Grafted In Christ
“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.”
Today’s Text: Romans 11:11-24 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
The apostle Paul is addressing the Gentiles of Rome concerning the Jews of Rome. Paul had already addressed the Jews concerning the Gentiles. And it helps to read this text with respect to whole communities and not individuals.
One of things that Paul emphasized the most in his ministry is the reconciliation of ALL people in Christ Jesus. He wrote to the Galatians -
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
— Galatians 3:28
His point was that any demographic factor that might be used as a reason or excuse to prevent people from gathering in fellowship as a local church is not legitimate. The only thing that matters is the one Person who brings people together, Jesus Christ.
It’s amazing how churches over the years have strayed so far away from that biblical ideal. Obviously, the one thing that has segregated people into cultural communities is language. But back in the New Testament era, the apostle Paul was planting multi-demographic churches that functioned under the universal language of commerce and education (lingua franca), Greek.
But here is how the devil works. God established a lingua franca in the ancient world so that multi-demographic churches might be planted to the ends of the earth based on the only thing (Person) that matters—Jesus Christ. But over the years, the devil has deceived people into thinking that, when it comes to building up churches, demographics matter more—language, culture, gender, age.
The result is that in our churches today, the one thing (Person) that is supposed to bring us together, Jesus Christ, sometimes (maybe often) takes a back seat to other factors: culture, language, gender, and age—and add to that socioeconomic status, worship style, and dress norms.
No doubt, culture matters when it comes to our human experience. And so when it comes to global missions, the message of the gospel has to be contextualized at least with respect to language.
But it feels like Christians have gotten carried away with this idea of cultural contextualization. So much so, that cultural contextualization seems to overshadow our spiritual assimilation in Christ Jesus, and so churches have created these cultural siloes, especially with regard to age and life stage.
Usually, that is the first thing that people look for when they try out a new church (Are there people who look just like me?). Furthermore, I have met many parents who shop for a church that their children feel “comfortable” in. Now, there is a sure sign that our society has been turned upside down—when our children are dictating where the family goes to church.
But our spiritual assimilation in Christ Jesus (being “grafted in”) should be what brings people together. And unless that spiritual assimilation is conscientiously emphasized and exercised, cultural contextualization will cause segregation—and not to the glory of God.
Father, You have established our Canvas community by the blood of our Lord Jesus. Forgive us for when we base our “worship” on other things that are secondary. By Your Holy Spirit, help us to make our assimilation in Christ what brings us together. For Your glory. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
