Why did Paul not “pull out and start a new church” after Peter showed prejudice about Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians eating together? Because it is the family of God, and he was not disowning the family. Because it was the Body of Christ, and he did not want to divide it. The church is not about the triumph of our opinions and certainly not getting our way. Churches learn about forgiveness, love, faithfulness, and deep bonding when they stick together. Peter was struggling with prejudice, and Paul was struggling with what the Kingdom of God looked like where there was “neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,” where all are one in Messiah Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Stick together. Forgive. Love. Be a catalyst for the Spirit.
November 11, 2017|Categories: Church, Devotionals, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Forgiveness, Kingdom of God, Love, Spirit|Tags: Gentile Christians, Jewish Christians, One Church, Paul, Peter, Prejudice|
About the Author: H. Lamar Smith
Native of Alabama. Graduated from Valley High School, Valley, AL. Graduate of Trevecca Nazarene College, 1966. Graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University, M.A. 1992. Pastored churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Alabama.