Abridged Worship – July 21, 2024

This was monumental because the Roman Empire, (which was a social and cultural oppressor for the Jews), was part of the gentile world, and, much throughout the history of Israel, the gentile world had brought danger, oppression, slavery or temptation to the people of Israel. So, to have a breakdown of this dividing line was a big deal. Also, you should remember that Israel was seen as a chosen people, designated, yes by the law, but also by bloodlines. So a breakdown between Jew and Gentile would have felt like adopting in your family, an enemy, which had been out to get you for generations.

Though this breakdown would take time to develop and change, and, though, most people on the Jewish and Gentile sides did not welcome the breakdown. Over time, this invitation to think and worship differently began to reshape the world.

When we remember that Jesus’ inspired this sort of historical transformation it can also remind us of other powerful and life-altering passages in the bible such as, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)

Or perhaps Roman 2:11, For God shows no partiality.

Or, “As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?”   

In the faith, there is this openness for all those of every walk of life, every color, sex, age, and status, to come and be at the feet of Jesus. It didn’t matter if you were a king, or if you were a slave, your spot at Jesus’ feet was the same. It didn’t matter if you were the most righteous person to walk the earth, or the greatest sinner, at Jesus’ feet all were called to come with repentant minds and hearts.

Over time, this sort of thinking would shape the way we think and live today. For example, the idea of fundamental human rights comes from the Biblical idea, of all being welcome to the Kingdom, to Jesus, because this universal invitation to all, shows that there is value in each person in God’s eyes. And there is no measure outside of God’s wisdom, which can scale the value of one person’s life and well-being over another. This extends to not just people of faith, but sinners and enemies as well, because, not only does Jesus call us to love these people, but seek their betterment, through repentance, conversion, and baptism. There always is more room in the kingdom for even those who persecuted us. Spiritual life in Christ in no longer about borders, bloodline, historical rights or wrongs, or merit, but about a radical invitation for all to trust, repent, and live out a new life, a new citizenship in God’s love. A human right can only be present if human value resides in something that transcends their material and worldly output; a love from God.

This fundamental of basic human inherent value is one of the things that helped to propagate the abolition of slavery, the development of just war theory, and to look toward concepts of equality for women and children. It shaped our legal systems, such as innocent until proven guilty, and such ideas as reforming criminals, and it has even inspired our capacity to vote for political representation because every voice matters not just those with worldly power.

Now, don’t get me wrong, none of these things are done perfectly, even though they were products generated by the philosophy embedded in the Biblical narrative, they are still human productions and open to corruption.

Regardless of humanities inability to do things perfectly, the fact remains, that this basic idea, of human value, of creatures blessed and inherently worth something, sprouted from the idea that people were not only created in God’s image but loved by the source of that image, meaning, that all matters of human existence, life, and wellbeing should be taken with seriousness, and that each person, regardless of who they are, where they have been, what the have done, should be seen and looked upon with the same hopeful love that their destiny will ultimately rest in God’s glory, God’s eternal love and forgiveness.

This understanding of the value of individuals was forged into our history by God’s hand and magnified when God tore down the barrier between Jew and Gentile through Jesus.

And, as a result, all the things like hope, love, peace, joy, forgiveness, mercy, and restoration become feasible between people when people hold each other in this high regard and value; when people look at each through the eyes of the divine. It would seem that the foundation of human peace has been paved and that kumbayah moment of everyone holding hands around the globe is just around the corner.

But wait, it has been 2000+ years since Jesus, sure we have made some progress, but often it seems like there is more human suffering than ever. What’s the deal?

Well, I think we know the answer, humans have never been good at treating each other as they would like to be treated. That whole golden rule thing, maybe be quoted a lot, but often not acted out. Most people struggle to live out the ideal of loving as God loves, even for their close friends and families we struggle to do this, let alone a stranger or enemy.

We struggle with this because the dominant sins in the human heart are pride, idolatry, and nihilism, and in our self-preservation, self-affirmation, and struggles with despair, we often sacrifice others in the pursuit of maintaining our worth, our desires, and our purpose.

This is something, we need to come to terms with, in order to be humble before God. Each of us here, has a part of us, willing to sacrifice others for our own benefit. This is not an easy truth to hear, but we know this to be true when we think too long about people and groups we believe to be oppositional to us. And, in recent decades, we have introduced an item into our world that makes this tendency to sacrificing others for our own benefit so much easier and more carefree. The internet.

At one point in recent history, the internet was believed to be a free vehicle for people to access information about every topic of interest in the world, but more recently it has become a tool for people to isolate inside a world of like-minded thought, it becomes an echo chamber of one belief, truths and values, and as a result there is no exposure to outside thought, feeling, or belief, let alone, seeing the real human hearts and face, behind the people who think differently than you do.

I think we have seen this grow heavily in the last decade, especially around politics. The liberal/democrats seem to depict all conservative/republican types as archaic, racist bigots, and all the conservative/republicans depict the liberal/democrats as naïve, hypocritical, pedophiles. And these twisted stereotypes become easy to swallow when the media and news reinforce the sacrifice of other people’s names, reputations, and values to serve their idolatrous pride and self-affirmation. And it doesn’t hurt that all this social drama drives rating up, and rating pay the bills.

The left, the right, the up and down, we all have through the internet, the news, the universities, our clubs and associations, a microcosm to hide in, to protect us from anything and anyone that thinks and feels differently, and as a result when we do encounter something beyond or comfort and pleasure, it feel alien and hostile, and there is a headline waiting for us to tell us we are right to think of them as monsters for what they do and believe.  

There used to be a standard of understanding in the West, that a person’s beliefs or ideas were debatable, but their worth as a person was not. And, the point of civil debate, free speech, and human rights was to ensure that ideals and philosophies could flourish and develop without ever degrading the value of the people caught up in the storm of it all.

We have begun to lose this. We have canceled the inherent human value for personal self affirmation.

And I think one of the reasons, if not the core reason, we have begun to lose this, is because those things from the Bible; the ministry and salvation of Jesus, are being forgotten by many people. The life, liberty, and the revelation of God’s love for the individual is being eroded from the common consciousness in society and being replaced by social markers and scores of human worth. That breakdown of barriers between Jew and Gentile, is being replaced in people’s memories with digital identities and tribalism.

We as the faithful, I believe, need to push back on this eroding of the belief of an inherent human value. We need to start breaking down the dividing walls.

Jesus broke down these walls by bringing people to the truth of who he was. Christ and King. There is no room for division when we all bow before truth eternal.

So, this breaking down is not a passive welcoming of every thought, philosophy, and feeling and seeing them all as equally valuable as the postmodern relativism. Nor is it an eliminating of every thought or opposing view.

Rather it is the faithful witness to the value behind the thoughts and opinions of others, and seeing the truth of their human image behind the vigor of the enemy lines, and bringing that image they bear and reuniting it back with the source of their creation. Ultimately in is having a evangelistic heart for Jesus.

We will break down the barriers the more we bring people to know and love Jesus.

It’s by shinning a light back upon Christ, shining a light back upon Jesus; the image from which we were created, that we will see walls crumble. It is by shinning a light of mercy, forgiveness, and welcoming even upon our enemies and those who have wronged us, and calling them into a relationship with God that will bring the barriers down. It is time we begin to see the human value in the eyes of others. It is time we trust in God’s love for people, over our own pride, desire and dividing lines.

Let us pray…

Bringer of peace, You shaped Your people and gave them a home.  In gratitude for Your steadfast love—for calling us to feed in  Your pastures and rest safely in Your fields— we bring our gifts before You this day.  May they offer the love of our shepherd to those in your tender care.  Amen

Homework:

Look upon a person or group or people that you dislike, or even hate, set aside for a moment why you disagree with them, and try to to feel empathy and love for them as inherently valuable image bearers of God. Then try to understand why their belief or idea would speak to them, make sense to them. This does not mean you need to agree with them, or even believe society should tolerate their ideas or beliefs, it merely means you can appreciate their human nature, both in its loving creation by God, but also in its limitation as fallen creatures.

If you need help on this reflective journey email: minister@mountainviewunited.ca

Closing Prayer: Father is Heaven, help me see the world through your eyes. Help me see the suffering and struggle of the people of this world. Help me be inviting and healing to those around me. Help me to promote reconciliation with You, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Our Judge and our Hope. And remind me, that my dispositions may be just as flawed, my conclusion could be ripe with sin, allow me to engage the world with humility, and always resting in Your grace. Amen.

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