distinction.” The Jewish nation has always made distinction. In fact, God made sure they were distinct from the other nations:
And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?
Paul would tell Christians to be holy and not like the world around us:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So, the above passage of being sure we do not make a distinction between nations and peoples is quite remarkable. Christianity, however, was designed to bring peoples together:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
In light of our current day-to-day struggles with equity, these verses carry even more power and practical help. James would say it this way to the early church:
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Make no distinction!!
No comments:
Post a Comment