Ethnic Diversity

Preliminary Observations
It was God who first divided the
nations – at the Tower of
Babel.
God said, “If as one people
speaking the same
language they
have begun to do this,
then nothing they plan
to do will be
impossible for them.”
Gen. 11:6
God saw that if they were one –
evil could spread more quickly
 Division
By dividing the languages, God set up
linguistic, ethnic and cultural barriers between
the nations as membranes to retard the spread
of evil from one group to another.
After dividing of the nations into at least 70
ethnic entities, God chose one person,
Abraham, to set in motion His plan of
redemption… promising “through you all the
nations will be blessed.”
So we see that originally, linguistic and ethnic
division was part of God’s plan to save the
world.
 Acts 17:26-27
Preaching to Athenian philosophers, Paul said:
God
God used
used the
the division
division ofof race
race
He madeto from one
to impede
impede evil man
evil (Gen.every
(Gen. 11)
11) and nation of
and
mankind to
positivelyliveason a all the
means
positively as a means to bring face
to bring of the
earth, having
each determined
each people
people group
group (intheir
(in its appointed
its
times appropriate
and the boundaries
time) to of their
salvation.
appropriate time) to salvation.
habitation, so positively,
Seen
Seen that theyethnic
positively, would seek God,
ethnic
if perhaps diversity
they might
diversity is grope for Him and
is salvific.
salvific.
find Him, though He is not far from each
one of us.
 Post Salvation
God originally
…by set ethnic
…by revelation
revelation and was
there
there linguistic
was made
made
membranes
known between
to me peoples
the mystery, and nations to
known to me the mystery,
keep evil
as from spreading
II wrote before rapidly…
in brief… and so that
as wrote before
they could be won “one by one” in brief…
by the Gospel.
that
that the
the Gentiles
Gentiles are are fellow
fellow
But once people
heirs andare “in
fellow Christ,”
members God’s
of divine
heirs and fellow members
plan is to draw us together rather than of keep us
apart. the
the body,
body, and
and fellow
fellow partakers
partakers
of
of the
the promise
promise in
in Christ
Christ Jesus
Jesusinto one
For By one Spirit, we are all baptized
through
through the
the gospel.
gospel.bond or free. (I
body, whether Jew or Greek,
Cor. 12:13). Eph
Eph 3:3-6
3:3-6
Paul speaks of a “mystery” that was revealed to
him:
The Church
 Unity in Diversity
The Gospel
God’s does
God’s idea
idea ofnot
of destroy
unity
unity wasor
was eradicate
never
never that our
that
personal,
we ethnic
forget or
our cultural
own identity.
identity
At
we forget the very
our own
At the heart––of
heart
veryidentity in
in fact
of fact
Paul always
we identified
should
we“mission”
should celebratehimself
celebrate
is the our
our as a that
ethnic
ethnic
idea Jewish person who
“mission” is the idea that
had Roman
diversitycitizenship.
diversity for
for God
God made
made us
us that
that way.
way.
we
we move
move across
across ethnic
ethnic
God
God
Throughout never
never
the NTplanned
planned
we find to
to erase
erase
numerous our
ourreferences to
and cultural
and cultural
distinctions, but He
lines
lines to bring
to want
bring
peoplesdistinctions,
ethnicity and He did
butthat did not
not want
is preserved.
these
these
people
people
to
to become
become
the
the aa
Gospel
Gospel
barrier
barrier toand
and
to sharing
sharing
Note that when we get to heaven, there are still people
the
the they
they
Gospel,
Gospel, become
become
or
or having
having equal
equal
true
true genuine
genuine
from every people, nation, tribe and tongue.
partners
fellowship
partners
fellowship with
with in
all
in
all the
people
the
people body
body of
anywhere.
ofour ethnic
anywhere.
So God’s purpose was never to erase
diversity but rather to
Christ.
Christ.
create unity in the body of
believers.
Simon Peter
is an example
of someone
who had to
overcome his
prejudice.
 One Man’s Problem
Recall the challenge of Jesus to Peter when he
first called him, “Follow Me – and I will make
you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19)
God would change Peter so that he could
become a winner of souls.
But for Peter
We often think this prediction was fulfilled at
Pentecost was Prologue
Pentecost where Peter preached and 3000
people believed.
 At Pentecost
The amazing insight that Peter had on the day
of Pentecost wasSothat
while the Spirit was to be
the Holy
ALL flesh.base
theological
poured out upon
The coming of the Holy Spirit would create a
for oneness in Christ
new spiritual dimension – the body of Christ
had beenalllaid
which would supersede – or ethnic
radial
barriers and make us “one in Christ.”
the practical reality
But for Peter that still applied to all kinds of
had to bealllearned
Jews (not necessarily kinds of–nations)
…“your sons and thedaughters…
hard way.your old men,
your young men…”
 Cornelius Acts 10
Note what Peterup
Peter,
Peter, uptheuntilJewthis
until saidpoint
this to Cornelius
point in
in his
his the Roman:
life,
life,
This
This point
point isis driven
driven home
home as the
asthe Holy
thehome
Holy
“You yourselves
had
had not
You
Spirit not would
comes
know
likely
likely on
set
sethow
think
the
foot
foot
that
house
unlawful
in
in the
Peter
of
it
home
had
Cornelius
is for a
man who You
Spirit
isitthey would
comes
a Jew on
to think
the that
house
associate Peter
of had
Cornelius
with a foreigner
of
of
andaa Gentile
Gentile
right all
by ––
spoke certainly
nowcertainly
in– tongues,
and had
had
he notnever
didnever
just
–
and ittheyright allby spoke
now in–tongues,
and he not
did just
–God has
(allo-fulov
for )
associated
associatedor
their to
fortheologically.
their own
own
visit
with
with him;
one
benefit,one
benefit,
But but
but
the and
–– and yet
mainly
and
mainly
roots most
for
most
for
of
showncertainly
me theologically.
that I should Butnot the callroots
any ofman unholy
the
the
certainly benefit
racialhad
benefit
had of
never
of
never
prejudicePeter,
Peter,eatenhis
eaten
run his Jewish
with
Jewish
with
deep. one.
one.
or unclean.”
entourage,
racial
v28and prejudice
so that
run
the
deep.
(still racially
entourage, Peter andstillsohad
thatto the
learn(stilltheracially
Peter said:
bound)
bound)
Peter
"I most
crowd
crowd
still
back
back
had
certainly
in
in
to learn
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
the
understand
would
would now
So
So now,
now,
practical he
he comes
comes
reality of to
to aa fuller
fuller
that Godacceptpractical
is
accept not
them.
them. one reality
to
"Therefore
"Thereforeof this
show thisif lesson
lesson
partiality,
if God
God
––
gave
gave but in
understanding
understanding the of
of
hard the
the
way. theological
theological
to
every nation them
to themthe the
theman same
samewho
the gift
hard as
as He
gift fears
way. He gaveHim
gave to
and does
to
principle he taught on the Day of
what isprinciple
us
us also
right alsois he
after
welcome
after taught
believing
believing oninHim”
to inthetheDay
the Lord
v.Lord of
34-35
Jesus
Jesus Christ,
Christ, Pentecost.
who
Pentecost.
who was
was II that
that II could
could
Later Jewish stand
Christians
in God's
in
way?”
Jerusalem
Acts 11:17
would
accuse Peter standsaying:in God's“You way?” Actsto
went 11:17
uncircumcised
men and ate with them.” (11:3)
 ACTS 11-12
At Antioch Jewish Christians were “speaking the word
to no one except to Jews alone.” Acts 11:19
When African Jews shared with Gentiles at Antioch it
became the first place mixed ekklesia.
As this mixed congregation emerged Barnabas was
sent from Jerusalem (along with Saul of Tarsus) as
their spiritual leader.
This happened when Claudius was Emperor in Rome
and Herod Agrippa was King over Jerusalem –
between 41- 54 AD.
Josephus tells us of a great world famine in 44 AD.
That means it was 10+ years before the first Jewish
believers began to share the Gospel with non-Jews.
 Acts 12 Continued
Now as Barnabas and Paul are leading the
church in Antioch, famine broke out.
In the last verses of Acts 11 the two of them are
commissioned to take a gift to the believers in
Jerusalem.
Acts 12 launches abruptly into the story of
Herod beheading James and Peter’s
miraculous escape from prison.
Peter shows up at a “prayer meeting.” The
description of this episode is so realistic, it
seems as if it must have come from first hand
reports.
 Speculation
This powerful first hand report of what happened at
the prayer meeting makes one wonder – who did Dr.
Luke interview to get such graphic details.
Indeed we may have some clues.
The prayer meeting occurred in the house of John
Mark’s mother, probably Barnabas’s sister.
Is it possible that Barnabas and Paul were staying in
that very house and were present that night at the
prayer meeting?
Whether they were or not, we know they were in
Jerusalem at or very near that time.
 Peter after Herod Killed James
Now Peter, after he appeared to and spoke to the
prayer meeting “departed for another place.”
In fact, he was fleeing for his life from Herod and
his soldiers.
Where did he go?
Is it possible – even likely that he went to the other
center of Christianity – Antioch which was outside
the jurisdiction of Herod Agrippa.
How he got there, we do not know for sure – but
we know for absolute certain that Peter did get to
Antioch at a time when Barnabas and Paul were
still there – See Galatians 2!
Of that – there can be NO speculation.
 Some Amazing Developments
When Peter first came to Antioch – he completely
integrated with the mixed community of Jewish
and Gentile believers.
But then “men from James” appeared in Antioch.
Why did they come? Probably to find out what had
happened to Peter!
James (brother of Jesus) had taken over in
Jerusalem – and undoubtedly wanted to know how
Peter was getting along (more evidence for our
speculation).
These “men from James” are obviously observant
Jews who had never eaten, mixed or associated
with Gentiles before.
 Imagine the Scene
Imagine looking in that church on communion
night.
Before the taking of elements, there is a the
love feast where everyone brings all kinds of
kosher and non-kosher food.
Jews, Greeks, Gentiles -- everyone mixes and
eats together freely. This includes the senior
ruling elder Barnabas (sent from Jerusalem),
Paul his understudy, and Peter the refugee.
Suddenly the “men from James” appear in the
room – and ask for separate tables.
 Sequence of events
As soon as they come in, Peter gets up from
the mixed table and moves over to the Jewish
table.
When the new Jewish converts at Antioch see
what is happening, they too get up and move
over.
Now – even Barnabas gets up – and moves
over to the kosher table.
Paul – is the only Jew seated with the Gentiles.
Across the way are the men from James, Peter
– first among the apostles, and mentor
Barnabas.
 The Antioch Dining Hall

Gentiles Jews from Jerusalem

Jews Jews from

Jerusalem showJewish
Barnabas Barnabas believers from
up demanding a
Antioch
kosher table
Paul
Peter
Peter
The
The unity
unity of
of the
the body
body hangs
hangs by
by
aa thread.
thread. There
There isis only
only one
one
person
person on on planet
planet earth
earth who
who
understands
understands the the meaning
meaning of of
this
this –– and
and that
that is
is Paul.
Paul.
All
All his
his senior
senior counterparts
counterparts are are
seated
seated across
across from
from him
him on
on
the
the other
other side
side of
of the
the room.
room.
 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I
opposed him to his face, because he
stood condemned. For prior to the coming
of certain men from James, he used to
eat with the Gentiles; but when they
came, he began to withdraw and hold
himself aloof, fearing the party of the
circumcision. The rest of the Jews
joined him in hypocrisy, with the result
that even Barnabas was carried away by
their hypocrisy. Gal 2:11-13
 Paul’s Reaction
“But when I saw that they were not straightforward
about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the
presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the
Gentiles and…”
Can you just imagine Paul standing up against the
leading superstars of the church at that time and
taking them on – Peter, Barnabas, men from James…
His point was clear. Peter was a hypocrite!
It was not just that he did one thing in Antioch and
another when men from James appear.
It was that his practice did NOT match his theology.
 Paul’s Conclusion
Paul concluded this rebuke of Peter with an
I have been crucified with Christ;
amazing verse which we all know very well.
and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself
up for me. Gal 2:20
 The Heart of the Matter
This text helps us see both the cause and the
cure of prejudice and racism.
It comes from the fleshly part of us that has not
yet been crucified to the cross of Christ.
It values “me” more than my “brother/sister.”
It cannot be naturally conquered – but must be
addressed spiritually – Jesus blood needs to
wash that stain from our heart.
The oil of the Holy Spirit is the medicine that
cures the heart of racism and prejudice.
 Peter At the Jerusalem Council
7. After
It much debate,
looks like Peter stood
Peter up and said to them,
responded
It looks
"Brethren, likethat
you know Peter
in theresponded
early days God made a
well
choice among
well to Paul’s
toyou, that by
Paul’s rebuke..
my mouth and
rebuke.. did
the Gentiles
and did would
hear the word of the gospel and believe.
surrender
surrender
8 "And
this
thisthe
God, who knows
part
part of
of his
heart, his life
lifetoto
testified tothem
Christ
giving them the
Christ –– Holy
for
for here
here at
Spirit, at the
just Council
as He
the also did to us;
Council
9 and He made no distinction between us and them,
of
of Jerusalem,
cleansing their hearts byPeter
Jerusalem, faith. clearly
Peter clearly
10 states,
"Now
states, “He
therefore
“He why made
madedo youno
noputdistinction
God to the test by
distinction
placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which
between
between
neither our fathersus
usnorand
and them…”
them…”
we have been ablePeter
Peter
to bear?
11 finally
"But got
we believe
finally got it!
that we are saved through the grace
it!
of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.“
Acts 15:7-11
 Ethnicity and Mission
Racism and prejudice is wrong because it
comes We
We can
from ourbe
can be freed
freed
natural from
from
desire to see ourselves
betterracism
racism
than and
and
someone prejudice
prejudice
else.
The radical cure – was provided as
as
we
we recognize
It is wrong because
recognize how
by Jesus itatdoesthe not
how God
cross.
Godrecognize that
God sees
made us usallHe died
with
one to sin.
impartiality.
in Christ
made us one in
In Him we can Christ
die
It is wrong
and because
how the itHoly
hinders us from
Spirit is having
and how the
to racism Holy
and Spirit
prejudice. is
fellowship with others who are different from us.
there
there to
to bind
bind us
us together.
together.
It is wrong because it keeps us from sharing the
Gospel with others who are different from us.