More to it than Tolerance

Today, we're starting an eight part series on the Shared Life that Jesus calls us to as believers. Remember that we previously learned that Jesus calls us to salvation, to sancitification, and to service, Although he calls each of us individually, he places us into his body, the church, where he intends us to share our lives together.

Today, we looked at Ephesians 4:1-6 and learned the importance of "bearing with one another in love." Although we share a couple of things in common as a group (ethnic background=skin color, and all are believers), we differ in other respects. I asked four questions: are you a native of the area (six of us weren't); are you right or left handed (2 left, one ambidextrous), are you moved more by Scripture or music (about half in each camp), and who was raised in the church (all but two or three).

Ephesians was written to a group of churches in the area (I say this because the phrase "in Ephesus" at 1:1 isn't in the earliest manuscripts) churches that were not of one ethnic or religious background. Ephesians 1:11-12 and the pronoun "we" refers to Jewish believers; 1:13-14 and "you" refers to Gentile or non'Jewish believers. Hence this letter was written to encourage the church to live as one, despite whatever differences there were between believers.

FIRST ,THIS IS OUR CHRISTIAN CALLING (4:1)

Paul's argument (broken off at 3:1 for some reason) is resumed at 4:1--the emphasis in chapters 2 and 3 was that Gentiles are included in Christ as brothers and sisters and NOT as second class citizens.

Remember Peter's surprise in Acts 10:28, 10:45, and 11:17-18? God accepted

them.

Note the emphasis on "two" and "both" in Ephesians 2:14, 15, 16, and 18.

Finally, note how Gentile believers are described in Ephesians 3:6 (the word

"together").

We know this, God's acceptance of all who would come to him through Jesus. But they didn't! This was a tension in the early church. Gentiles were accepted as full members of Jesus' church despite other differences--because they were called by the same gospel, they responded to it in the same way, and they all received the same Spirit.

SECOND, WE ARE TO WALK THIS WAY (4:2-3)

One commentator reminds us "For the life worthy of the calling of God is a life in the fellowship of the people of God; and if this is to be maintained, these four virtures are essential."

Think how necessary the qualities of life expressed in these two verses are necessary in a group of people with vastly different backgrounds. However, the phrase "bearing with one another" sound negative, like something done reluctantly or with tolerance, or you have to put up with people. But notice HOW this bearing with is to be done? IN LOVE! The idea is "bearing with one another's weaknesses, not ceasing to love our neighbor or friend because of their faults in him which perhaps offend or displease us. ALL is to be done in love (see also Ephesians 4:15-16 and 5:1-2).

Marriage is a good illustration of how this is to be done. The two shall become one flesh--in God's eyes, they are. But it takes years of adjustments, learning, overlooking quirks, and love to attain this. How much more grace it takes to love someone of a different background in the church!

THIRD, ONENESS IS THE ONLY OPTION (4:4-6)

Today, if you get mad at someone in the church or something happens, you can just go down a block or so and find another group to join. Not so in the first century! You had to work things out. But you'll soon learn that it isn't easy--the fruit of the Spirit is necessary, isn't it--and what is the primary fruit of the Spirit?

Why are we to do this? Because of the seven-fold emphasis on oneness in these verses. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God--this is the basis of our unity; despite whatever differences each may have, all believers have these things in common. In practicing these, we fulfill Jesus' prayer of John 17:20-23. Such a oneness and love shows to the world that Jesus has come.

Anyone can love people who love them or who are similar in background. It takes God's Spirit to bear with, to love those who are different. If the church, God's people cannot do this, what do we have to offer a world in need of reconciliatiob to God and to others?