"....Before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision." (From Daily NT Reading--Galatians 2:12)
Our text reveals that the Early Church saw the reverse of what happened to the Jewish Community from the Gentile Church in succeeding years. Here we see that the "Messianic" Jews separated themselves from the "Completed" Gentiles. Today's Messianic congregations can be a perpetuation of this, though Gentile Believers justify the separation in that the Jews suffered so much over the centuries from Christian Gentiles. None of it is a fulfillment of John 17, "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us that the world may believe...."-- or Ephesians 2, "For He (Jesus) Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity...." Then there is what some have called the most segregated hour in the week, Blacks and Whites, even Native American Believers, meeting separately. Now the Whites are usually blamed for this, but my experienced has taught me that prejudice is not limited to White folk. Of course we must also contend with the Catholic/Protestant prejudice, as well as the list of Protestant denominations--- "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone... first."
The truth of the matter is that all this reflects that we are lords of ourselves though we claim that, "Jesus Christ is Lord." I have heard, and no doubt will continue to hear, justifications, theologies, and reasons, but there is something in the species that just has to go one up on others, e.g., "We have discovered a great Biblical truth which you seemed to either have forgotten or never knew. I know when you see the light, you will be as us." Many years ago I actually had a Greek Orthodox priest say this to me. I have also heard such prejudicial statements from people who think they are the ones who know and understand how to really worship.
There was a love song in the 1950's which said, "If you loved me too, what a wonderful world this would be." I wonder if this could be a new motto for the Church of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, in Jesus' Name, we all have our "reasons" for what we do. I pray they will always be Yours. Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
