City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV)

Reflection

This is now my third post in a row on racism, although I did not intend that when I started three weeks ago. But try as I might to adapt this post to the Fourth of July weekend, I could not find any link in these verses to the Declaration of Independence, fireworks, or hot dogs and apple pie.

Here, the Apostle Paul is stressing the unity the Ephesians—and, in fact, all Christians—share: we are all part of the same spiritual body that manifests Jesus’ presence on earth; we were all called by the same God; we all share a common faith in that God; our redemption is symbolized by the same procedure of baptism (or, it should be); and we all serve the same God, who transcends us all and indwells us all. 

In short, we have a lot in common, and there are no more important things we could have in common. This is the basis for unity. But while Paul starts with unity, in the verses that follow those cited above he moves to diversity, and, in particular, the diversity of spiritual gifts we have within the same spiritual body. So, there is unity, but there is also diversity. Diversity is not ignored; neither is it elevated above unity—it is embraced in the context of unity. It is in this spiritual paradigm we find the model for racial reconciliation which is manifested through the Church to the world.

Application

The basis for racial reconciliation is the transcendence of God’s atonement and all the corollaries Paul describes in the verses above. If we were to elevate our racial and consequent cultural differences and hold them more dear than these spiritual truths, there would be no hope for reconciliation. It is only when we subordinate these differences to the spiritual bonds of unity that true reconciliation becomes possible. When I value my relationship with God more than my race and cultural preferences, there is the potential for reconciliation. 

At the same time, subordination does not mean suppression. Racial diversity is God-created and is to be embraced and celebrated, but that is done under the covering of the transcendent unity our common relationship with Him brings. It is only when diversity is embraced in the context of what unifies us that we can fully appreciate God’s creativity in the diversity of humanity.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see when it is necessary for me to subordinate my preferences, so I can truly appreciate the diversity of Your creation. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.